Seriously???

So. Remember how I said being the boss isn't fun? Well, apparently, I wasn't quick enough about being the boss. I should have insisted that we fire Gabe right away. But I really wanted to try to make it work because I felt bad for the guy. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to do. Yesterday, after three whole weeks of work, I got fired. Yep, that's right folks, fired.

"Jake" got what he wanted. He's back in and I am out. Even one of the other employees called me to tell me that he went to the big boss and went to bat for me, but the big boss, Robert is the one who failed this time around. He should have let "Jake" go right from the beginning and then let me do my job. Instead, all I dealt with these past three weeks has been all the crap "Jake" has been throwing out there. You know what, to heck with the fake names, the guys' name is Gabe. No sense in protecting someone who is not innocent at all.

All the time leading up to this past Monday, my boss Robert was supportive of me. Gabe kept going to him with complaints (such as "Erin isn't cutting the bread correctly, or "the food quality just isn't what it used to be", even thought I wasn't the one in the kitchen cooking it!) and Robert kept telling me that Gabe was a cancer and that needed to be taken care of. Gabe was "out sick" nearly all week last week, but finally came back in on Saturday. Gabe then told me how he had talked on the phone to Eddie (the chef who helped open Caffe' Panini and now lives in New York, and oh, did I mention that he is Robert's nephew?) for hours the past night. Well, I really worried that was going to cause issues and that he would go to Robert and defend Gabe. Apparently, I was right because Monday, Robert was singing a different tune.

So, let's review what Robert said when he hired me and all along until Monday, and what he is saying now.

1. Then: "I need someone to be the face of Caffe' Panini." Now: "I need someone who is better at the back then the front of the restaurant."

2. Then: "You are doing so great, when I am over there, I can already see the changes with how people are reacting to the great service.", oh and this one "I told Gabe that you've only been here for a few weeks, there is only so much you can do in a short time." Now: "I really expected more from you by this time."

3. Then: "Eddie is just a guy who helped develop some great recipes for this place, but he isn't here now." Now: Well, I haven't heard anything directly on this, but I have my suspicions.

The list could go on, but it's just not worth it.

Oh, and you should see what the recruiter who helped me get the job thought about the whole thing. Boy was he ever mad! He was volunteering to help Robert out with his concept and in finding me. He usually charges a very large fee. He was the first one who told Robert that he needed to let Gabe go from the start because it would cause problems. He is furious and says he will never help Robert again. That makes me feel a little better. At least someone sees that this wasn't my fault.

I am embarrassed, which is where the anger comes from. Part of me says, "you failed Erin". And part of me says, "There is no way that you could make a HUGE difference in three weeks". I want to listen to that second voice, but that first one creeps in too. I honestly felt like I was working hard and had made great strides, and then to have someone tell you otherwise just really hurts. Robert never told me anything that he thought I was doing wrong, so if he wasn't happy, he should have told me. I am not a mind reader!

And darn it, why does this stuff just keep piling on! Jeff still hasn't found a job, and he sends resumes out every single day. I know I am ranting here, but that's why I started this blog. Mostly though I just keep telling people that this happened for a reason and once again, I am waiting to see what that is. Sigh. Feeling like a failure sucks. I am humiliated.