Evans

and, his usually kind face etched with disbelief

at me, his brow furrowed with concern. "You can't just quit. Not after all yo

e I was already leaving behind. Invaluable? To whom? Certainly not

rifted past him, through the window, towards the dist

these things take time. Hudson values you, Alex. He really does. He's just... co

d reassurances during our secret rendezvous over the years. "Just a little longer, Alex

mpromised career, and a constant ache in my lower back. My mother' s voice from yesterday morning echo

ness within this corporate machine. He knew Hudson' s games, but he was powerless

this immediately. But try to keep a low profile. Hudson... he's not going

done. The shackles were off. For the first time in

ou okay? You seemed a little off earlier. Maybe w

urt about the promotion and was reaching out to string me along again.

fine. And no, thank you. I have other plans." The words

ing on her lips. "Guess what, Alex? Hudson just told me he's throwing a celebration dinner for my promotion tonight. Yo

, my voice calm, my back to her as I so

g. "It's a team celebration, Alex. You're part of the team. You have to be t

once celebrated my achievements, never once remembered my birthday without a prompt. I remembered my 27th birthday, two years ago. I' d dropped a subtle hint, hoping for someth

ys, irrelevant. Just like how he denied me the right to grieve the promotion, he was denying me the righ

xpression. He subtly shook his head, a silent plea for me to avoid

voice barely audibl

, bitter goodbye to the company, to the

her. They looked like the perfect corporate power couple. And I stood on the periphery, watching, a strange sense of calm settling over me. I finally saw

d over. "Wow, Hudson and Kaitlyn really are a power duo, aren't they?

g. They simply registered as fact. "They do," I agreed, sur

d triumph, caught my eye. Her smile widened, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "So, Alex," she chirped, her voice just