Chapter 3

On my last day, the agreed payments arrived, and I finished the exit paperwork.

HR confirmed that neither side had any post-employment noncompete obligation. The confidentiality requirements still stood.

I put the signed papers in my bag and left the work group chats.

My finger hovered over the last one for more than ten seconds.

It included junior staff I'd trained and workers I'd eaten dinner with while crouched on the curb.

I sent them the new contact's information before I tapped Leave.

The elevator doors had barely closed when Graham called.

“Lauren can't find the shopping center's unloading schedule. Come back up for a minute.”

I told him where the file was.

“I know, but it'll be faster if you come explain it.”

The elevator reached the first floor.

Through the glass doors, I could see daylight. Someone was walking a dog slowly under the trees.

I never saw light like that when I left work.

“Graham, I've finished today's walkthrough. I handed over the screen recording too.”

“If anything wasn't clear, you can replay it.”

He went quiet for two seconds, then laughed and asked why I was still sulking.

That familiar little panic came back.

Whenever he'd said that before, I'd immediately wonder whether I'd sounded rude.

This time, I held my box tighter and told him I was going home.

“Just ten minutes.”

“Not today.”

I hung up and went to buy a hot dog.

I'd planned to get the cheapest one. Then I remembered the bonus had arrived and bought two.

That was about as wild as my retail therapy got back then.

The next day, I slept until ten and woke up to twenty-seven missed calls.

It had rained on the terrace market.

Sam Turner called. The first thing he said was not to worry.

He was handling the setup. As we talked, he forwarded the latest instructions Lauren had sent him.

“Figured you'd want a heads-up before Mercer tries to spin this as your mistake during handoff.”

Graham hadn't paid to reserve the indoor space. He'd also cut two coordinators.

His approval note read: Simple process. Can cut.

The shopping center had booked another event in the indoor space.

When the rain started, the vendors tried to move their stock inside and discovered they had nowhere to go.

Delivery trucks were jammed at the same entrance. Every driver thought they should go first.

I asked Sam whether anyone was hurt.

“Everyone's fine. Half the stalls can't open, though, and the client looks ready to explode.”

I let out a breath and made myself a bowl of noodle soup.

I'd just taken it off the stove when Graham's voice message arrived.

“Come back and save this. Whatever you want, we can talk.”