s favorite dinner, a complicated French dish my gran

sica' s perfume. He saw the table

what is

ould have a nic

ning his tie. He walked past me to the fridge a

om and closed the door

just for the photo, but for Jessica's constant, perceived su

ped me of my biggest project, the one I

it in the t

not looking at me. "She's earned a chance to lead. We'll con

ping of my work, my achievement. I felt my face burn with humiliation, but I ke

. But I stayed. My one-year deadline wasn't up. I still had a sliver of hope, a st

died a m

al marketing component, managed by Jessica, failed completely. The fallou

ce. Jessica was already there

e," Ethan said, his v

"I know the campaign inside and out.

g to do more than that. You

ve heard him

. "You, on the other hand, are strong. You can take it. You will issue a co

incompetence. He was asking me to sacrifice my career, my professional i

say no?" I

ara. This is your choice. Protect the company

me an ultimatum. But he w

manipulative caress, "I'll take care of you. You won't ha

at I wanted was his money, a life of leisure.

false tears. The fight went out of me. A p

my voice hollo

mail, my fingers numb on the keyboard. I hit send, and

risoner in our minimalist Silicon Valley home, waiting for a m