Chapter 4

The office was quite lively over the next few days.

Enzo and Megan's official transfer was approaching, and everyone was wishing them well. People gathered around them, asking them not to forget their old coworkers and to put in a good word for them once they got there.

I seemed to be the only person everyone had forgotten.

Yet more and more of the work was passed on to me. I barely had time to breathe during the day, and I had to work overtime at night on my own.

Laughter often drifted in from outside.

They got to have fun, but I had to handle the mess they left behind.

I arrived home very late on my dad's birthday, but both my parents were still awake.

My mother frowned when she saw me. "You're late again. Is your work that busy?"

My father asked me what I had been busy with. I was quiet for a moment before telling them. "Enzo and Megan are getting transferred to headquarters. A lot of their workload has been dumped on me."

My mother frowned at that. "Why do they get promoted and leave while you're stuck cleaning up their mess?"

My father's expression turned dark. "That's not fair."

For a moment, I felt dazed. It had been so long since someone listened to me and said I had been treated unfairly. Even hearing "That's not fair" made me sniff.

I held my cup and asked quietly, "Would you be upset if I left too?"

The living room went quiet for a few seconds, and my mother spoke first. "There's nothing wrong with wanting something better. Why would we be upset? Think it through. Your dad and I will always support you."

Their support was not loud, but it was enough for me. Enough to put my previous doubts to rest.

Back home that night, I turned on my computer and reorganized all the files I would be handing over. When I finished, I created two new documents. One was my resignation email. The other was a breakup message for Enzo.

I kept the breakup message short. There was no argument and no demand for answers in the text, just me calmly telling him that our relationship was over.

After writing it, I stared at those few lines for a long time. In the end, just one single sentence was enough to end three years' worth of relationship.

After sending it, I shut down my computer.

I slept well that night. It felt as if I had finally thrown away the weight that had pressed on me for so long.

I learned later that Enzo had not panicked right away when he saw the message. He had only frowned, assuming I was just throwing another tantrum again.

No matter how hurt I had been in the past, I had always been the first to give in. He had probably gotten used to it and expected me to come back to him after a few days.

This time, I did not.

I did not go back to the company the next day. Or the third day. Or the fourth.

He could not reach me by phone. I did not answer his messages or emails.

Enzo finally began to lose his patience and even panicked a little. Even then, his first move was to post in the company group chat: [If Jessie Lynch keeps missing work without a valid reason, the company will treat this as voluntary resignation.]

I finally responded after he posted that message. I did not explain or plead. Instead, I simply left the group chat.

That explained everything I needed to say.

Later, he went ahead with my termination. The reasons he listed were cold and impersonal: unexcused absences and insubordination.

Then, it was time for them to start their new jobs at headquarters. Enzo and Megan went as planned.

An important project meeting was scheduled for their first day. On the way there, their director kept reminding them that the client's new project lead had high standards and warned them not to make any mistakes.

The conference room door opened, and everyone walked in. Enzo looked up at the head of the table and stopped in his tracks.

I was sitting there in a white suit, my hair pinned up, with an ID badge hanging against my chest. Documents and a tablet were close to my hands. Natalie sat beside me with my new team nearby.

I saw them too. By then, the sight of them barely stirred anything in me.

Their director introduced me with a smile. "This is Ms. Jessie Lynch, the person in charge of the project from our client's side."

I looked up at Enzo calmly. "Hello, Mr. Lane. I've heard a lot about you."

The conference room fell silent.