“No.”
She studied me.
“It is specific.”
I looked at the card.
“I stopped because you needed help.”
“I know.”
“That doesn’t qualify me for anything.”
“Correct.”
I looked up.
She smiled slightly.
“But your professional record might.”
Gavin stared at us.
Then spoke too quickly.
“Christopher is a very valuable employee.”
I turned toward him.
He had fired me less than four hours earlier.
Eleanor looked amused.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“So valuable that you terminated him immediately.”
“That was emotional.”
I almost laughed.
Eleanor did.
“Interesting.”
Gavin’s desperation increased.
“Chris, maybe we should speak privately.”
“No.”
Everyone looked at me.
Even I was surprised by how easily the word came.
Gavin blinked.
“What?”
“I said no.”
“Christopher.”
“You made your decision.”
“I can reverse it.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Silence.
That was the moment everything finally felt real.
Not the firing.
Not Halston Capital.
Not Eleanor.
