Before I could say a word, the questions came at me in a rapid-fire string.
"We're all adults here. Let's not play childish little games, all right?"
"I know your pay hasn't gone up these past few years, but didn't I tell you? Once the company goes public, I'll make it all up to you in one lump sum!"
"Letitia has a master's from a top overseas university. Companies were fighting over her. She's lowering herself just by being here, so can't I show a little appreciation?"
By the end I could hear his voice out in the hallway, coming closer.
Then the office door slammed open under his kick.
Sebastian stood in front of me, radiating contempt.
"What's gotten into you? Stay with the company and you're a founding member, you'll get some equity compensation down the line. Leave, and what are you? Nothing."
Letitia trailed in behind him and shut the door, a faint smile tucked at the corner of her mouth.
"Sebastian, I won't let you talk to Maud like that!"
"But look at her office. Plain as a library. Nothing about it says senior executive at all!"
That only stoked his temper further.
"I told you long ago, this is a company, not a library, and definitely not a school!"
"Cramming this place full of junk books, who are you putting on a show for?"
"All the time you spend reading, you could be out chasing clients. You might've closed a couple more deals by now!"
He didn't remember at all how he'd begged me to come start this company with him.
He'd conveniently forgotten, too.
All those days and nights when it was in exactly this office, buried under books, that I pulled the company out of one crisis after another.
"Sebastian, I want to ask you something."
I swallowed the ache and kept my voice level. "When do you plan to marry me?"
His eyes flickered and slid away from mine.
"We're talking about your resignation right now. If you want to discuss personal feelings, save it for after work."
"And what if I insist on discussing it now?" I pressed, refusing to let it drop.
He didn't even have the nerve to meet my eyes anymore.
"Maud, don't put Sebastian in a difficult spot, all right?"
Letitia cut in out of nowhere.
"Sebastian's a famous entrepreneurial genius all over Ridgeport. You have no idea how many women are angling for him."
"You're his subordinate. You really shouldn't be getting ideas above your station."
I listened to all of it in silence. Sebastian still didn't dare say anything.
Or rather, letting Letitia speak for him was already his answer.
"Sebastian, I must have been blind. I saw you completely wrong."
"Every figure, contract, and file for the sales department is in this office. Bring in a professional and they can take over the work fine."
"And one last thing. What I sent HR was a notice of resignation."
I shouldered my bag and headed for the door.
"So what if it's a resignation notice? Does a resignation notice make you right?"
Letitia demanded it while reaching out to grab me.
I turned and slapped her across the face.
"Trash like you, and people were fighting over you?"
The office went silent.
