The next day.
I set out half an hour earlier than usual, and I'd barely parked the car when I spotted two familiar figures.
Ronnie bent to press a soft kiss to Daphne's forehead, doting as he murmured, "You worked so hard last night."
"Hmph, when do I not work hard? You're like a wolf, like you want to devour me whole."
Daphne let out a coy little laugh.
My hand curled into a fist.
So they'd been tangled up together every single night.
"By the way, tricking Mila into quitting like this, isn't it kind of awful?"
Daphne asked.
"Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will strike you down! Besides, Mila's tough. She'll just find another job. And she's sentimental. She won't blame you."
Ronnie chuckled, then added, "Once we're married, I'm going to use her money to keep you comfortable too."
The hair on my arms stood on end.
This was the man who'd sworn over and over he'd love me for the rest of his life. More venomous than a snake.
Thank god for the cat's warning in my head.
None of it was too late!
I didn't charge over there to have it out with them. I quietly recorded a video instead, then hung around the parking garage another ten minutes before going up.
"Mila."
"Let's go hand in our resignations."
Daphne was already waiting outside my office door, all smiles as she tugged me off toward the president's office.
I didn't argue.
I planned to play this little scene out to the end!
When we reached the door of the president's office, Daphne smacked her forehead. "Oh no, Mila, I think I forgot my resignation form. You go in first, I'll run back and look for it."
"Sure."
I nodded and walked into Mr. Finch's office.
I clearly heard Daphne let out a breath of relief.
She thought the plot had worked.
Mr. Finch waved me warmly into a chair and asked, "I heard you want to resign? You're not here to hand me a resignation letter, are you?"
So Daphne had already leaked the news that I was quitting.
Laying the groundwork to fan the flames for her own promotion.
"Of course not."
I shook my head and handed him a folder.
Inside wasn't a resignation letter, but a marketing proposal for a new product.
Mr. Finch read, nodding again and again, and at the end he gave me a thumbs-up.
"This is good work! Run with it exactly like this!"
"Also, the General Manager of Marketing position has been sitting empty. The company discussed it and decided the role is yours. The appointment notice goes out Monday."
"And if this campaign blows up the way I think it will, the last Executive President slot is yours, no one else's. You'll get a cut of the company's profits too."
I got quickly to my feet. "Thank you, Mr. Finch. I won't let you or the company down."
Walking out of his office, I felt both thrilled and a little shaken.
If I hadn't heard the cat's voice in my head.
I'd have thrown away a bright future.
And by then, who knew how Daphne and Ronnie would have squeezed me out, how they'd have kicked me while I was down.
I went back to my own office.
Daphne used dropping off some documents as an excuse to ask, "Mila, what did Mr. Finch say?"
"Nothing much."
I shook my head.
"He didn't even try to keep you? Wow."
Daphne looked like she was pouting, but a flash of smugness crossed her eyes.
I didn't call her on it.
At the end of the day.
Ronnie had been waiting in the parking garage a long while.
Daphne slid into the passenger seat like she always did, propping her feet up on the dash.
Showing off her legs for all she was worth, not the least bit worried about her skirt riding up.
I used to think the three of us had grown up together, that there could be pure friendship between a man and a woman, and I never read into it.
Now, with even a little attention, I caught Ronnie sneaking glances at Daphne's legs, his eyes greedy!
"Mila."
"Daphne says there's a new steakhouse that's supposed to be great. I sent you the address. Let's go try it."
