Redmption 193


    I woke up again before dawn. After taking a shower, I saw a reminder from Brandon to pick up the


    breakfast he had left at my door.


    He didn’t question why I hadn’t eaten his breakfast and continued to get it for me.


    I appreciated his thoughtfulness and ate breakfast before heading to the office.


    No one else was there yet since I arrived early. Even after I nned my day and reviewed


    everyone’s recent performance progress, it still wasn’t time to start work.


    I took out my phone and scrolled through social media. While it could be time–wasting, I had just a


    few friends on my feed. It was one way to check up on their lives and know how they were doing


    even without a call or text.


    Derick posted about going to a billiards challenge. Lisa documented delivering another baby and


    recorded it whenever she did so. The baby for the day was at number 5566.


    She had delivered 5566 babies. If she hadn’t made a record, she wouldn’t have known that she had


    helped bring so many lives into the world.


    I liked her post and left a thumbs–up sticker. As I continued scrolling, I saw Chris‘ new post.


    “Fatherly duties for the rest of my life.” Attached was a cartoon drawing of a mother and child.


    My heart clenched. I knew what it meant–he had epted Jewel.


    Chris posted it in the middle of the night, and it had gathered many likes and congrattory words.


    Some, who were unaware of our breakup, tagged me to congratte us.


    I chuckled bitterly and replied to ament, “Congrattions. Best wishes.”


    With that, I closed the app and stopped scrolling.


    I set my phone aside and stared at myputer screen with my mind nk


    I didn’t feel sad. There was just a heavy weight in my chest. It was a hard feeling to describe.


    My phone rang. Seeing that it was Xander, I looked over to his office. He hadn’t arrived.


    I picked up the phone. “Mr. Roulder.”


    “Ms. Crown, you don’t have toe to the office for the next couple of days.” Xander’s voice had a


    lazy. just woke–up tone.


    I guessed he was still in bed.


    “Mr. Roulder, what do you mean?” I asked, confused.


    “Don’t get me wrong. It’s nothing. I just think you’ve been working too hardtely. You’re granted


    two days of paid leave,” Xander exined.


    Working too hard? Me? I had been taking more days off than workingtely. Was that a subtle hint?


    “Mr. Roulder, I’ll try not to take as much leave in the future,” I promised.


    He immediately responded, “You’re overthinking. I wasn’t hinting at anything. It’s just to give you


    some rest. We take good care of beautiful employees at ourpany, especially ones like you.”


    I wasn’t a naive child, so I wouldn’t be fooled by such words.


    As I recalled everything that had happened, I asked, “Is this another order from the


    Xander coughed, startled at my words. He then rebuked, “You’d think he’s that idle?”


    Xander denied it, but to be given leave with no reason was truly odd.


    997”


    “Ms. Crown, I’m formally notifying you of your leave. If you don’t take it, you’re disobeying my orders


    as your leader. That will result in a sry deduction.”


    Xander was using his authority to force me into taking leave. This was a first in all my years of


    working.


    I


    Since I had handled today’s tasks and two days off wouldn’t affect anything, I agreed. “Sure.”


    After hanging up, I reached out to the team supervisor to share my n and point out each


    member’s issues he should oversee. I then left.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    I texted Derick once in the car. “Derick, look up information rted to the boss of my current


    company.”