He’d made a decision. And it hadn’t come easily.


    He barely slept after his talk with Jasper. Now he was driving to work. The documents were prepared and sat on the passenger seat beside him. Max Scott had been decent enough not to insult him. But because of Max Scott, he’d forgotten about Emma. He wondered what would have to happen now to make him forget about work.


    He parked in the spot someone else would soon take, grabbed the folder, and got out. He greeted the security guard, passed by him, and took the elevator. Normally, he arrived at work earlier, but today he came just after the workday had started. Not to mess with anyone or make a scene—he wanted his meeting with Max Scott to be the first thing of the day.


    Again.


    Max usually showed up at a normal time, but he’d vanish at lunch and only return in the afternoon if something urgent came up. Daniel hoped today’s urgency would be the morning. He was ready for Max’s offers and promises. He’d turn them down. Jasper was right—if fate was handing him a story, he had to live it. And fate was Max Scott.


    Daniel went into his office and lingered there for about ten minutes. At least they hadn’t taken his little room yet.


    He couldn’t focus on any work. All he could think about was the meeting with Max. Everyone he greeted or passed looked at him like they knew something. Only Stella wasn’t around. Maybe they’d moved her to a higher floor. Or they were grooming her to fully take his place.


    He decided he’d waited long enough, went to the elevator, pressed the button, and waited. The elevator felt like it took years. Or at least it seemed that way to him. When the doors opened, it was empty. He stepped in and pressed one of the top buttons. The ride up was slow.


    The doors opened again. The hallway stretched out before him—the same one he’d walked down yesterday. At the end was Max’s office. One door before it was the office of his blonde secretary, whose name he’d only learned yesterday: Brooke.


    He knocked on her door first. Hearing no response, he knocked again and pushed it open.


    The woman was flipping through papers, stamping every second or third one. She wore black glasses, and there was no trace of the smile she’d had last time. Her otherwise pretty lips were once again smeared with lipstick.


    “Yes?” she asked without looking up.


    “Is Scott here?”


    “Mr. Scott just went into his office.”


    “Can you tell him I’d like to see him?”


    Brooke held his gaze for a moment, then picked up one of the office phones and dialed a short number.


    “This Daniel wants to talk to you.”


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    She was too casual with her boss. But Max had asked the same of him, so it didn’t seem too bad.


    The blonde pulled the phone from her ear, pressed a button, and kept looking at Daniel.


    “Well?”


    “He says you can go in. He’s expecting you.”


    Daniel turned the handle and relived everything from yesterday. The office, the chairs, Max’s looks, that smug grin, his dumb stare. Everything about this guy irritated him. He wished Jasper were here again.


    He held the folder in his hands. He pointed to the chair in front of Max, and Max gestured for him to sit. He wasn’t as chipper as yesterday, but he didn’t seem too surprised either.


    Daniel sat. Max kept fidgeting. Finally, he hurried up and took his own seat. He smiled at Daniel and didn’t let him speak first:


    “I can guess why you’re here. I won’t waste your time.”


    Quitting went better than he’d expected. Part of him felt relieved it was over, but another part was annoyed. Max Scott didn’t lift a finger to keep him. He could’ve offered another position at the same level or said he’d talk to the directors. Maybe even recommend him to another company. Not that Daniel would’ve accepted, but wasn’t that how it usually worked?


    Max pulled out a pen and signed his resignation letter. The other request Daniel had was to leave immediately, not wait until the end date on the form. He didn’t want to stay in the company. His confidence was shattered. He kept meeting people’s eyes. He had no motivation to work.


    How had things changed so much in just a week? From the top, invited to the park as one of the most promising in his field, to out on the street. Well, not literally on the street, but close enough.


    Max was kind enough to let him go right away. He said they’d pay him through last week, minus this week’s days. Daniel agreed. He’d expected it, and it was standard. He didn’t care about the money. He just didn’t want to show up here anymore. He’d figure out the rest later.


    He was already driving away from the company building. The resignation had been quick. He wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t have taken more than an hour from walking in to getting the signature.


    He didn’t know where he was going. He’d decided to just drive and get out of the city. His house reminded him of Emma, the city of work. Over the years, he’d saved money, so finances weren’t an issue. With his portfolio, he’d find a job fast. But he wasn’t ready yet. He wanted to be alone with himself.


    He drove. He stopped only at traffic lights. He took turns without checking where they led. And he ended up outside the city. Ahead was just road, flanked by vast, empty fields. He sped up—first a little, then more. He felt the car beneath him. He knew it could handle more. He pressed the pedal harder. The road allowed it anyway.


    He hit the car’s max speed. His phone pinged.


    He slowed down and glanced at it. A message.


    “I heard you quit your job. Hope it’s not because of me.”


    It was from an unknown number, but he guessed who it was. Especially since he recognized the last two digits. Emma.


    How had she found out so fast? Someone must’ve told her. There were people who could’ve, but he didn’t know rumors spread that quickly.


    He stared at her number for a long time. He could call her, or he could delete the message. Why was she texting now? Did she want to come back? No, he couldn’t live with her again. He missed her, but that was it. He couldn’t imagine her back in their home. Passing her coldly in the halls again. Wondering what to say. Sleeping in separate rooms.


    He slowed down more and hovered his finger over her number. He had options to save it or delete it.


    His story was offering him a new choice. Just like in the park. Two paths. In one, he’d chosen to quit. He’d already made that choice once. And deleted her number.


    Now he did the same.