en's

ning, before Alex and I could s

immediately. It's regarding a c

old. "What kin

person. Please come t

e in yet. HR called. Some

s immediate: "O

x, d

together or

but I knew he was right. Whatever

er Chen, head of HR, and Marcus Webb, the compa

d an anonymous complaint Friday at 5:47 PM alleging an undiscl

Alex. He no

ere planning to disc

Marcus said. "How long has th

d. "But we met anonymously before t

ebrow raised.

s, the hotel room revelation. It sounded eve

d a relationship online, met in person, discovered you were CEO an

correct,

hree w

es

gned to lead the Vertex rebranding campaign.

as assigned that position

aid. "Knowing you were in a relationshi

d that p

pulled out another document. "We've also received complaints from other employees a

were about the c

istant, noting that I'd blocked out three hours last Tuesday for "Alex Parker

working and one hour arguing about whether to disclose ou

strategy

rs? With just

complex di

fferent levels. You violated that policy for three weeks. During that time, Mr. Cross gave Mr. Parker a high-profile assignment, increased access, and pref

ou saying?"

r. Parker resigns. Three: Mr. Parker is reassigned to a different department with no reporting

aid. "Those are

onships between supervisors and subordinates cr

people who care

le work environment, quid pro quo. Your relationship with Mr. Park

d up. "I'

. "You're not sacrifici

you sacrifi

aid firmly. "Both of y

s

ly. "But it would require significant change

ption?"

rting structure, no conflict of interest. You maintain your relationship, but it

ree thousand

said imm

your relationship," Marcus said. "And frankly,

parating u

ment, misuse of company resources for personal matters-those three-hour private meetings weren't free." He leaned

quiet beside

ss this priva

today," Jennifer said. "After th

lone in the co

it," I said

e to t

We'll figure som

verything you've built." He turned to face me. "Your grandmother's company, y

three weeks.

antasy I convinced myself was real." His voice cracked. "Maybe they'r

n't mea

, built something in a vacuum, then tried to force it to work in re

le

York position. It's

t for

y career, and we both move on like adults." He woul

n't even

lly met my eyes. "I can't be the reason

. Jennifer retu

made a d

d speak. "I'll take the New Yo

process the paperw

. "We're not

the papers without hesitation.

I'm sorry it came to this. For what it's worth, I believe you ab

eft a

le

He stood. "And Damien? Don't mak

ence room with the signed transfer papers and

my phone an

rk transfer," I sai

I was afra

Make him see t

s trying to

d protection

u're willing to sacrifice to keep him. Because right now, he

hung

feeling everything slip through my

eks to prove

'd sacrifice everything

ting