ng smile. She turned toward the standard employee elevat

utton, the sharp clatter of

s. She held a thick, fifteen-page document in her

business, but her eyes dancing with malice. "

provide a thirty-day written notice of resignation, the c

You forced me to sign that resignatio

ompliance policy doesn't care about your fe

, due to your breach of protocol, your accumulated year-end bonuses and

gs. That bonus was her only hope f

n onto the lid of the nearby trash can. Sh

on, stamped with Fount's electronic signature.

ella hissed, her voice shaking with rag

lawyer, then. Let me know if you can find a single

arsh whisper. "This is just Mr. Fitzgerald

This wasn't HR protocol. This was a targeted, systema

lently, but her mind sudde

thick stack of papers and ripped them straight dow

er voice dropping an octave. "I'm going to ask

She reached for the radio on her

her shoulder. She bolted toward the heavy red fire

shut behind her, cutt

rete stairwell. She looked up

ffice was on the 42nd floor

and began to climb, taking the stairs two at a time. The rubber soles of her shoes slapped against the freezing concrete. By the twentieth fli

e face, Buddy's bleeding paws, and Fount's cold sneer flashed be

er chest heaving violently, Idella pushed

s absorbed the sound of her footsteps. The executive assistants'

allway toward the massive mahogany do

d to push the door

A sliver of a gap remained, let

a vo

gentle with he

oice, thick with a

mid-air. Her heart plum