a Schmi

out like a martyr? Do you honestly think this little s

tching his silhouette in the

use to release my earned compensation, we wil

t a sharp, mockin

of his tailored jacket, pulled out an el

mirk full of venom. "You pulled this exact stunt three months ago. Filing a dramatic resigna

lly, my eyes settl

the ticket I had submitted a few hours ago: 'Isabella Schmitt – Le

voice completely devoid of infl

Reject" button on the interface. "Your mother is dying in an ICU bed without half a milli

his eyes hardenin

want to threaten me with your departure? Fine.

the screen and deliberately tapped the green icon a

chime sounded

Employee ID 8841 status updated to: Separated. Standard non-compete

he console table by the door with

rms, looking dow

ong it takes before you're kneeling on the frozen pav

screen where the green confi

te covenan

t even realized he had just used his master executive override to dissolve the three-

ric sensation bl

ped my lungs for three long years vanis

e faintest ghost of a

mooth and level. "That is undeniably the b

s left eyel

absence of despair-seemed to rattle him. He took h

give him

oor open and stepped out

g my dark hair across my face and instantly blowing awa

into the storm, letting the

y, the sub-zero air burned my throat, but for th

Group internal messaging application, an

otification badges va

ll an open wound, but I would burn every bridge in

ntending to cut through the service all

latch, a high-pitched, agonizing ye

e body l

as P

imal shelter near the Montreal facility and temporarily housed in

d by the muffled thud of metal striking soft fles

he snow, and sprinted blindly toward th