Round 30

I woke up knowing one thing for certain after years of doubting every decision: Today was the day I would resign.

Staring at my laptop, I navigated to my incomplete resignation letter. The thought of being unemployed left a bitter taste in my mouth, but the idea of staying strangled me.

Nothing at work mattered to me anymore. I didn’t care about my projects or my deadlines. I was worth more than this. More than the way they treated me. It was a strange realization, and it was refreshing knowing one thing for certain in these uncertain times.

I looked down at my clothes. Somewhere along the line, I had subconsciously begun un-beiging myself. Today I was sporting a pair of purple stockings with a black dress and a pair of black sneakers. Everyone who walked by stopped and stared a second longer than usual. Everyone except Mr. Markham, who, to my absolute pleasure, still avoided me.

Because of my allegations. Because of William.

My heart fluttered. At this point, I was sure all this heart fluttering was a medical condition that needed to be cured with a pill or, I don’t know, surgically removing my heart—whatever worked.

“Check this out,” I whispered to Shaun.

Wheeling himself to my desk, he read over my shoulder and then blew out a long breath. “When are you going to do it?”

“Right now. I considered waiting a week until after the wedding, but I don’t want to.”

“Whoa.” He scratched his head. “I’m going to start my job hunt after the wedding. Have you found something?”

“Nope.”

“So, the Rose is going to be unemployed for a while?” His eyebrows were perched up high. “You’re braver than I am, Rose Marie Jones.”

Brave? Pfft. I was terrified.

“ The Rose is slowly starting to figure out what she wants and doesn’t want,” I replied, despite the way my anxiety soared.

“Who’s going to listen to me whine?”

“Still me, probably, but it’ll be via text or after hours.” I flashed him a smile and hit the print key for my resignation letter.

Taking my letter from the printer, I folded it into thirds, making sure the edges met before slipping it into one of the envelopes I kept in my desk drawer. I inhaled all the confidence I could find and tapped the letter on Shaun’s shoulders as I walked out of our office. He nodded at me, somehow both sadly and reassuringly.

I clutched the letter while walking all the way down to human resources, but as I turned the corner, I nearly smacked into Louisa. “I was on my way to see you.”

“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide. “I was on my way to see you too.” Her lips parted as though she could barely hold back whatever she needed to tell me.

She gestured for us to walk back to the safety of her office and closed the door behind me. She sat, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Would you like to report another case of harassment against Mr. Markham?”

I swallowed hard. I’d been planning to, but I was hoping to resign first. I slid the envelope across the desk.

Her mouth curved downward as she read it. “You don’t have to leave. I have a feeling the M in M&G will fall away soon.”

I leaned forward, and so did she.

“I couldn’t tell you this before because I had to keep it confidential, but you aren’t the only person being harassed by him, and after the news spread about the altercation at the party, someone else stepped forward and wanted me to tell you that she believes your story, and stands with you. She’s been on the receiving end of his unwanted attention for years.”

My breath caught.

“I’m about to send multiple reports to Mr. Ganz, who, I’m sure, will not take kindly to continuing a partnership with him. Between you and me, Markham was already walking a fine line.” She leaned back and blew out a long breath. “So, if you’d like to stay, I trust that it will become more pleasant in the near future.”

I shut my eyes, and all those early mornings and late nights I’d spent here flashed behind my lids. Shaking my head, I said, “I’m happy with my decision.” Each word lifted a weight from my shoulders. “And… I’d like to exercise my right to leave as soon as possible. Friday will be my official last day at M&G.”

“I’m sure Mr. Ganz will be more than understanding.” Louisa nodded, smiling now. She took my resignation letter and signed it.

“I’ve summarized my projects to make handover as easy as possible.”

She waved me off. “I’ll reach out to your clients privately and have them write letters of recommendation, if you’d like?”

“Thank you.” I nodded and stood, but there was a fire growing in my chest. I placed one hand on her desk and said, “Oh, and yes, I would like to add to my account of what occurred at the office party and thereafter.”

The second we walked into Shaun’s apartment for game night, I let my eyes roam across the furniture in search of my favorite tall, dark-haired, and handsome man, but he was nowhere to be seen. His bedroom door was closed, but the bathroom door was open.

I waited a beat to see if he’d come out after hearing me arrive, like he usually did.

Nothing.

“Is William here?” I asked, with a weak attempt at keeping the longing out of my voice.

“Nah,” Shaun said. “I didn’t see his car downstairs. He’s been out since morning. He’s been really busy lately.”

I swallowed my bitter disappointment.

He could come back. The night was still young.

Every time I heard movement at the door, I hoped it was William. The first time, it was Neema unlocking the door for herself.

The second time, someone knocked, and even though William wouldn’t knock, my unreasonable heart still wished it was him. It was Claire and Lincoln.

By the time the game started, I was quickly losing hope that I’d be seeing him this evening.

The conversation shifted from wedding arrangements to my resignation, which ultimately had the conversation circling back to William in a Batman suit headbutting my boss.

And then I missed him again.

Even though we texted occasionally, we hadn’t reached the level where I felt comfortable texting him out of the blue. I knew he wasn’t much of a texter, but I needed to touch base—as if a part of me needed to make sure he was real, that we were real, and not some figment of my imagination.

I took out my phone and typed a message with speedy fingers and a speedier heart.

Rose: Missing my favorite rival. The games are too easy with this lot.

I held my breath, watching the message say delivered . Three dots appeared immediately.

William: I prefer the term “archnemesis.”

Another reply came through a second later.

William: And I miss you too.

It was real. Really, really real.