Chapter 3The Termination Clause

Chloe’s face turned a blotchy crimson. She stood there, neck rigid, unable to form a single word.

Finally, she shot me a venomous glare, spun on her heel, and clip-clopped away in a fury.

Around me, heads ducked in unison as everyone suddenly became intensely interested in their work.

I ignored them, my attention returning to the screen.

Time ticked by. The sky outside my window bled from gray to black. The office emptied out until I was the only one left, but the door to Leo’s office remained shut.

The company seal I needed never appeared.

At 8 p.m., I dialed Leo’s number.

“Hello?”

I suppressed the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “Chloe, please put Leo on the phone. There’s an urgent contract that needs his attention.”

A light, musical laugh echoed from the other end.

“Oh, Director Reed, still trying to talk business with a man this late? My Leo is already fast asleep.”

My grip on the phone tightened. My voice dropped three degrees. “This contract is worth tens of millions of dollars. The final deadline is 9 a.m. tomorrow. The company cannot afford the penalty fee.”

“Oh, what a shame,” she cooed. “But work is never-ending, isn’t it? And a man’s health is the most important thing. I just couldn’t bear to wake him up right now. You’re so capable, Director Reed. I’m sure you can figure something out on your own, right?”

She hung up before I could reply.

I immediately redialed. A cold, robotic voice met my ear.

The user you are trying to reach is unavailable.

I tried again. Same message.

She had blocked my number.