Chapter 4The Termination Clause

I switched to the messaging app and sent Leo a text.

[Leo, the Henderson contract is due at 9 a.m. The penalty for default is catastrophic for the company. Please call me back ASAP to get the seal.]

A red exclamation mark appeared next to my message.

[This user is not accepting messages from you.]

Perfect.

I picked up my desk phone and started calling the other executives.

The VP’s phone rang twice before he declined the call. A second later, a text came in.

[Avery, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but… you know how it is with Leo and Chloe. It’s not really my place to call him right now, is it?]

The CFO actually answered, his voice thick with sleep. “Avery, calm down, calm down. It’s just… Leo is… well, you know. Chloe is on the warpath. And as important as this contract is, Leo’s home life is more important, right? Just wait. We’ll sort it out tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

“Mark,” I interrupted him, “at 9 a.m. tomorrow, the conversation won’t be about the contract. It will be about how we’re going to pay a ten-million-dollar penalty.”

The line went dead silent. Then, a dry chuckle. “I’ll… I’ll see what I can do.”

And then, nothing.

Out of options, I opened the company-wide group chat. I typed out a message and sent it to all staff.

[URGENT ALL-STAFF: The contract for the Henderson Group's multi-million dollar project requires the official company seal by 9 a.m. tomorrow, or we will face catastrophic default penalties. I am currently unable to reach Leo. If anyone has a way of contacting him, please assist. This is critical to the company's survival.]

The chat remained a digital graveyard.

A few seconds later, Leo’s profile picture popped up. But the words were pure Chloe.

[@Avery Reed, sweetie, I know you’re just trying to help the company, but Leo is really not feeling well today. He needs his rest. Sending messages like this so late at night is just going to make everyone worry.]

Another message followed immediately.

[And… a multi-million dollar contract? I’ve never heard Leo mention it. Avery, you have to be so careful. You don’t want to get scammed by someone on the outside. If the contract turns out to be fake, Leo would feel just terrible for you. And if the company lost that much money… how could you ever bear that responsibility all by yourself?]

Every word was a poisoned dart.

Before I could even type a response, a small gray banner appeared at the top of my screen.

[You have been removed from the group by the administrator.]