Chapter 012 - I'll quit
1458 Words
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*CHAPTER TWELVE.
“I will quit,” Wren said quietly.
The words fell into the room like a stone dropped into still water.
Lyra, who had been scrolling through her phone on the couch, froze. She looked up slowly, her brows pulling together as if she hadn’t heard correctly.
“Come again?”
Wren didn’t meet her eyes. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
“I said I will quit.” This time her voice was firmer, though it trembled at the edges. “I don’t want to have anything to do with him or his family again.”
Lyra set her phone down carefully. For a few seconds, she just stared.
“But you just started,” Lyra said slowly. “Two weeks ago you were telling me this job was made for you. That the team was great. That the pay was better than anything you’ve ever gotten. What changed?”
Wren shook her head and dragged both hands through her hair until it stood in messy waves around her face. A bitter laugh escaped her.
“No. I take that back.”
“My mind just… flashed back.” Her voice dropped. “I started putting things together. Think about it, Lyra.”
Lyra remained silent, allowing her to continue
.
“I had just joined them, but somehow I was made the coordinator for that important project. Liam is there. Green is there. They are all there. But Caleb said the CEO assigned me to it. I was also made to present the project alongside the team leader.”
She paused, staring at the floor.
“I feel like I climbed the ladder just to achieve that position. Or maybe…” She swallowed. “Maybe he took pity on me.”
“Wren—”
“My mind is a mess right now.”
Wren dropped onto the couch and covered her face with both hands. The weight of the thought pressed down on her chest until it was hard to breathe.
For the past few weeks she had allowed herself to believe it. That she had finally gotten something good. A job she liked. A team that didn’t treat her like she was invisible. A project she had poured her nights into, staying late to perfect every slide.
What if none of it was real?
What if every door that had opened for her since she walked into Sterling Group had his fingerprints on it?
The thought made her stomach twist violently.
Lyra crossed her arms and watched her for a long moment. Then she sighed and leaned forward.
“You know what? You don’t have to go back to that goddamn place if you don’t want to.”
Wren slowly looked up, her eyes red-rimmed.
“But, baby girl…” Lyra tilted her head, her expression softening. “Are you fighting with him, or are you fighting with money?”
Wren blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.” Lyra pointed at her. “Because if you’re fighting with Damien, that’s understandable. The man broke you. I get it. But if you’re also fighting with your bank account, then we have another problem.”
Despite everything, Wren almost smiled. Almost.
“Lyra, this isn’t funny.”
“I know.” Lyra shifted closer and sat beside her, their shoulders touching. “But I’m trying to make you think clearly.
" I will suggest you finish this month and collect this month's salary so that your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Or what do you say?”
Wren stared at her.
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.
“That’s okay.” Lyra squeezed her hand gently. “You don’t have to figure everything out tonight. The world will still be there tomorrow.”
Wren nodded slowly, but it felt like she was agreeing just to end the conversation.
“Then I’ll leave you to think about it,” Lyra said, standing up. “Goodnight.”
“Okay.”
Lyra headed toward the door. Wren pulled the duvet from the armchair and threw it over her face, pretending she was ready to sleep immediately.
At the doorway, Lyra paused. She looked back at her best friend, curled up like she was trying to disappear, and shook her head.
“What a turn of events,” she whispered to herself. “I never expected that though.'
The door clicked shut behind her.
The moment she left, Wren pulled the duvet away and stared at the ceiling.
After nearly twenty minutes of this, she reached for her phone with shaking hands and opened her work messages. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
*Wren:* Hi Caleb. I’d like to request a day off tomorrow.
The reply came in less than a minute.
*Caleb:* Yeah, you need it. You seemed out of it today.
Wren exhaled.
*Wren:* Thanks, Caleb. I’ll explain everything when I’m back.
*Caleb:* No problem. Take care of yourself.
She stared at the screen until it went dark. At least Caleb wasn’t making things difficult. At least someone was kind.
She told herself she would think everything through tonight. she would decide if she was staying or leaving.
But nature had its own plans.
After almost an hour of replaying every scenario in her head, her eyes finally grew heavy. Apparently, even overthinking had limits.
Sleep took her, restless and full of dreams she wouldn’t remember in the morning.
*The Next Morning*
“What do we have for breakfast?”
Wren came out of her room looking haggard.Her hair was messy, her eyes were slightly puffy, and she looked like someone who had spent the entire night fighting an invisible battle.
Lyra took one look at her and immediately smirked. “Guess.”
Wren narrowed her eyes. “Toast?”
“No, Wren.” Lyra dramatically placed a hand over her heart. “It’s not every day we eat busy-person food.”
Wren burst out laughing before she could stop herself. It echoed in the small kitchen, loud and unexpected. It had honestly been a while since they’d had a proper homemade breakfast in this apartment. Bills had been tight.
“Okay, what is it then?”
Lyra folded her arms and tried to look mysterious. “Your favourite…”
Wren’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me…”
“Aww, you are the best, Lyra!” Wren pretended to cry as she rushed over and wrapped her friend in a tight hug.
“Okay, okay, drama queen.” Lyra laughed and gently pushed her away. “Now let’s eat before you start crying.
Wren wiped at her dry eyes. “I’m just emotional.”
“You’re hungry.”
“That too.”
They both laughed again. Lyra pulled out a chair for her.
“Sit down before you collapse.”
For a few minutes there was only the comfortable silence between them. The soft clink of spoons against plates. The warmth of food and being seen.
After a while, Lyra broke the quiet. “So, what’s your plan today?”
Wren continued eating. “Nothing. I’ll just sleep and sleep.”
Lyra raised an eyebrow. “You’re wasting your day off already.”
“I deserve it.”
“You do.” Lyra took a sip of her drink, then added casually, “I’m thinking we should go out today.”
Wren stopped mid-bite. “Where to?”
“Anywhere you choose.”
Wren thought about it. The apartment suddenly felt too small. Her thoughts felt too loud. Maybe air. Maybe noise. Maybe something that wasn’t Sterling Group or Damien or that project.
“Okay.”
Lyra smiled. “Okay what?”
“Let’s go shopping.”
Wren suddenly stood up, energy sparking in her chest for the first time in 24 hours.
“Give me some time.”
“Wren!”
But Wren was already rushing toward her room.
“Where are you going?”
“To get ready!”
“Girl, you haven’t even finished breakfast!”
“I’ll finish it later!”
The bedroom door slammed shut.
Lyra stared at it for a moment before shaking her head and smiling to herself.
“She said she wanted to sleep all day… now she’s going shopping.”
Inside her room, Wren stood in front of her wardrobe. She pulled out a simple dress and laid it on the bed, then looked at herself in the mirror.
She didn’t know what she was going to do about Damien.
She didn’t know if she would stay at Sterling Group or walk away.
But for today, at least, she could choose something simple.
She could choose to go outside.
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