Jessica leaned back on the couch, eyes fixed on the document that had just sealed her fate. The signature was dry, the deed irreversible. She was a line item, an expense, a secret contract. For a long moment, she didn’t feel anything at all.
Alex watched her, the stillness in his posture unnerving. He didn't offer a celebratory word or a dismissive gesture. He simply reached out, picked up the signed contract, and placed it inside a sleek black folder.
"Good," he said, the single word recognizing the efficiency of the transaction. He didn't look at her when he spoke, his focus entirely on the papers.
Jessica waited, unsure what would happen next.
His phone rang, and she saw Sheila’s name appear. He looked down at the screen, and his expression softened slightly, a fractional, telling c
