Not goodbye
1161 Words
Silverstone airline
The departure hall buzzed with voices, rolling suitcases, and boarding announcements.
None of it reached Ruth.
She held Rinna tightly, as though letting go would make everything around her fall apart.
"I still can't believe they're calling you back early," Ruth murmured.
Rinna sighed dramatically.
"Trust the headquarters to ruin my vacation."
She pulled away just enough to look at Ruth.
"I still had one whole week left." She pouted
"I know."
"They said it's an emergency."
Ruth forced a smile.
"You've always been too good at your job."
"Unlike someone I know..." Rinna poked her forehead. "...who finally got hired at the biggest tech company in California."
Ruth laughed weakly.
Rinna's expression softened.
"Promise me something."
"What?"
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
"And if anything happens..." She pointed a finger at Ruth. "...you call me immediately."
"I will."
"No lying."
Ruth swallowed before she replied. "Sure, I will,"
Rinna narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You'd better not."
For a split second, guilt flashed across Ruth's face.
She was already lying.
Caleb, the agreement, the blackmail.
Everything she had kept hidden from the one person who had stood beside her through every season of her life.
She suddenly felt unworthy of being called Rinna's best friend.
The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal.
Rinna hugged her one last time.
"When I come back, we'll celebrate your first salary."
Ruth smiled.
"I'll hold you to that."
"You'd better."
Rinna waved as she disappeared through the departure gate.
Ruth stood there until she could no longer see her.
Only then did she turn and walk away.
*****
The apartment felt unusually quiet.
No music blasted from the speakers nor random laughter drifted from the kitchen.
No Rinna dancing while making breakfast.
For the first time since moving in, the place felt empty.
Ruth slowly walked into the guest room.
Her eyes landed on the brown file resting on the bedside table.
The marital agreement.
She picked it up.
For several long minutes, she simply stared at it.
Then she opened it again.
Every page felt colder than the last.
Restrictions, conditions, obligations.
She wasn't signing a marriage agreement.
She was signing away her freedom.
She closed her eyes.
If she refused...
Caleb would expose everything.
Rinna would know, and she would lose the only family she had left.
Slowly...
She reached for a pen.
Her fingers trembled violently.
The tip hovered above the signature line.
Just sign it...
It'll all be over.
Her hand began to move.
Ring...
Her phone suddenly lit up.
Ruth jerked in surprise.
The pen rolled across the table.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Unknown number.
She inhaled deeply before answering.
"Hello?"
"Good morning. Am I speaking with Miss Ruth Bennett?"
"This is her."
"Good morning, Miss Bennett. This is Mr Ben from TC Corporation."
Ruth straightened immediately.
"We were expecting you this morning to complete your employment documentation."
Her eyes drifted back to the agreement lying open on the table.
"I'm... sorry."
"I wanted to ask if I could delay my resumption for about a week."
The silence that came after was long enough for her stomach to knot.
Finally, Ben spoke.
"We don't normally make exceptions."
"I understand."
"This opportunity is highly competitive."
"I know."
"But you earned it."
His voice softened slightly.
"It would be unfortunate to lose it."
Ruth swallowed.
"I don't want to lose it."
"Then come in today."
She blinked.
"Today?"
"Complete your employment paperwork first."
"If you truly need time afterwards, explain your situation."
"We'll see what can be done."
Hope flickered inside her.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet."
He chuckled.
"Get here first."
The call ended.
Ruth lowered the phone slowly.
Her eyes returned to the agreement.
This time...
She pushed it away.
"No."
She whispered it to herself.
"I'm not letting him destroy my future."
For the first time in days, she chose herself.
...
An hour later...
She stepped out of the apartment wearing a simple cream blouse tucked into navy trousers.
No expensive dress or makeup beyond the basics. She looked at herself. Normally, Rinna would style her, and she missed her already
The taxi pulled away toward downtown California.
As the towering glass building of TC Corporation came into view, butterflies filled her stomach.
She had dreamed about working here since university.
Back then...
She imagined becoming one of the company's top software engineers.
Life had taken another direction.
But perhaps...
Not forever.
…
Employees moved confidently from one department to another.
Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going.
Unlike her. She approached the reception desk.
"I'm Ruth Bennett."
"I'm here to complete my employment paperwork."
The receptionist smiled warmly.
"Mr. Ben is expecting you."
Moments later, a man in his late thirties appeared.
He wore glasses and carried a tablet tucked beneath one arm.
"Miss Bennett?"
She nodded.
"Welcome."
He extended his hand.
His easy smile immediately eased some of her nerves.
"I was worried you weren't coming."
"I almost didn't."
He laughed.
"I'm glad you changed your mind."
As they walked toward the elevators, he casually explained the company's departments, employee benefits, and training structure.
Unlike the intimidating managers Ruth had imagined...
Ben felt more like an older brother than a supervisor.
"You'll like it here," he said.
"We work hard."
"But we're not monsters."
That earned a genuine laugh from Ruth.
"I was beginning to think everyone here would be terrifying."
"Oh..."
Ben grinned.
"Not everyone."
His smile became noticeably more awkward.
"The CEO, on the other hand..."
Ruth raised an eyebrow.
"He's that scary?"
Ben laughed nervously.
"I didn't say that."
"But?"
"But you'll understand when you meet him."
The Human Resources department completed the paperwork surprisingly quickly.
Ruth signed each document carefully.
When everything was finished, she cleared her throat.
"Actually..."
"I wanted to request one week before officially resuming to sort some things out before starting fully."
Ben looked up.
"I remember."
"I'll speak with management."
"Please wait here."
Ruth nodded.
Ten minutes felt like an hour.
She sat twisting her fingers together.
What if they withdrew the offer?
What if asking for leave before her first day made her look irresponsible?
The elevator doors finally opened again.
Ben walked back toward her.
His expression revealed nothing.
"My request was denied?" Ruth asked quietly.
Ben smiled.
"I didn't say that."
She frowned.
"The CEO wants to see you."
Ruth froze.
"...Me?"
He nodded.
"Follow me."
The elevator climbed silently toward the executive floor.
The higher they went...
The faster Ruth's heart beat.
She wanted to start as an ordinary employee.
Why would the CEO want to see her?
She shouldn't have even asked for the leave.
The elevator doors opened.
The executive floor was almost unnervingly quiet.
Ben stopped outside a large wooden door.
A silver nameplate gleamed beside it.
CEO
He looked at Ruth reassuringly.
"Relax."
"I don't think I can."
He smiled.
"You'll be fine."
Then he knocked.
Ben pushed the door open.
- Writer
