t was a simple confirmation. They loved the final demo. The
ve of such intense joy and relief that I had to grip the edge of my desk. We di
. Black spots danced in my vision. I re
g my nostrils. A nurse was checking my vitals. She told me I ha
ay. I thanked her, got dressed, and took a cab stra
designed myself gleaming on the wall. I headed for the exec
at the door to our s
nge, I thoug
d agai
internal network. My credentials were not recognized. My email account, my
personally mentored, walked by. "Leo, hey.
is face pale. He avoided my eyes. "
f a framed photo. My photo. It was a picture of me and Caleb from our college graduation, our arms slung around
art s
was Krystal Schroeder, the marketing intern Caleb had hired a few months ago. She was young
feet propped up on my desk, talking
smile spread across her face. She h
ffice, her voice dripping with artificial authority, "all non-essential personnel are to remain c
"That includes former employ
mind couldn' t process the words. This
hrew open the door to Caleb' s office. He was s
voice shaking. "Why is Krystal at my desk? Why is
rystal' s directive is company policy now. We need to be more prof
I shot back, the anger finally boiling over. "I buil
ke. "Caleb, I' m pregnant. The doctor said I need to take i
ryone gets sick, Brooke. People get pregnant every day and still
man who had held me and promised me the world just a few days
ar worse than any morning sickness. It was the
was a
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