Chapter 24

I felt like I couldn't breathe. What was I supposed to tell him? I should have already told him everything. I should have been free.

We rode up in silence with me counting the floors as they lit up above the elevator doors. I swear I usually didn't take so long.

Jesse remained silent. I hated the fact that he could outlast me in the awkward silence. It was so uncomfortable.

I was at my limit, ready to sing like a canary when the elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

"We'll talk about this after work," he said as he slipped out.

I waited for the relief to flood my system but nothing came. Only a feeling of dread and a lump in my throat.

My desk suddenly felt claustrophobic, like I was stuck. I needed to be anywhere but there but I had a job to do.

Why was I doing this job? I'd lost track of my motivation to be here. I might as well have just been a secretary at that point.

I was going to be at the helm of this company – my company – in under a month. All these people, my coworkers