The clock is just hitting noon as I come into the office the next day after grabbing the first flight home. I was certain I’d have armed security guards waiting for me the moment I walked into Aurora, along with a team of lawyers. Nobody says anything though, but still, I feel certain they’ll read all over my face how their plan has backfired.

I was honest with Tony last night. I don’t want to come back here. But I need to talk to Myra and give my notice. She’s treated me right, and to just bounce in the middle of the night after cutting Aurora’s hamstrings isn’t right. Still, I’m nervous as I step off the elevator, expecting either icy silence or a hail of gunfire.

As it is, as soon as I step off the elevator to the fifth floor, Cassie takes one look at me and grabs my hands. “What’s going on, Hannah? Listen, I know we talked, but . . . it’s been a madhouse here this morning. Myra’s been upstairs most of the time, and I swear it’s like a mausoleum today. Myra came down a few minutes ago, and she looks like she’s aged a decade since nine this morning.”

“I—” I begin, but before I can fill Cassie in on the details of everything that happened last night, Myra pops her head out her doorway.

“Hannah? You’re finally here. I need to see you and Miss White immediately, please.”

Cassie’s eyes are desperate. She wants details about what happened, but I just shake my head at her as we walk into Myra’s office together and sit. Cassie’s right, Myra looks for the first time like a woman who’s seen her best days behind her. Her face looks slightly lined, and her hair hangs limply. Even her suit looks rumpled. She just looks tired.

“The board received a rather distressing call from Mr. Mobber this morning. He’s enacted an obscure clause in the contract that no one realized was there, the legal department included. I’m sure heads are going to roll for that. If I were either of you, I’d avoid the tenth floor unless you want to get blood on your shoes.”

“Eww,” Cassie murmurs, going a trifle paler. She’s looking rather Goth at this point, with her red lipstick and near-ash-white skin.

Myra gives a tired sort of chuckle, nodding. “Yeah. Clause 31E effectively means that he can cancel his intent to sell to Aurora with no penalties other than returning the down payment we already transferred to him.”

“That’s . . . interesting,” I reply as Myra gives me a level look. I can’t reveal that I tipped off Wesley. It’d get my ass sued from now until I’m a grandparent, and if it came out that Tony was involved too, Oliver would find himself the most successful coffee shop owner in the welfare office. I have to dance on the edge of a knife right now and pray that Wesley is as much of a shark as he claims to be. “How?”

Myra shakes her head. “Somehow, he seems to have gotten information on our plans for the property. According to Mobber, what Aurora had planned violates local laws on exploitation, and so he triggered the clause unilaterally.”

“Can he do that?” Cassie, who wasn’t involved last night, asks in shock.

“Of course he can,” Myra grumbles. “I just got back from a meeting with the board, and Mr. Thompson, head of legal, was in there. Apparently, he had the nuclear option in his back pocket the entire time and triggered it as soon as he caught wind of what we were going to do. The question the board has right now is how Mobber found out.”

“What are they thinking?” I ask, knowing my face might as well be a giant sign that’s flashing GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY over and over.

Myra gives me a look, leaning back in her chair. “There’s suspicions flying all around. I’m not going to lie. A couple of those accusations have been leveled at this floor. But Mobber’s not saying, and the company had already gotten in contact with quite a few sources in Hawaii, so it could be any number of people. Of course, everyone is denying it. They don’t want to have legal on their asses. Do you two know anything?”

I stay silent, Cassie looking at me with her lip trembling. She’s been so helpful and loyal to a fault. If she sells me out, she can save herself, maybe even get a promotion out of it. But instead, she says nothing, and I give her a look and a small nod. “I’m sorry, Myra, but I really have no idea.”

Myra nods, her face grim. “Well, let’s just say that, hypothetically, of course, Wesley got the information from someone at Aurora. The witch hunt is going to get pretty hard and heavy around here, with a lot of eyes on this floor. By the way, corporate’s told me that they’re going to be going into fire sale mode on the real estate development side.”

“Let me guess, they’ll call it corporate restructuring?” I ask, and Myra nods. I sigh, knowing what I’m going to say next is going to make this more difficult. “Then I guess I’ll get it started early. Myra, I came in today to give you my notice. I’m quitting.”

Myra doesn’t look surprised and instead leans back. “You know that by doing that, you’re going to get a lot of people saying you’re the leak. You practically broadcast it to the entire building the other day that you hated the plans.”

I nod and take a breath. “Myra, I have learned so much from you, and your mentoring has taught me many things. You taught me how to read people and negotiate, when to show your cards and when to bluff, and most importantly, to trust your gut. But the biggest lesson you taught me, I don’t think you’ve even realized.”

“What’s that?” Myra asks. Next to me, I can see Cassie watching intently. She’s being brave, oh, so brave, that I wish I could hug her right now. But I need to tell Myra this.

“Myra, you showed me, and I bet if you ask Cassie, she’ll tell you the same thing—you showed us that sometimes, you just have to do it your way. I don’t know, maybe you filtered Sinatra a bit too damn much when you were younger, but you made it by doing what you felt was the right thing. I learned that by watching and learning from you. I’m resigning because it’s the right thing to do. This company took my hard work and they perverted it from minute one. Not you, but corporate. They fed me a line of bullshit, played me like a pawn, and then at the end, they didn’t even have the presence of mind to say thank you. It’s just not the kind of place I want to work.”

Myra’s eyebrows have risen nearly to her hairline, but she doesn’t appear angry, more pleased at my little speech. “Nice speech, Hannah, but your resignation is not accepted.”

“What?” I ask, surprised, but Myra’s expression gives me pause. “What are you doing?”

“Saving your ass,” Myra says with a small smile. “Hannah Fowler, effectively immediately, you are fired. Your position is being eliminated as a budget saving measure for the real estate division of Aurora. Aurora wishes you the best in your future endeavors.”

I laugh softly. Myra’s covering my ass. If she fires me, she might take some heat, but it’ll take heat off me. “You sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” Myra says. “And if I may, one last lesson . . . I’ve always considered myself rather bold, but you have some big clanking brass balls. Use them wisely.” Myra laughs and sticks her hand out for a shake. “Best wishes, Miss Fowler. I’ll give you a glowing recommendation anytime you need one.”

With a clap, she turns to Cassie. “Alright Miss White, now with our office being shorthanded—”

“I’m leaving too,” Cassie says, her mouth set in that same line of determination I’ve gotten used to seeing. This is the same Cassie who fought like a mongoose on speed during the tug of war. “I can’t stick around—”

“Yes, you can,” I say, reaching over and taking Cassie’s hand. “Cass, I’ve got something else lined up.” I’m sure Myra knows it, looking over at her. “But you? You need this. Stick around a little while, help Myra get the fire sale going, get the ball rolling. Cash your paychecks and make connections. Protect yourself.”

“Listen to Hannah,” Myra says quietly. “Stick around, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Besides, I was going to say, you just got a promotion to my primary assistant. Real estate’s going to work as a two-woman shop until we get either absorbed or closed down. Give me three to six months, and I’ll make sure there’s a good severance check in it for you. Just make sure you’re prepared for what’s next.”

Cassie looks determined, and I give her hands another squeeze, leaning in to whisper to her. “Say yes. I just had an idea, and we’ll talk about it in my office. Let me go clean out my things.”

“Fine, fine . . . pair of crazy ass bitches around here,” Cassie mutters. “Okay, but that means I’m done cleaning out the coffee pot around here.”

I give Cassie a quick hug and collect a few things from my desk before waiting. Cassie comes out a few minutes later, looking afraid but still brave, willing to do what needs to be done. “So, you’re packed?”

“Yeah,” I reply, patting the small box of stuff. I never kept a lot of personal things in the office, and my office laptop, I just made sure was scrubbed of any personal files. “Listen, when things are done here with Aurora, give me a call. I suspect that with what’s happening, I’m going to be meeting some new people. Between your charm and a sparking recommendation from Myra and me, I’m sure we can find something you’d be perfect for.”

Cassie laughs and comes over, giving me another quick hug. “Well, if that’s the case, maybe I can cash a few checks. Don’t become a stranger, okay?”

“Stranger? I’m planning on taking you out to dinner tonight!” I tease. “Us fired people, we’ve got all the money we need. I’m getting some pizzas and then you’re helping me pack up my stuff!”

“Moving too, huh?” Cassie asks, and I nod. “I can guess where. Probably won’t need that heavy leather jacket where you’re going.”

“Not in the long term,” I agree. “In the short term, who knows? I’m just going by my gut and faith. Give me a call when you get off work, and we’ll make some plans.”

I head back to my apartment, not as bothered by its emptiness this time because I’m just here to gather up my bare necessities. I’ll have movers pack and ship the bulk of my things and donate the rest because my new life awaits in Hawaii.