Too Late, Ex-Husband: Watch Me Shine

Mrs. Fitzgerald. Wit

mother's bed beeped in a slow, agonizing rhythm. Idella's fingernails dug so hard into the cold aluminum

a practiced mask of professional sympathy.

, his voice lowering. "Without the deposit for the artificial heart v

air in the corridor suddenl

ght. "Give me a few more days. I can get t

lla," Dr. Evans said, steppi

t the linoleum floor echoed down the empty corridor, sounding like a

pital's automated billing department and various predatory payday loan agencies she had desperately contacted that morning. The sheer weight of the impending financi

she dialed the private line of

st as she thought it would go

tzgerald's assistant." The voice w

ing. "It's an emergency. My mother is dying. I need an e

th impatience. "Furthermore, per the Fitzgerald Group Employee Compliance Manual, your

ctically screamed into the

ve scoff came thr

od day, Ms

ne wen

ered the phone, her hands trembling so hard she almost dropped i

. The biting chill of the Chicago autumn wind slammed into her, sl

college days. Fount had explicitly forbidden her from parking it in the main estate garage, and without any financial al

hing. A third time.

fist into the steering wheel. The

r foot hard on the gas pedal. The engine final

e wet asphalt before catching traction, shooting the

the VIP visitor zone outside the towering glass skyscraper. She sho

rity guard barked, stepping into her

ranch employee badge from her purse and s

ashed a harsh,

revoked," the guard sa

gate. Two massive security guards immediately grabbed her a

della struggled, her boots scraping

her

le, the head of Human Resources, walked out of the executive ele

e guards released Idella, who stumble

stration desk. She looked at Idella as if she were

?" Idella demanded, her ches

led a crisp sheet of p

bby. "You are in violation of attendance policies. You have two options: sign this

e bottom. The air rushed out of her lungs. Three years of grueling resea

d the executive

el, blocking her. "Don't embarras

ding," Idella gritted her teeth. Employees were beginni

her heavy perfume makin

who married up. You have zero leverage to negotiate with the CEO. Sign the

creamed at her to slap Susan across the face. But the imag

the bile risin

rabbed a black pen from the security desk. Her hand shook viol

preading across her lips. She gave Idella one last look of utte

ors slid shut, sealing away the last shred of illusion she had about h