A Night Before Ruin

I

re not shaking. The glass shimmered like a wall between

re expected." His words were clipped. Polite but c

ier than the last. By the time I reached twenty seven, my c

e footsteps. Art on the walls that probably cost mor

them for three whole breaths. Then I knocked. Once. Lightly. The

navy robe that looked freshly pressed. His expression di

two days ago. Like I was just another meeting on his

at. "You made sure I had no other options." I looked around. T

s voice was steady. Too calm. Like he was used to this. Traps dis

ootage. You ruined my name. Now you want to talk?" I tur

ear you beg?" There was something dark in his eyes. No

is about revenge or power, then just say it. Say w

tretched behind him. "Revenge is a waste. Power is

t. I said no. You ignored it. You humiliated me. And no

. That means you are willing to listen." His words land

. You blacklisted me. You made it impossible to survive

be. But it disappeared just as fast. "No one twisted anything.

janitor position without being flagged." I looked a

y interests. You violated company policy. I responded

cause I walked away. Because I saw through the ch

od slowly. "This is not about pride. It is about responsibility. You

that justifies this?" I looked around the room aga

mall bar in the corner. Poured water into a glass. He han

ater," I said. "

ng to get." He stepped in front of me. "But you need to

k to be dragged through mud. I did not ask for s

y. "But I did let it happen. I did not stop it. That was my

his?" I asked. "Why call me here? Just to repeat how

st. Too sudden. Then he looke

at him.

pposed to be a line item. Easy. Done." His mouth press

ghts moved on the windows. I stepped back. "Then why not

alked toward a desk by the window. Picked up another envelo

take it. "

face was calm again. But something sharp linger

d around it tightly. I looked up at him one last time

ead," he said. "And th

t beat harder. I did not know what scared me mo

eath and began t

clicked open. A woman's voic

pting somethi

fr

wed. "You were not

clicked against the floor. "T

y. Too heavy. Like whatever was inside had just become

icked to me. "L

ooking at me. Smiling. Like

eady knew exactly what