Her Empire, His Ruin

der. I ignored them. I opened my desk drawer one last time and pulled out the company phone and my security badge. I

aughing about something. The laugh

on his desk. They landed with a cl

re yours now," I s

e to my face, a flicker

not be dramati

rned and walked toward the elevators,

ned against the cool metal wall and took a deep breath. It w

onto the busy street, I pulled out my p

done,"

he asked, her voi

d, and I was surprised to fin

ucted him to begin the process of selling the penthouse and liquidating my half of our

g on the swings, and an old couple sat on a bench, sharing a newspaper. I

ith sketches of community housing projects, urban gardens, and buildings powered by solar and geothermal energy. I h

she had said. "A financial foundation. Then, y

elped her build her foundation, a towerin

architect at the firm, a young, idealistic kid

d to let you know... Ms. Vance just reass

?" I asked

urgent, off-site 'fact-finding mission' for a few d

ilities to go play with Leo. My resignation, which should have

look far. Leo' s profile was public. His latest post was from two hours ago. It was a photo of two pairs of feet propped up on a table on a sun-drenched balcon

service with a proper partner.

n't a knife to the heart. It was just... pathetic. A

efreshed, their faces and their curated lies vanishing from my feed. It was a small, simple ac