The last person he expected to see walk into his office that morning was Mara Daniels.
She wore black. Head high. Red lipstick. Calm like a storm that already passed; but left the building cracked.
His chest tightened.
"You're back," he said, voice quiet.
She didn't sit.
Didn't speak.
She just stepped forward and placed a white envelope on his desk; neat. Clean. Final.
"What's this?" he asked, even though the answer was screaming at him.
She met his eyes; and God, he hated how steady hers were.
"My resignation."
He didn't respond. Couldn't.
It felt like someone had punched the air out of him.
"You're not serious."
"I am," she said softly. "For once… completely."
He stood, stepping around the desk, eyes locked on hers.
"You kissed me."
Her lips parted; barely.
"And you let me walk away."
Silence.
He searched her face, trying to find a crack; a sign she didn't want this.
But Mara Daniels was a fortress.
"You're running."
"No," she said. "I'm finally choosing myself."
She turned to leave; heels clicking like a countdown. His voice stopped her.
"You walk out now… that's it."
She paused at the door.
"You already said goodbye, sir," she whispered.
"I'm just making it official."
And then she was gone.
Envelope still on his desk.
Heartbeat still in his hands.
The elevator doors were closing. Slowly. Too slowly.
Mara stood inside, clutching her coat, sunglasses on, heart annoyingly steady.
Then;
"Hold the door!"
Her fingers twitched.
But she didn't move.
Too late.
A hand slid between the doors and forced them open;
It was him.
He stepped in. Alone. No guards. No assistants. Just him and the tension still breathing between them.
"You really weren't going to say goodbye?" he asked, voice low.
She didn't look at him.
"I did"
He exhaled sharply through his nose; not quite a laugh. Not quite calm.
"You planned that line."
"Of course I did. I plan everything. That's why your company doesn't fall apart daily."
Silence filled the tiny space.
Floor 34… 33… 32…
He turned to her fully now. Desperate edge creeping into his voice.
"Mara. I made a mistake."
She adjusted her glasses. Still no eye contact.
"Correction. You kept making them. I just finally decided to stop cleaning them up."
Floor 25…
"You really hate me that much?" he asked.
That made her glance at him.
"I don't hate you. Hate takes energy."
"I just… don't care anymore."
That?
Cut deeper than hate.
Floor 17…
He stepped closer. Too close.
"So what, that's it? You're gone?"
"You made it easy."
Floor 10…
"Say you'll stay."
"Say you're sorry."
He didn't speak.
The elevator stopped. Ground floor.
Doors opened. Cold air drifted in.
She stepped out without a second glance.
He didn't follow.
The doors shut behind her; and for the first time since she started working for him, she didn't look back.