Isabella smiled. "Not a problem. Let's leave the start date open for a moment. I'll send the offer invitation immediately so your old company can't guilt-trip you into staying."

Walking out of her office, the heavy stone that had been crushing my chest for two years suddenly vanished.

When I had previously mentioned resigning to Blake, he had looked at me with disappointed eyes and said...

"I hired you because I saw potential in you. I thought you were willing to endure hardship to achieve greatness. Do you think the outside world will give you the time to find your potential?"

That was what Blake had said.

Even though I had already built a successful account by then, his words had worked. I stayed.

I became cheap labor.

I became their office nanny.

The next morning, I walked into Blake Rowe's office and placed a photocopy of the termination notice on his desk.

"Mr. Rowe, this is a copy of my termination. Joanna didn't have time to print a formal copy for you yesterday, so I brought it myself."

Blake didn't even glance at it. He snatched the paper and tore it into shreds, his expression indifferent.

"Rose, didn't I tell you? Joanna wasn't being serious. The company has always viewed you as a talent to be cultivated. Why would we ever fire you?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out another photocopy. My voice remained calm.

"Mr. Rowe, I am serious. If you tear this one up, I have ten more."

Blake's face darkened. Beside him, Joanna rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with provocation.

"Rose Floyd, drop the act."

She scoffed. "Blake gave you a paid day off yesterday—is that not enough? Or are you trying to claim you found a new job in less than twenty-four hours? Who are you trying to fool?"

Blake sighed, feigning impatience. "Ms. Floyd, stop making a scene. If it makes you feel better, I'll have Joanna apologize. You've been here two years—can you really bear to walk away?"

I silently pulled out my phone and opened the digital offer letter.

"I really have found a new job. I only came today to clarify things, for the sake of our two years as colleagues."

Blake leaned in to look at the document. As he read the signed offer, his brows knitted so tightly a deep furrow formed between them.

Joanna stared blankly. "That's impossible. It's only been one day!"