Chapter 3

When Victor started the company, nobody there knew how to run the machine he’d bought.

He came to my house multiple times, practically begging me to come work for him.

“Once we turn a profit, you’ll get a share,” he’d told me. Later, he promised me equity, too.

I knew how hard he was working to keep the place open. I wanted him to make it.

But as the company grew, Victor decided my salary was too high.

He saw someone younger he could pay less.

Two guards walked me back to my desk and watched me pack.

At the front door, I turned for one last look. Ten years, and all I was taking with me fit in one box.

On holidays, I stayed close to home in case the machine went down.

I never went anywhere more than thirty minutes from the plant.

I drove home, packed a suitcase, and booked a flight to the resort town.

I even booked a suite at a hotel for a full two weeks.

That evening, I posted an update.

“I quit. Tomorrow I’m finally taking a vacation.”

I added a photo of the destination from my booking confirmation.

“Must be nice, Layla! Some of us are working through the whole long weekend.”

“Victor promised me four times my usual rate, though!”

I saw Sybilla’s name under the comments and kept scrolling.

If the machine went down, four times her usual rate still wouldn’t tell her how to get it running again.

Then my phone rang.

It was a recruiter.

She said she’d been waiting for a chance to talk to me about a position at a larger manufacturer.

She’d seen my resignation post and decided to call before somebody else did.

The salary range she quoted was more than I’d ever made at Victor’s company.

The plant was just outside the town I was flying to. Could I come in the following afternoon?

I agreed without hesitation.

After I hung up, I let out a long breath.

I’d spent years turning down plans because Victor might need me.

What I didn’t expect was a call from Victor that same evening.

“Layla, Finance says you still owe the company five hundred dollars.”