PART 12:

She asked me to coffee. I said yes, that’s all. And the aquarium visit? We’re getting to know each other as people, off the clock. Katherine made a note on the pad in front of her. Has Ms. Cross offered you anything? Promotions, raises, special treatment of any kind? No. Has she made any promises contingent on continuing the relationship? No.

Has there been any physical contact of a sexual nature? Jesus Christ, no. We had coffee. We went to an aquarium with my daughter. That’s it. Mr. Vale, I understand this feels invasive, but we have a responsibility to protect all employees, including you. If Ms. Cross is leveraging her position, she’s not leveraging anything.

Adrian stood up. Are we done? Sit down, Mr. Vale. Am I being accused of something? You’re being asked questions. There’s a difference. Adrian remained standing. Then ask them. But stop implying that Selena is some kind of predator. She’s not. We’re two adults who happen to like each other. That’s all. Katherine set down her pen.

The optics are bad, Mr. Vale. Surely you can see that. A billionaire CEO and a maintenance worker. People talk. They’re already talking. Let them talk. It could affect your employment. The threat hung in the air like smoke. Adrian felt something cold settle in his gut. Are you threatening to fire me? I’m advising you that continuing this relationship could create complications.

For both of you, but especially for you. Katherine’s expression didn’t change. Ms. Cross can weather a scandal. She has resources, lawyers, public relations teams. What do you have? My daughter. Exactly. Which is why you should think very carefully about whether this is worth risking your livelihood over. Adrian stared at her.

Understanding clicked into place like a lock turning. Did the board put you up to this? He asked quietly. Katherine didn’t answer, which was answer enough. They want me gone. They want the situation handled discreetly. Which means they want me to walk away. I’m simply advising you of the potential consequences of your choices.

Adrian felt anger rising in his chest, hot and tight. Selena doesn’t know about this meeting, does she? Ms. Cross is a busy woman with many responsibilities. She doesn’t need to be involved in every personnel matter. This isn’t a personnel matter. This is you trying to scare me off. Mr. Vale, we’re done.

Adrian turned toward the door. Think about your daughter, Katherine called after him. Think about what’s best for her. Adrian stopped with his hand on the doorknob. Without turning around, he said, I think about my daughter every second of every day. That’s the only reason I’m walking out of this office instead of saying what I really want to say.

He left before she could respond. The rest of the day was a fog. Adrian went through the motions, replaced a broken thermostat on the third floor, fixed a jammed door in the legal department, cleaned out a clogged sink in the executive kitchen. His hands moved automatically while his brain replayed the conversation with Katherine on an endless loop.

They were trying to get rid of him, not by firing him outright. That would look bad, create questions. But by making his life uncomfortable enough that he’d quit on his own. And if he didn’t quit, they’d find a reason. Some small mistake, some policy violation, something they could point to and say, “See? This is why we had to let him go.

Nothing to do with Ms. Cross, just poor performance.” Adrian had seen it happen before. Miguel in custodial let go after 15 years because he’d supposedly missed too many shifts. Never mind that he’d been covering for other people’s emergencies. Sandra in the mail room terminated for insubordination after she’d complained about harassment from a manager.

The company protected its own and Adrian wasn’t one of their own. He texted Selena at lunch. We need to talk. Her response came immediately. What’s wrong? Not over text. Can you meet me after work? Where? Anywhere that’s not your office or my apartment. The park on 5th and Madison. 6:30? I’ll be there.

Adrian spent the rest of the afternoon trying not to think about what he was going to say. By the time 6:30 rolled around, he’d run through a hundred different versions of the conversation and hated all of them. Selena was already at the park when he arrived, sitting on a bench near the playground. She stood when she saw him and the worry on her face made something in Adrian’s chest crack.

What happened? She asked. Adrian sat down heavily. HR called me in today. Wanted to ask about us. Selena went very still. What did they say? They said people are talking. They said the optics are bad. They said I should think about whether this is worth risking my job over. He looked at her.

They didn’t say the board told them to do it, but they didn’t have to. I’m not stupid. I didn’t know, Selina said immediately. I swear to you, I didn’t know they were going to do that. I know you didn’t. I’ll talk to them. I’ll tell them to back off. That’ll just make it worse. They’ll say I’m using you for protection, that I’m manipulating the situation.

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