“As for Duncan.”

Cora turned to look at me.：

“Your position, effective immediately, goes to Theo.”

I stared at her, not believing it.

She frowned, and for a second something close to reluctance moved across her face before it was gone.

She said,：

“Duncan, don't push your luck.”

Sylvia beamed.：

“There, Theo, now he answers to you.”

Theo looked down at the signet ring back on his own wrist, color rising in his face, then glanced at me with the corner of his mouth curving into a smug little line he thought I wouldn't catch.

I watched the three of them put on their show in front of me, and suddenly I felt ridiculous.

I looked at Cora.：

“Fine, Ms. Mason. As it happens, I no longer want to sit in that director's chair anyway.”

Then I walked past her and out.

Down in the parking garage, I'd just unlocked the car when a hand caught my arm from behind.

“In a while I'll move you under me as vice president. Theo will still report to you, so don't read too much into this.

“Mom adores him. In a moment like that, I couldn't make her lose face.”

It was always like this. After a fight, she could always win me back with an explanation and a little softening.

My jaw tightened, and I shook her hand off. She froze, and under that stunned look I got in the car and drove straight out.

When I got home, I found Cora had already sent me a dozen messages. The first ones were more of the same explaining, but the last one, of all things, was a travel booking.

Santa Barbara.

The ocean.

【Duncan, don't worry. While you're off the post, I'll take the time off with you.

【The sea you've always wanted to see, I'll go with you. Call it our honeymoon.】

I couldn't even picture it now — but once, a line like that would have left me thrilled.

But this time I sent back just one plain line.：

【No need.】

She replied right away.：

【Come on~ don't be mad anymore. I've already booked the eight a.m. flight. I'll stay late tonight and clear everything, so don't wait up for dinner.】

With a little 【kiss】 emoji tacked on.

I frowned and put the phone down.

Never mind. Better to wait for her to come back and say it all clearly.

I'd already agreed to the blind-date match my family set up. This girlfriend — I didn't want to keep going.

But I waited, and the wait took the whole night.

When dawn came the next day, she finally came back, faintly drunk. And eight o'clock was long gone.

“Weren't we taking the eight o'clock flight to Santa Barbara?”

I couldn't help asking.

She narrowed her eyes, something coming back to her, and laughed.：

“Oh — that. I cancelled the tickets. Took Theo instead.”

I went still.

“It's not like you haven't seen the ocean. How many times have you seen it now.”

She slumped onto the couch, clearly not having slept all night.：

“After I finished work last night, I did mean to come home and pack with you.

“But Theo just got promoted, and everyone at the office threw him a little celebration, and I had a few too many.

“He said he'd never seen the ocean.

“So I changed the trip on the spot.”

Even with no real hope, in that moment I still couldn't stop myself.：

“You promised it yourself.”

The alcohol slowed her a beat. Then she smiled — a smile that said none of it mattered.：

“Duncan, how long have we been together? Almost ten years. We're an old married couple by now.

“Why are you hung up on something this small?

“Besides, you've already been to the coast three times. Don't be greedy.”

When she finished, she leaned back into the couch and closed her eyes.

I watched her, and something thick and aching settled in my chest.

It was true that I had planned three trips to the coast. But not once had I actually gone.

The first time, the night before we were supposed to leave, Cora spiked a high fever. I stood up my closest friend and stayed by her side, taking care of her for three days.

The second time, she was facing a critical bid. I canceled the tickets again and stayed up rewriting that proposal, draft after draft.

The third time, her schedule clashed, and there was no one to meet an important client. So I did what I'd done before, canceled the trip, put on a suit, and went to the meeting myself.

Three times. And not once had I really set out.

Yet all she remembered were the three sets of tickets I'd booked.

I gave her shoulder a small nudge.

"So. I'll go with someone else."

She answered without opening her eyes. "Mm. Go with your buddy."

"Not with my buddy."

She kept her eyes shut. I listened to the steady rhythm of her breathing and didn't disturb her.

I'd arranged a trip with the blind-date match for the day after.

Before leaving, I still had some files to hand off to a coworker. But the moment I walked into the office, Theo was already there, planted in the director's spot like he'd owned it for years.

"Oh? Duncan, you're here? Perfect, there's some material that needs printing, two copies of each. Once they're done, leave them on my desk. You know where it is, right? Same spot you used to sit."

I looked at the stack of folders he'd pushed up against my chest, and shook my head.

"I came to drop something off. I didn't come to work."

"Duncan." Theo smiled. "Ms. Mason already made the announcement. I'm the director now. Did you forget?"

"I'm on leave."

"Did I approve that?" Not a trace of his old awkwardness left. He folded his arms across his chest, every inch a man who'd been sitting up high for years. "Leave has to be signed off by me, your direct supervisor. Did you ever submit a request?"

I looked him up and down, slow. "Do I look like I need to submit a request to you?"

He frowned. I let out a cold laugh, didn't spare the files a single glance, and turned to walk out.

"Duncan Gilbert."

Inside the CEO's office, Cora had caught the whole thing.

Theo glanced toward her, then immediately scooped up the enormous stack of folders.

"It's fine, Ms. Mason. Mr. Gilbert was my supervisor once, after all. I can't very well make him do the grunt work. I'll print them myself."

Folders piled all the way up to his chest. They seemed to weigh a ton. The instant he hoisted them, he was gritting his teeth, face screwed up.

Cora's voice was cold. "If it's too much for him, what makes you think a director can manage it?"

That didn't sit well with me.

Theo rushed to speak. "It's nothing, Ms. Mason, I've got it—" He pitched forward.

He went down hard, files and all.

Cora stepped in and caught his arm. "Careful!"

"It's fine, I'm fine, Ms. Mason..."

Theo clutched his ankle and looked up at me, eyes rimmed faintly red.

Cora frowned. "Duncan Gilbert. You're not the director anymore. If you want to put on your sour little airs, don't do it here. You don't want to work? Fine." She turned to me. "Go collect your final paycheck from accounting. The company doesn't need you."

Everyone in the room was watching.

I looked at her, faintly surprised.

"Go." Cora said it like it cost her nothing.

I hesitated. But I didn't argue.

After all, even if she hadn't said it, I was about to file my resignation anyway.

Convenient.

Now I wouldn't have to file a resignation letter myself.

"Then thank you, Ms. Mason."

I turned away without a word.

She frowned.

Outside the building, she messaged me.

【Don't worry. I won't actually let them lay you off.

【Theo's new to the role, and people aren't sold on him yet. You embarrassed him in front of everyone, so I had no choice but to play it this way.

【When you and your buddy get back from your trip, I'll promote you to VP, and……】

A photo came through.

A pair of engagement rings.

Inside the diamond bands, our initials were engraved together.

【And I'll make us public.】

I didn't reply.

The day we left, Cora and I crossed paths at the airport.

She had Theo with her.

I was alone.

My blind-date match and I were flying out from our separate cities to meet at Lake Tahoe.

"Wait for me a second."

She said it to Theo, then walked over to me.

"Why are you on your own?"

"We're meeting up at Lake Tahoe."

She looked me over, head to toe, then wound her own scarf around my neck.

"Don't worry. There'll be other people on this trip. It's not just me and him."

I nodded. "Right."

"Duncan."

She watched me, something reluctant in her eyes.

"Be careful traveling alone. Call me if anything comes up."

"Thanks."

"When we're back, it'll be right on our tenth anniversary."

She looked at me. "Let's get engaged that day."

I thought about it.

Then I smiled.

"That day really is a good day for a wedding."

She smiled too. "Then we'll have twice the joy."

"Mm."

Our flights were boarding at the same time.

Her and Theo.

Me alone.

We walked toward different gates.

Cora waved at me.

"See you when we're back, then."

I nodded.

I just never said