He sat with his wife’s photo, waiting for a son who had already boarded without him

pause. Then Helena spoke again, quieter.

— Ms. Miles. Would you be open to consulting? Temporarily. Strictly transitional work. We are willing to compensate appropriately.

My breath caught—not from temptation, but from the shift happening in real time. They no longer viewed me as an employee. I was an asset. One they were afraid to lose completely. But continue reading …