Chapter 12 - THE OFFER
Thomas came to Rachel’s house personally.
She almost didn’t let him in.
He stood on the porch holding no flowers.
No dramatic apology gift.
That helped.
They sat at her kitchen table.
Thomas placed a folder between them.
Rachel did not open it.
“What is it?”
“An offer.”
“No.”
“You haven’t read it.”
“I resigned.”
“I know.”
“Then we’re done.”
Thomas nodded.
“Maybe.”
Rachel looked at him.
He seemed older than he had in the conference room.
“I failed you.”
Rachel appreciated the direct language.
Still not enough.
“You failed a lot of people.”
“I know.”
“Natalie.”
“Yes.”
“Jeremy.”
“Yes.”
“Mia.”
“Yes.”
“Anybody Bianca ever told you was difficult.”
Thomas looked down.
“Yes.”
Rachel finally opened the folder.
Director of Strategic Accounts.
The job she had lost.
Base salary far higher than before.
Restored commission.
Back pay.
Retention bonus.
Authority to participate in rebuilding sales-governance procedures.
Rachel closed it.
“No.”
Thomas stared.
“You deserve this.”
“That doesn’t mean I want it from you.”
“What would make you stay?”
Rachel thought about the question.
“Nothing.”
Thomas leaned back.
It seemed to genuinely surprise him.
Northstar had spent years believing money solved retention.
It couldn’t solve betrayal.
Rachel continued.
“But I’ll help you with one thing.”
“What?”
“Mia.”
He listened.
“She brought me the first screenshot.”
Thomas’s face softened.
“I know.”
“She risked her job.”
“I know.”
“She has better judgment than half your managers.”
“I know.”
Rachel almost smiled.
“Then stop saying you know things and do something with them.”
Thomas smiled sadly.
“Fair.”
Before leaving, he asked:
“What are you going to do?”
Rachel looked toward her laptop.
For the first time in almost a decade, she didn’t have a Northstar inbox waiting.
“I don’t know.”
May you like
The uncertainty should have frightened her.
Instead it felt clean.
