I didn’t move.
“This isn’t what it looks like, honey.”
“I won’t do this in front of strangers. You did enough of that.”
“You said you’d send money,” I said. “I need it in writing. Then you’ll finally learn how to live without hiding behind a paycheck and lies.”
“No,” I cut him off. “You don’t get to ‘Paige’ me like we’re still a team.”
Behind him, Alyssa scoffed. “Oh my gosh.”
Before she could speak, a woman in a navy blazer stepped in. “Alyssa, your contract is terminated effective immediately. Legal will follow up. Don’t return to this building.”
“You’re joking, Deborah,” Alyssa said. “I work here.”
“This is not a discussion,” Deborah replied coldly.
Cole turned. “You can’t just fire her like that—”
“We can,” Deborah said. “And we are.”
She turned to Cole. “Effective today, you’re on unpaid suspension pending termination. Turn in your badge.”
A security guard stepped closer, clipboard in hand. That shut him up.
For a moment, no one moved. Alyssa’s face drained of color, and Cole looked like the floor had been pulled out from under him.
I stepped closer, my voice steady. “I’m going home. To our children.”
Cole’s eyes darted to mine. “We need to talk.”
“We will,” I said firmly. “Through lawyers. You made a choice, and I’m done cleaning up after it. Don’t come back.”
He stood there, speechless. Alyssa just stared at him, as if realizing too late that she had tied her future to a man who couldn’t hold it together.
I turned and walked away.
