“You said you’d send money,” I told him. “I want it in writing. Then maybe you’ll finally learn how to live without hiding behind a paycheck and lies.”
His jaw tightened. “Paige—”
“No.” I lifted a hand. “You don’t get to say my name like we’re still a team.”
Behind him, Alyssa scoffed. “Oh my gosh.”
I turned to face her. She looked ready to explode—eyes narrowed, lips parting to speak.
Before she could, a woman in a navy blazer stepped into the hallway.
“Alyssa,” she said calmly, her voice cold as ice. “Your contract is terminated effective immediately. Legal will contact you. Do not return to this building.”
Alyssa blinked. “You’re kidding, Deborah. I work here.”
“This is not a discussion,” Deborah replied. The hallway went silent.
Cole turned toward her. “You can’t just fire her like that—”
“We can,” Deborah said evenly. “And we are.”
Then she looked at Cole.
“Effective immediately, you are on unpaid suspension pending termination. Turn in your badge.”
A security guard stepped closer with a clipboard.
That ended the argument.
For a moment nobody moved. Alyssa’s face drained white. Cole looked like someone had yanked the floor out from under him.
I stepped closer to him.