Tangled In Strings

Chapter Twenty

"If you want to," I reply, walking back to the desk.

"I swear, what would you do without me? Starve. That's for sure."

I smile up at her. "Are you looking for praise?"

"A little would be nice."

"You are a saint. There is no better assistant and friend than you. No one compares—"

"Alright, alright. It's no fun when you say it like that."

I roll my eyes, opening up my email. "You know how good you are, Bec. You don't need me to tell you."

"You're right. That reminds me. I've been meaning to ask Norman if I can get a raise. When will he be in again? Did he tell you?"

My eyes freeze on the email in my inbox—from Norman.

"Scar?"

My gaze falters as I turn to Rebecca, trying to remember what she was saying. "Um, oh, yeah. I'm actually going to be in charge of that now."

"You're in charge of hiring? For real?"

I nod. "I'll inform payroll of your raise today."

"You're an angel." She exits the room and my mask falls, my attention turning back to the statement in my email. Above it is a paragraph he wrote to me directly.

Please have this released company-wide. After it's released, please have a statement for the public drawn up, explaining why I'm transferring CEO duties to you and send that out as well. I trust whatever you have to say. Don't mention how long I have.

I read the words over and over again, a cold, sinking feeling seeping into my marrow.

This is really happening.

He's written his resignation letter.

I feel like I should be crying. I should be inconsolable.

But I feel just emptiness. An internal pain that hasn't broken through yet.

I settle my heavy, congested head into my hands, breathing out steelingly.

Breathe...Just breathe.

You can do this. You can.

...

I drop my bags down next to the crackling fireplace, as Norman regards me from the couch. He frowns, with a sorry smile at the sight of me.

"You look worse than I do."

I glare. "Gee, thanks."

"How was work?"

My stomach flips at that question. I look at him, cautiously.

"It had to be done," he murmurs after we sit in my silence. I look down at my hands.

"The doctor could be wrong. You could have more time than he thinks. No one knows."

"I know. It's easy to feel when you're dying, Scarlett. I need to know everything is in order when the time comes."

I sit down beside him on the couch, with a sigh. "Well, it will be sent out tomorrow."

"Is that what you want?"

"To send out your resignation? No. No, I don't."

"I mean, to send it out knowing what happens next." He tilts his head. "Becoming the CEO."

I nod to myself, simply to appease him. "Yes, it's what I want."

"I call bullshit."

I look at him expectantly.