“That’s why you promoted him.”
His mouth tightened. “This is not professional.”
“No,” I said quietly. “It’s legal. It’s documented. And it’s final.”
For once, Keith had no polished answer ready.
I walked out before he found one.
Packing my desk took thirty-two minutes. I know because I watched the clock without meaning to. The succulent went into the box first, wrapped in an old hoodie. Then the mug from my parents’ store, the one that said VANCE HARDWARE in faded blue letters. Two books. A framed photo of my parents standing in front of the shop one summer evening. A spare phone charger. A pair of flats I kept under the desk for days when my shoes betrayed me. A little tin of mints. The ordinary evidence of six years spent somewhere I had mistaken for a future.
People noticed.
Of course they noticed. Offices are terrible at seeing labor, but excellent at detecting exits.
“You’re leaving?” Priya from QA asked, stopping by my desk with wide eyes.
“Today.”
“Today today?”
I smiled. “Today today.”
“Is everything okay?”
“It will be.”
She looked toward Keith’s office. “Do I want to know?”
“Probably not.”
She squeezed my shoulder once and left without pushing. I appreciated that.
Two junior developers came by. Then someone from support. Then a database engineer named Marcos who looked genuinely distressed.
“You can’t leave,” he said.
“I can.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
He lowered his voice. “Does Keith know how much you handle?”
I glanced at the glass office where Keith was on the phone, one hand pressed against his forehead.
“He’s about to learn.”
Marcos stared at me for one second too long. Then he nodded slowly.
Damian approached when I was sealing the box.
“Thea,” he said. “Hey. I just heard.”
I turned.
He looked uncomfortable. Not triumphant. Not smug. Just awkward and maybe a little afraid.
“I didn’t know,” he said. “About you and the role. I swear.”
“I believe you.”
“I didn’t ask for it.”
“I know.”
“I mean, I wanted to move up, obviously, but I didn’t know Keith had promised you anything.”
“That part wasn’t your fault.”
He swallowed. “Could we maybe get coffee sometime? I’d love to pick your brain about the infrastructure. Keith mentioned you’ve done a lot of custom work.”
There it was. The first little tremor.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” I said. “The code is in the repository.”