Madison
The afternoon dragged on. I kept my head down, avoided the executive floor, and worked methodically through my tasks. By five o’clock, I had cleaned out my personal items from my desk and organized all my files.
I took one final look around my office, then walked to the elevator. As the doors closed, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Whatever came next, I was ready.
At home, I found Mom in the kitchen, humming as she stirred something that smelled delicious.
“You’re home early,” she noted, glancing up from the pot.
“I had a light day.” I set my bag down. “That smells amazing.”
“Just beef stew. Nothing fancy.” She turned down the heat. “Are you alright? You look… different.”
I hesitated. “Mom, we need to talk.”
Her face immediately creased with concern. “What’s wrong? Is it Alexander?”
“Sort of.” I sat at the kitchen table. “I’ve been thinking about making some changes.”
“What kind of changes?”
“Big ones. I’m considering leaving Knight Industries. And maybe New York.”
Mom set down her spoon and came to sit across from me. “Why? You love your job.”
“I did.” I fidgeted with a napkin. “But things have changed. And I think it might be time for a fresh start.”
Mom studied my face. “Does this have anything to do with those rumors I read about Alexander getting engaged?”
I froze. “You saw those?”
“Sweetheart, it’s all over the internet.” She reached for my hand. “Is that why you’ve been so upset lately?”
“Partly,” I admitted. “It’s complicated.”
“Well, wherever you go, I’m with you.” She squeezed my hand. “Connecticut, was it? I heard you talking to Hazel last night.”
I smiled sheepishly, “You were eavesdropping?”
“These walls are thin!” she protested, but her eyes twinkled. “And it’s not a bad idea. Connecticut is lovely. Quieter.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Madison, all I want is for you to be happy. If leaving New York will do that, then let’s go.”
I blinked back tears. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Now,” she said, standing up. “Tell me what happened with Alexander. The real story.”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I need some time to process it myself.”
She nodded, respecting my privacy as she always did. “When you’re ready, I’m here.”
The next day, I woke up to another morning of silence from Alexander. I checked my phone one last time before getting dressed, but there were no new messages.
“That’s it, then,” I murmured to myself. “Decision made.”
I wore a simple black dress with a blazer, which was professional but comfortable. Today was the day I would resign from Knight Industries.
The morning commute felt surreal. Was I really doing this? Leaving the job I’d worked so hard for? Walking away from everything I’d built in New York?
Yes, I decided. I was.
At the office, I went straight to HR, bypassing both my offices entirely. The HR director, Janet, looked surprised
to see me.
“Madison! What can I do for you?”
I sat in the chair across from her desk. “I’d like to submit my resignation, effective immediately.”
Janet’s eyebrows shot up. “Effective immediately? That’s… unusual. Is everything alright?”
“Personal reasons,” I said simply. “I’ve already organized all my files and can write detailed handover notes today.”
“Have you spoken with Mr. Knight about this?”
I kept my expression neutral. “Mr. Knight is aware of my situation.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie. He was aware of my pregnancy, even if he didn’t know I was quitting.
Janet frowned. “Well, I’ll need to prepare the paperwork. Are you sure about this, Madison? You’ve been such an asset to the company.”
“I’m sure.” My voice was firm.
“Alright then. Let me get everything together. Can you come back in an hour?”
I nodded and left her office, heading to my desk to begin writing those handover notes.
The morning passed quickly as I documented everything a successor would need to know. By lunchtime, I had completed comprehensive notes for both my roles and submitted them to HR along with my official resignation letter.
Janet seemed genuinely sad to see me go. “You’ll be missed, Madison. If you ever want to come back, you know
we’d welcome you with open arms.”
I thanked her, collected my final paycheck, and left Knight Industries for the last time.
Outside, the city seemed brighter somehow. As if a cloud had lifted. I took a deep breath of New York air, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. For a split second, my heart leapt, thinking it might be Alexander. But it was just
Hazel.
“Did you do it?” her text read.
“Done,” I replied. “I’m officially unemployed.”
“Coming over with celebratory cupcakes. The good kind from Magnolia.”
I smiled, pocketing my phone. With friends like Hazel, I’d be okay.
At home, I found Mom sorting through photos in the living room.
“You’re home early again,” she observed.
“I quit,” I announced.
She looked up sharply. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
She set down the photo album. “I guess we’re really moving to Connecticut, then?”
I nodded. “I think it’s for the best.”
“I’ll start packing.” She got up and hugged me. “A fresh start will be good for both of us.”
Later that evening, Hazel arrived with an enormous box of cupcakes and a bottle of sparkling cider.
“To new beginnings!” she declared, pouring the cider into wine glasses.
“To new beginnings,” Mom and I echoed.
“I still can’t believe you quit,” Hazel said, biting into a red velvet cupcake. “I mean, I’m proud of you,
“It was time,” I said simply.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do in Connecticut?” Mom asked.
but wow.”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I have savings, so I don’t need to rush into anything. Maybe I’ll start my own business.”
“You could open that café you’ve always talked about,” Hazel suggested.
“Or a consulting firm,” Mom added.
I smiled, thinking of all the possibilities ahead. “Whatever it is, it’ll be mine. Something I built from the ground
3/4
up.”
“Just promise you’ll visit,” Hazel said, her voice thick with emotion.
“All the time,” I assured her. “And you’ll come to Connecticut. We’ll have guest rooms.
“We should look at houses online,” Mom suggested excitedly. “Get a feel for the market.”
The rest of the evening was spent scrolling through real estate listings, comparing neighborhoods, and imagining our new life in Connecticut. With each property we viewed, the idea became more real.
By the time Hazel left, we had a shortlist of potential homes to visit and a tentative plan to drive to Connecticut. over the weekend to see them in person.
“This is really happening,” I said to Mom after Hazel departed.
She nodded, a small smile on her face. “It is. And it’s going to be wonderful.”
I checked my phone one last time before bed. Still nothing from Alexander. No missed calls, no texts, no emails. The final confirmation that I’d made the right decision.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
