Building a Career
I stepped into the company as an anxious young worker who triple-checked every correspondence prior to hitting send. As time progressed, I acquired new skills, developed proficiency, and eventually, people began depending on me.
In time, I advanced to become Richard’s personal assistant. My duties expanded far beyond answering telephone calls or organizing appointments. I coordinated conferences, drafted documents, managed difficult clients, resolved scheduling crises, and occasionally solved problems before Richard even realized they existed.
There were late nights, weekends, and mornings when I reported to duty while genuinely ill because a crucial meeting could not be rescheduled. I do not recount that with a sense of pride today; looking back, I recognize that no occupation should consume one’s entire existence.
At that juncture, however, I felt a heavy burden of responsibility. My earnings supported more than just myself. My mother resided with me, and my younger brother remained enrolled in school. I served as the sole wage earner in our household with a dependable income. Forfeiting my position would not merely be an inconvenience—it would directly impact everyone I held dear.
And that reality explains why the final week of my former life filled me with such profound dread.
The Unfolding Mystery
It all kicked off on a Monday. Richard summoned me into his private office just before lunchtime. He was reviewing a bundle of paperwork as I stepped inside.
“Emily,” he spoke without raising his eyes, “do you have any commitments after four o’clock this coming Friday?”
