- 8 hours ago
He Didn't Say He Loved Me Until I Left Hot
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Harper, will you marry me?
00:01I covered my mouth, tears about to spill over.
00:04I will.
00:05When Nate dropped to one knee and opened the black velvet ring box,
00:07I thought my love story was finally about to get its happy ending.
00:11Until, Maddie stepped out from the side, phone raised.
00:13Got it, got it!
00:14Harper, you said yes way too fast. God, that's pathetic.
00:17Her laugh was sharp, like nails every word Celeste died right through me.
00:19Dude, I told you she wouldn't last five seconds. You owe me a hundred bucks.
00:22A hundred bucks?
00:23What I thought was a lifelong commitment was nothing but a hundred dollar prank to them.
00:26I looked at Nate. He stood up, brushed the dust off his pants like it was nothing.
00:30And didn't even glance my way.
00:31Let's put the wedding on hold. We'll talk about it when you're not so desperate to get married.
00:34Maddie slid her arm through his, chin tilted up, smug.
00:36Seriously, Harper? His knee hadn't even touched the ground and you already said yes.
00:38How scared are you of ending up alone?
00:39In that moment, whatever hope I'd had for this man just shattered.
00:42I glanced at the ring box on the ground and let out a hollow laugh.
00:45No need to put it on hold. I'm not marrying you.
00:47No tears. No scene. I turned and walked away.
00:50Behind me, Nate's stunned voice cut through the air.
00:52What the hell is wrong with you now?
00:54Harper, stop acting. The dramatic exit is so overdone.
00:57Come on, it was just a joke. Do you have to take everything so seriously?
00:59Ignore her. Let her cool off for a few days.
01:01Within three days, she'll come running back, begging me to take her back.
01:03When they thought I was just playing hard to get, let them think whatever they wanted.
01:06They'd know. There's a price to pay for turning someone's dignity into a bet.
01:09My footsteps paused for a second.
01:11I didn't look back.
01:12The wind off the lake cut through my trench coat collar.
01:15I looked down and fumbled with my phone to call a ride.
01:18My fingers too numb to tap the screen properly.
01:20The car arrived. I pulled open the back door and got in.
01:24My phone lit up.
01:26An eye message from Nate.
01:27All right, stop it. Come home and we'll talk it out.
01:30I glanced at it and hit the lock button.
01:34I got to the apartment.
01:36The IKEA welcome mat by the door had home printed on it.
01:40I stared at that word and felt the irony hit me like a punch to the gut.
01:45I opened the door and turned on the lights.
01:47The whole place was filled with five years worth of our life together.
01:50Over those five years, when his cash flow dried up, I covered his bills.
01:53When he got so wasted at business dinners he couldn't walk straight, I drove out to haul him home.
01:57When he couldn't get his tie right before meeting investors, I fixed it for him one knot at a time.
02:01Back then, he'd gripped my shoulders and said,
02:04Harper, the day my company rings the bell, I'll give you a wedding worthy of you.
02:09My phone screen suddenly lit up.
02:10A confirmation text rummage address a text from the Vera Wang boutique popped up.
02:15Please arrive on time.
02:18I stared at those words and a memory flashed through my mind.
02:22Maddie was at the bridal shop that day too.
02:24She touched the white tood skirt and turned to me with a smile.
02:27Wouldn't this be a little much on Harper?
02:29I said nothing.
02:30I just tightened my grip on the cold latte in my hand,
02:33the one she'd taken two sips of, said it was too sweet, and casually handed off to me.
02:37And Nate, he sat on the couch, head down, answering emails.
02:41From start to finish, he never once looked up at me.
02:44I sat on the living room couch.
02:46My phone lit up again.
02:50A few seconds later, another message popped up.
02:53Don't make things awkward.
02:56Then I put the phone down and went to work.
02:58A co-worker asked why my eyes were a little puffy.
03:01I said I stayed up to Nate binge-watching a show last night.
03:04During my lunch break, I scrolled past an Instagram story,
03:06Tyler had posted.
03:07In the photo, Nate sat by the window at some trendy steakhouse.
03:10Maddie sat next to him, holding up a martini,
03:12throwing up a peace point at the camera.
03:14The caption read,
03:15Celebrating someone's newfound freedom.
03:16Dodged a bullet.
03:17I casually tapped the like button.
03:19Three minutes later, Nate called.
03:21I walked into the break room and answered.
03:25His first words were,
03:27What the hell does that like mean?
03:29I was flipping through a draft of an SLA service agreement,
03:32my voice flat.
03:35It means what it means.
03:36Hope you enjoyed your meal.
03:38Can you stop being so passive-aggressive?
03:40I'm not.
03:41You know how mad he is.
03:42She never thinks before she speaks.
03:44How long have you known her?
03:45Is it really worth all this?
03:46It's not like this is the first time.
03:48My finger stopped on a contract clause number.
03:51What's that supposed to mean?
03:52He let out an impatient scoff.
03:54You do this every single time.
03:56The second something upsets you,
03:58you play the victim.
03:59Last night,
04:00in front of my friends,
04:01you said you wouldn't marry me.
04:03Did you even stop to think how that made me feel?
04:06I closed the folder.
04:08Nate, we're already broken up.
04:10Silence on the other end for two seconds.
04:13Then he let out a cold laugh.
04:14There you go again.
04:15You threatened to break up over every little thing.
04:17Is this fun for you?
04:17The speakerphone on my desk blared his accusations.
04:20My response was cold and final.
04:21Fine.
04:22Keep acting like this.
04:23He was furious and hung up on me.
04:24He hung up.
04:25I stared at the dark phone screen
04:27and my knuckles slowly relaxed.
04:30After work,
04:31I went to Home Depot
04:32and bought a stack of cardboard boxes
04:34and a few rolls of wide packing tape.
04:36I got back to the apartment
04:37and unfolded the boxes,
04:39laying them out flat in the living room.
04:41I pulled open the closet.
04:43Nate's custom tailored suit
04:44still hung shoulder to shoulder with my dresses.
04:46Five years.
04:47I'd ironed his shirts,
04:48picked out his ties,
04:49and used Google Calendar
04:50to track every single business dinner
04:52and round of golf.
04:53Tucked inside a drawer
04:54was an old scarf,
04:55the first birthday gift
04:56Nate ever gave me.
04:57He'd just started his startup that year
04:59and bought it at Target.
05:01The material was rough,
05:02scratchy against the neck,
05:03and he hadn't even cleaned
05:04the tag off properly.
05:05But back then,
05:06he'd clutched that scarf,
05:08his ears turning red,
05:09and said,
05:10Harper,
05:11when I have money,
05:12I'll replace this with Hermes for you.
05:16After I got together with Nate,
05:17the word someday
05:18became the thing I heard the most
05:20and the one that meant the least.
05:23He was short on cash,
05:24said he'd pay me back with interest someday.
05:27He stood me up on my birthday,
05:29said he'd take me to Cam Goon
05:30to make up for it someday.
05:32Even on the day he proposed,
05:33when I was humiliated in front of everyone,
05:35all he said was,
05:36don't take it personally,
05:37I'll make it up to you
05:38with something better someday.
05:40But a person can't live their whole life
05:42clinging to someday.
05:44I have a future I want to make real too.
05:47I pulled that scarf out
05:48and threw it straight into the trash bag.
05:51Everything that belonged to me,
05:53I wasn't leaving a single piece behind.
05:55At three in the morning,
05:57the living room was filled
05:58with sealed cardboard boxes.
05:59The sound of tape ripping echoed,
06:01sharp and clear,
06:03through the empty space.
06:04By dawn,
06:05I'd taped up the very last box.
06:08My phone buzzed,
06:09another confirmation text
06:11from the Vera Wong boutique.
06:12Mr. Foster and Ms. Hayes,
06:14your custom wedding dress fitting
06:15scheduled tomorrow at 3 p.m.
06:16has been confirmed.
06:17Please arrive on time.
06:18I stared at the words,
06:19Mr. Foster and Ms. Hayes.
06:21Then I opened my chat history with Nate.
06:24I scrolled back.
06:25That day,
06:26I'd sent him the link
06:27to Vera Wong's new collection catalog.
06:29What do you think of this
06:30flishtail silhouette?
06:31He replied two hours later,
06:33in a meeting,
06:34we'll talk later.
06:35Then I opened Snapchat.
06:37Mattie had posted a story
06:39that same day.
06:40Nate leaned against
06:40the high-end fitting mirror,
06:41holding her Balenciaga hourglass bag
06:43for her.
06:44The caption read,
06:45borrowing someone else's man
06:46as a style consultant
06:47for half a day.
06:48Turns out haste isn't half bad.
06:50I turned off my phone,
06:52grabbed my bag,
06:53and headed out the door.
06:54When I stepped out
06:55of the apartment building,
06:56that familiar black sedan
06:57pulled up right in front of me.
06:59The window rolled down.
07:01Nate sat in the driver's seat,
07:02his expression dark.
07:03He pushed the door open
07:04and stepped out,
07:05a take-out paper bag in his hand.
07:07Let's go upstairs first.
07:08Put everything back the way it was.
07:10We'll eat,
07:10then we'll talk.
07:11I looked down at my phone,
07:12checking the bridal shop's
07:13refund policy.
07:14Harper,
07:14are you done yet?
07:16He frowned and pushed the paper bag
07:17a little closer toward me.
07:19I didn't take it.
07:21What are you looking at?
07:22Look at me when I'm talking to you!
07:24His voice rose.
07:25A friend needs me for something.
07:26I put my phone away.
07:28His brow furrin slightly.
07:29What thing?
07:30Before I could open my mouth,
07:31the passenger window rolled down.
07:33Maddie poked her head out,
07:34her smile sickeningly sweet.
07:36Harper,
07:36don't read into this, okay?
07:37My mini's in the shop.
07:38Nate just gave me a ride
07:39to work on his way.
07:40She shook the iced latte
07:41in her hand from Starbucks.
07:42This bagel?
07:43I was gonna eat it,
07:44but I'm cutting carbs this morning,
07:45so I figured I'd let you have it.
07:46Don't go making a big deal
07:47out of this, too.
07:48I looked up at Nate.
07:49This is your idea
07:50of letting things go?
07:51Harper,
07:51what the hell do you want?
07:52Nate's frown deepened.
07:54Fine,
07:54don't eat.
07:55He pulled the paper bag back
07:55and turned to hand it to Maddie.
07:56Maddie bit her straw
07:57and reached over
07:58to pinch Nate's cheek.
07:58It was over my Cali budget anyway,
08:00and you still wanted
08:00to bring her one?
08:01Nate swat her hand away,
08:02a grin tugging
08:03at the corner of his mouth.
08:04Nate,
08:04you play favorites.
08:05She has a stomach ulcer.
08:06A few carbs won't hurt her.
08:07I didn't say another word.
08:08I walked around him,
08:09heading straight for the taxi
08:10that had just pulled up
08:11at the curb.
08:12By the time Nate realized
08:13what was happening,
08:13I was already opening
08:14the car door.
08:15He didn't get the chance
08:16to stop me.
08:16The moment the door shut,
08:17I saw him through
08:18the rear view mirror,
08:19standing there looking
08:19absolutely furious.
08:21Once I was in the car,
08:22I called my real estate agent.
08:24That condo in Lincoln Park?
08:25Put it on the market today.
08:26The faster it sells,
08:27the better.
08:28I thought you said
08:28you were keeping it
08:29as your marital home.
08:30The wedding is off.
08:31Sell it.
08:33My phone buzzed again.
08:35A message from Nate.
08:36Are you coming to brunch
08:37this afternoon?
08:37I was a little heated earlier.
08:39Don't take it seriously.
08:40I glanced at it.
08:41No reply.
08:42At the Vera Wang boutique,
08:44the sales associate
08:44greeted me with a beaming smile.
08:46Miss Hayes, you're here.
08:48Is Mr. Farler
08:49not joining you today?
08:50I sat down on the velvet sofa
08:52and looked up at her.
08:53The wedding is off.
08:54The associate froze completely.
08:56And the champagne she was holding
08:57nearly sloshed out of the glass.
08:58I'm sorry, what did you say?
09:00I pulled out my ID
09:01and the order contract from my bag
09:02and placed them
09:03on the marble coffee table.
09:04Cancel the order.
09:05Didract whatever penalty
09:06this is stepping place
09:06from the deposit.
09:07No need to contact Nate.
09:08The associate flipped
09:09through the contract,
09:10her voice dropping
09:10to a near whisper.
09:12Mrs. Hayes, are you sure?
09:13Mr. Foster came in
09:14personally to pick this dress.
09:15He said he wanted
09:15to surprise you.
09:16I stared at my signature
09:17on the contract.
09:18Surprise?
09:18The associate opened her mouth
09:19but no words came out.
09:20I stood up,
09:21my heels clicking
09:22against the marble floor,
09:23each step crisp and distinct.
09:24The moment I pushed open
09:25the glass door,
09:26my phone started buzzing
09:27in my hand.
09:28One word on the screen.
09:29Nate.
09:29I looked at it.
09:30I flipped the phone over,
09:31screen facing down,
09:32and slid it into
09:32my trench coat pocket.
09:33Once something is canceled,
09:34there's no need to look back.
09:35Once the cancellation
09:36was processed,
09:37I stood on Michigan Avenue
09:38waiting for my ride.
09:40HR from the company called.
09:41Harper, our Austin, Texas
09:42Blanche urgently needs
09:43a regional sales director.
09:44You've mentioned before
09:45that you'd be interested
09:45in a cross-state transfer.
09:46Are you still considering it?
09:47I am.
09:48I'll take it.
09:49The pause on the other end.
09:50That fast?
09:51You don't need some time
09:52to think it over?
09:52I don't.
09:53The sooner the better.
09:55In the afternoon,
09:56I stopped by the organic deli
09:57I always went to.
09:58The manager saw me
09:59and greeted me with a smile.
10:00Harper, the usual?
10:01Has Nate's acid reflash
10:02gotten any better?
10:03I wouldn't know.
10:04I handed over my pickup slip.
10:05The manager paused for a second
10:07and didn't ask anything else.
10:08I picked up my insulated container
10:09and headed out.
10:10As I passed the booth seats
10:11in the hallway,
10:12I heard Tyler's voice
10:13coming from behind the defiation.
10:14Seriously, Nate,
10:15aren't you worried
10:15she's actually going to dump you
10:16for good this time?
10:17She's even called off the wedding.
10:18My steps stopped
10:19for just a moment.
10:20Nate's voice,
10:21lazy and unconcerned.
10:22Where's she going to go?
10:23She'll be mad for a few days
10:24and then come crawling
10:25back on her own.
10:26Tyler's laugh got louder.
10:27You're that confident?
10:28She can't live without me.
10:29Nate, no offense,
10:30but honestly,
10:30you've spoiled her way
10:31so much.
10:31Maddie's syrupy voice cut in.
10:33She's been so spoiled
10:33she actually believes
10:34she's some kind of queen
10:34in this relationship.
10:35Maddie, that mouth of yours
10:36is absolutely no filter.
10:37Tyler let out a whistle.
10:38I'm just telling it like it.
10:39Maddie laughed.
10:40She used to be so good
10:40at playing housekeeper for Nate.
10:41Laundry,
10:42co-caduling appointments,
10:43the whole package.
10:44You really think she's capable
10:44of letting all that go?
10:45A glass clinked against
10:46the marble tabletop
10:47with a crisp sound.
10:48Nate didn't argue.
10:49I stood on the other side
10:50of the division,
10:50insulated container in hand.
10:52I stopped for five seconds.
10:53Then I shoved the container
10:54into the nearest trash can.
10:55I turned and walked
10:56into the subway station.
10:57When I came out of the station,
10:58the cold wind hit my face.
11:00I pulled out my phone.
11:01I blocked Nate's number,
11:02his iMessage,
11:03his Instagram,
11:04his LinkedIn,
11:05all of it.
11:05Back at the apartment,
11:06the movers were already
11:07waiting downstairs.
11:09I led them up.
11:10In the living room,
11:11boxes labeled and sealed
11:12were stacked in neat,
11:13orderly rows.
11:14Ma'am,
11:15do all of these go on the truck?
11:16Anything with yellow tape on it,
11:18take it all.
11:18The workers started
11:19hauling things out.
11:20The apartment emptied,
11:21piece by piece.
11:22On the entryway cabinet,
11:23the matching couple keychains
11:24still sat there.
11:25Two key-shaped metal charms
11:26that fit together,
11:27engraved with our initials.
11:28We'd ordered it the day
11:29we signed the lease
11:30for this apartment.
11:31I pulled the spare key
11:32from my bag
11:32and set it down
11:33on the entryway tray.
11:34Metal hit ceramic
11:35with a soft clink.
11:36I draped my last stretch coat
11:38over my forearm
11:38and turned to leave.
11:39The front door lock turned.
11:41Nate pushed the door open
11:42and walked in.
11:43He was drenched
11:44in the smell of whiskey
11:45and cigars.
11:46In his hand,
11:47he carried a takeout bag
11:48from a high-end
11:48Italian restaurant.
11:49He looked up,
11:50his gaze sweeping across
11:51the mostly empty living room.
11:53His face went dark
11:54in an instant.
11:54What the hell are you doing?
11:56Before the words
11:57were fully out of his mouth,
11:58he hurled the takeout bag at me.
11:59The bag hit my shoulder
12:00and burst open.
12:01Truffle cream pasta sauce
12:02splattered everywhere,
12:03soaking my clothes.
12:04I didn't dodge.
12:06Nate lunged forward
12:08and snatched the trench coat
12:09right off my arm.
12:10Rip.
12:11The fabric tore wide open.
12:13Leave?
12:15Did I say
12:16you could leave?
12:17He flung the ruined coat
12:19to the floor
12:20and glared at me,
12:20his eyes bloodshut.
12:22Are you out of your mind?
12:24Look at this place.
12:26Did you move out
12:27or did we get robbed?
12:28I said nothing.
12:30It made him even angrier.
12:31I went out of my damn way
12:33to pick up your favorite
12:34truffle pasta
12:35and this is what I get?
12:37I looked at him,
12:38my voice quiet.
12:40Nate, I'm tired.
12:41He froze for a second.
12:43His eyes dropped,
12:43taking in the pasta sauce
12:44all over my clothes.
12:45I used to care so much
12:46about keeping my outfit spotless.
12:47Even a single coffee stain
12:48on a cuff
12:49and I'd deal with it immediately.
12:50But now,
12:50I couldn't even be bothered
12:51to grab a napkin
12:52and wipe it off.
12:52Something flickered in his eyes
12:53but it was gone just as fast.
12:54He pointed at the empty
12:55living room and shouted,
12:56Fine, leave!
12:57Get the hell out of Chicago
12:58right now!
12:59The second you walk
12:59out that door today,
13:00even if you crawl back
13:01begging on your knees,
13:01I won't spare you
13:02a single glance!
13:03I didn't argue.
13:04I crouched down
13:04and silently picked up
13:05the torn trench coat
13:06from the floor.
13:07The living room was so quiet
13:08it was suffocating.
13:08Nate went rotted.
13:09He looked like it was
13:10finally starting to sink in
13:11that this time was different
13:12from all the others.
13:12He seemed to calm down.
13:14After a long silence,
13:15he crouched down too,
13:15reaching out as if
13:16to help me pick it up.
13:17The second his hand
13:17touched the fabric,
13:18I pulled the boat away from him.
13:19Harper.
13:19His movement froze midair.
13:21I didn't respond.
13:22He stared at my face
13:23and his voice suddenly dropped.
13:24Are you crying?
13:26I reached up
13:27and touched my cheek.
13:29Tears were actually falling.
13:31I hadn't even noticed.
13:33I used to rarely cry
13:34in front of him.
13:36He once said
13:37he couldn't stand
13:37emotional women.
13:40Back then,
13:41I actually believed him.
13:42Not anymore.
13:43I picked up the carry-on
13:44suitcase at my feet.
13:46Nate stretched an arm
13:47across the doorway,
13:47blocking my path.
13:48You're really leaving?
13:50I met his eyes,
13:51level and steady.
13:54Game over.
13:55His lips moved,
13:57but not a single word
13:58came out.
13:59The room was dead silent.
14:02I pulled the door open.
14:03He didn't try to stop me again.
14:05Behind me came the sound
14:06of something porcelain
14:06shattering against the floor.
14:08Shards of glass
14:08sprayed across the wooden
14:09floorboards of the entryway.
14:11I didn't look back.
14:12I stepped into the elevator
14:13and pressed the button
14:14for the lobby.
14:15Outside,
14:15it was pouring rain.
14:17I opened my umbrella
14:18and climbed into the Uber Black
14:20waiting at the curb.
14:23The moment the door shut,
14:24the driver glanced at me
14:25through the rearview mirror,
14:27his eyes upon the stains
14:28covering my clothes
14:29for a second.
14:30He looked like he wanted
14:32to say something,
14:33but thought better of it.
14:35The Hilton Hotel, please.
14:37The car pulled out
14:38of the apartment complex.
14:39I opened my phone's photo album.
14:42Five years.
14:43Thousands of photos.
14:46The picture I took
14:47the day Nate secured
14:48his first seed round.
14:50Select all.
14:51Delete.
14:52The iOS confirmation box
14:53popped up.
14:54Are you sure you want
14:55to delete these photos?
14:56This action cannot be untuned.
14:58I tapped confirm.
14:59Rain hammered
15:00against the car window outside,
15:02blurring the entire
15:02Chicago nightscape.
15:03Those photos went
15:04into the trash bin.
15:06He and I,
15:07we were done.
15:08A week went by.
15:09Neither of us
15:10contacted the other.
15:11Nate cracked first.
15:12He opened iMessage,
15:13his finger hovering over
15:13the screen for a few seconds
15:14before he typed out a line.
15:16Are you about done now?
15:17Still putting on a show?
15:18Send.
15:18A notification popped up
15:19on the screen.
15:20Not delivered.
15:21The bubble turned green.
15:22His face fell instantly.
15:23He stared at the screen
15:24for a long time
15:24like he couldn't believe
15:25what he was seeing.
15:26And then that expression
15:26on his face,
15:27that look of always having
15:28everything under control,
15:29finally shattered.
15:30The next second,
15:30his iPhone slammed hard
15:31against his office desk.
15:32He yanked at his shirt collar
15:33in irritation
15:34and dialed the bridal boutique
15:35directly.
15:36He probably figured that
15:37since I dared to pull
15:38a stunt like this,
15:39he'd dare to cancel
15:40the fitting.
15:41See who blinked first.
15:42The call connected.
15:43Nate held back his fury,
15:45his voice cold and hard.
15:46This is Nate Foster.
15:47Cancel the fitting this weekend.
15:48Silence on the other end
15:49for a beat.
15:50The sales associate
15:51hesitated before speaking.
15:52Mr. Foster,
15:53Miss Haisley already canceled
15:54the order three days ago.
15:55The penalty fee
15:56has already been paid.
15:57The plane touched down
15:57at Austin-Bergram
15:58International Airport
15:59at three in the afternoon.
16:00David Miller,
16:01the regional director
16:01for the Texas branch,
16:02was waiting for me in person
16:03at the arrivals hall.
16:04He glanced at the single
16:05tuxie carry-on in my hand,
16:06his expression mildly surprised.
16:07Harper,
16:08is that all the luggage you have?
16:09I pulled open the door
16:10of the Chevrolet Suburto
16:11and got in.
16:13I don't need extra baggage.
16:15I can start working immediately.
16:16David smiled
16:17and handed me a thick folder.
16:19This is the pile of messes
16:20this branch has accumulated
16:21over the last six months.
16:23The biggest landmine
16:23is the annual contract renewal
16:25with Apex Global.
16:26I flipped open the folder
16:27and quickly scanned
16:27the dense data and charts.
16:28They're extremely dissatisfied
16:29with our supply chain response times
16:31from last quarter
16:31and are already running
16:32a public tenor
16:33to switch suppliers.
16:34Apex procurement director
16:35had a reputation
16:35in the industry
16:36for being notoriously difficult.
16:37Back in Chicago,
16:38I chewed up and spit out
16:39more than a few of these
16:39hard-to-crack B2B clients
16:41for Nate's company.
16:42I knew the pain points
16:42of these Silicon Valley styles
16:43executives inside and out.
16:46Take me directly
16:47to Apex headquarters.
16:48I closed the file
16:49and looked up at the driver.
16:51David froze.
16:52Right now,
16:53you don't want to go
16:53to the hotel first,
16:54shake off the jet lags,
16:55take a shower?
16:56I looked out the window
16:57at the blazing,
16:58harsh,
16:58hesh Texas sun.
16:59Winning clients
17:00doesn't wait for anyone.
17:01Half an hour later,
17:02I stood in the office
17:03of Apex Global's
17:04procurement director.
17:05The guy's name
17:05was Rick Henderson,
17:06mid-50s,
17:07wearing the signature
17:07Patagononia fleas vest,
17:09the classic middle-aged
17:09tech exec.
17:10He leaned back
17:10in his Herman Miller
17:11ergonomic chair
17:12and didn't even
17:12give me a proper look.
17:13Your company's
17:14got a sense of humor.
17:15Sending a girl
17:16who's not even as old
17:16as my daughter
17:17to negotiate
17:18an eight-figure contract?
17:19I didn't let his age
17:20or gender pressure phase me.
17:21I slapped the restructured
17:22proposal directly
17:22onto his mahogany desk.
17:23Mr. Henderson,
17:24age has no direct correlation
17:25with professional competence.
17:27This quote is
17:27three percentage points
17:28lower than your
17:28current alternative suppliers
17:30and we're committing
17:30to cutting the after-sales
17:31SLA response time in half.
17:33Rick sat up straight
17:34immediately and picked
17:35up the proposal.
17:35That dismissive look
17:36on his face
17:37visibly retracted.
17:38What makes you so confident
17:39you can deliver
17:40on these promises?
17:41I met his scrutiny
17:42without flinching.
17:43Five years at
17:44Chicago headquarters
17:45with a zero failure
17:46project delivery record.
17:47If we don't hit
17:47the committed KPIs,
17:49you can deduct the penalty
17:49directly from my annual bonus.
17:51Rick stared at me
17:52for a solid minute
17:54then he suddenly
17:55threw his head back
17:56and laughed.
17:58Bold.
17:59Got a bit of that
18:00Texas spirit.
18:01You've got the deal.
18:02Walking out of
18:02Apex's glass tower,
18:04David looked at me
18:04with a completely
18:05changed expression.
18:06Harper,
18:07you're incredible.
18:08I rubbed my neck,
18:09sore from staring
18:10at documents for too long.
18:11David,
18:12this is just the beginning.
18:14At ten at night,
18:15I got back to the
18:16extended stay suite
18:17the company had arranged.
18:19After a shower,
18:20I sat on the bed
18:21and stared at the
18:22spare phone
18:23for a few seconds.
18:24Then I picked it up
18:25and turned it on.
18:26The screen flooded
18:27with over a Doven
18:28voice message
18:29from my former colleague,
18:30Sarah.
18:31I tapped the first one.
18:33Sarah's voice
18:33was barely containing
18:35the excitement
18:35of someone loving the drama.
18:36Oh my god, Harper,
18:38your exit was way too cool.
18:41Nate stormed into
18:42our office this afternoon
18:43like a maniac
18:44looking for you.
18:45I've completely bloodshot.
18:47He grabbed the HR director
18:48by the collar
18:49and demanded
18:49Anna to know
18:50where you went.
18:51I listened expressionlessly
18:52while towel drying my hair.
18:55Sarah sent another one.
18:58HR told him
18:59you transfer to Austin
19:00and he flipped
19:01the receptionist's
19:02iMac off the desk
19:03on the spot.
19:04Then Maddie ran over
19:05to pull him back
19:06using that deliberately
19:07high-pitched voice
19:08going,
19:09Nate.
19:10And guess what?
19:11Nate turned around
19:12and slapped her
19:13right across the face!
19:15My hand paused
19:15mid-motion with the towel.
19:17Nate hit Maddie.
19:18That was new.
19:20Sarah immediately
19:21followed up
19:21with a secretly
19:22recorded video.
19:23I tapped play.
19:24In the footage,
19:25Nate's eyes were blood red
19:26as he pointed at Maddie
19:27and tore into her.
19:29Are you satisfied now?
19:30You had to use
19:31those low-dirty tactics
19:32to push her away?
19:34Is that what it took
19:35for you to be happy?
19:36Maddie clutched her face,
19:37sobbing.
19:38Her eyeliner
19:38completely smeared
19:39and one of her false lashes
19:40hanging half off her eyelid.
19:41Nate, you were the one
19:42who said she was just
19:42throwing a fit.
19:43Why are you yelling at me?
19:44Nate kicked over
19:45a stainless steel recycling
19:46vis beside him.
19:47Get the hell out!
19:48The video ended there.
19:49I casually tossed
19:50the phone onto the bed
19:50and kept drying my hair.
19:52His regret now
19:52was way too late.
19:53It was worth less
19:54than week-old takeout.
19:55He was losing his mind
19:56now purely because
19:56he'd realized
19:57he was missing someone
19:58who worked 365 days a year
20:00always on call,
20:01someone who took care
20:01of everything for him.
20:02It was absolutely not
20:04because he loved me.
20:05I knew men like him
20:05way too well.
20:06The phone suddenly
20:07vibrated violently.
20:08An unfamiliar Chicago
20:09area code flashed
20:10on the screen.
20:11My gut told me
20:11it was him.
20:12I hit decline
20:13without hesitation.
20:14The caller didn't let up.
20:15After a dozen calls
20:16in a row,
20:16I finally picked up.
20:18Harper,
20:18you finally answered!
20:19Nate's voice was
20:20russie, rough,
20:21thick with exhaustion
20:21and the steel residue
20:22of a hangover.
20:23How long are you
20:23going to keep this up?
20:24The bridal shop said
20:25you canceled the order
20:26completely.
20:27Do you have any idea
20:27how I felt
20:28when I got that message?
20:30I let out a cold laugh.
20:32The penalty fee
20:32was charged
20:33to my own credit card.
20:34What does it have
20:34to do with you?
20:36Nate's breath caught.
20:37It's not about the money.
20:39You ran off to Texas
20:40without a word.
20:41You cleared out
20:42the entire apartment.
20:43What the hell
20:44are you trying to do?
20:45Do I have to buy
20:46a plane ticket right now
20:47and fly down there
20:48to apologize in person?
20:50Is that what it'll take
20:51for you to be satisfied?
20:52I looked at my calm reflection
20:53in the bathroom mirror.
20:55Nate,
20:56do you not understand
20:56plain English?
20:57I told you.
20:59We're done.
21:00Don't call again.
21:01Call one more time
21:02and I'll file
21:03for a restraining order.
21:04I hung up directly
21:05and blocked that number too.
21:07I also turned on
21:08the silence
21:08unknown caller's setting.
21:10I flipped the phone
21:11face down on the bed.
21:12Silence.
21:14My first month in Austin,
21:15I was so busy
21:16I barely had time to breathe.
21:17I single-handedly
21:18pulled the branch's
21:19Q3 performance
21:20up by five percentage points.
21:21The New York headquarters
21:22sent out a company-wide
21:23internal email
21:24commending me.
21:25Friday night,
21:25the department insisted
21:26we had to celebrate.
21:27I chose a top-tier steak
21:29and seafood restaurant
21:29on Congress Avenue
21:30and paid out of pocket
21:31to treat the whole team
21:32to dry-aged Tomahawk steaks.
21:34The mood was at its peak
21:36when I excused myself
21:36to go to the restroom.
21:38Just as I stepped out
21:38of the private dining corridor,
21:40a figure lunged out
21:41from around the corner.
21:42A hand seized my wrist.
21:44The grip was so tight
21:45it felt like it could crush bone.
21:47Harper,
21:48I finally found you.
21:50I looked up
21:51and met a pair
21:51of bloodshot eyes.
21:52It was Nate.
21:53He had lost
21:53a significant amount of weight.
21:55His eyes were sunken,
21:56his jaw covered in messy,
21:57patchy stubble.
21:57The custom shirt
21:58I used to iron wrinkle
21:59feet for him every morning
22:00was now a crumpled mess
22:01sticking to his body,
22:01reeking of long-haul flights
22:02and sour whiskey.
22:03I wrenched my hand free
22:04with force.
22:05Let go!
22:05Nate didn't let go.
22:06He tightened his grip instead.
22:08I won't!
22:09Harler, come back to Chicago with me!
22:11His eyes were red-rimmed,
22:12his voice trembling,
22:13barely able to stink
22:14a full sentence together.
22:15Without you,
22:15there's nothing left at home.
22:16I don't even know
22:17which dry cleaner
22:17to send my clothes to.
22:18My stomach ulcer
22:19flared up three times.
22:20I was on the floor
22:21in the middle of the night,
22:21rolling around in pain,
22:22and there was no one
22:23to drive me to the ER.
22:24I stared at his state
22:25and a wave of nausea
22:26churned in my stomach.
22:28Sir, you've got the wrong person.
22:30Where's your Maddie?
22:31Isn't she the one
22:31who cares about you the most?
22:33Why didn't she make you
22:34that special soup
22:34for your stomach?
22:35The moment Maddie's name
22:36left my mouth,
22:37Nate's face twitched violently.
22:39Don't you dare mention
22:40that idiot to me again!
22:41She drove every single
22:42one of my investors away!
22:43She can't even do
22:44a basic pivot table!
22:45She does nothing
22:46but cause trouble for me!
22:47I looked at him coldly.
22:48And whose fault is all that?
22:50You're the one
22:51who raised that mess.
22:52What did you used
22:53to say about her?
22:54Innocent, full of life,
22:55fun, unlike me,
22:57rigid, boring,
22:58a soulless work machine.
22:59Nate shook his head desperately.
23:01I was wrong, Harper.
23:02I know I was wrong now.
23:03I've already fired her.
23:05I will never have anything
23:05to do with her again
23:06for the rest of my life.
23:07Just come back, okay?
23:08We'll get married right away.
23:10Tomorrow.
23:10We'll go to City Hall tomorrow!
23:12Even as he said these words,
23:13his hands were still shaking.
23:15I said nothing.
23:16I looked at him
23:17like I was looking at a stranger.
23:19Nate, do you really think
23:20that if you just snap your fingers,
23:22I'll come running back
23:23like some loyal dog?
23:24His face went white as a sheet.
23:26That's not what I meant.
23:28I just, I really can't...
23:29He couldn't finish the sentence.
23:31I took a step back,
23:33putting distance between us.
23:35You can't live without me?
23:36No.
23:37You just can't live
23:38without someone
23:38to clean up your messes.
23:40People like you,
23:40the only person you've ever loved
23:41is yourself.
23:42Nate stared at me,
23:43his gaze locked on.
23:45That look in his eyes,
23:46like he was the one
23:46who'd been abandoned.
23:47I don't believe you.
23:48You loved me for five years.
23:50How can you just drop it like that?
23:51You're just punishing me,
23:52aren't you?
23:53He suddenly doubled over,
23:54clutching his stomach,
23:55his whole face crumpling in pain.
23:57Harper, my stomach hurts so bad.
23:59You used to hate seeing me in pain.
24:00Just help me find some medicine, okay?
24:02I looked down at him.
24:03If it hurts,
24:04call 911.
24:05I'm not a doctor.
24:06I can't fix your stomach.
24:07From the end of the hallway,
24:08someone heard the commotion.
24:09A few of my male colleagues
24:10stepped out of the private room.
24:12Harper, what's going on?
24:13They spotted Nate
24:13crowed on the floor
24:14and immediately positioned themselves
24:15in front of me.
24:16Dude, what are you doing?
24:17Call security.
24:18Get this guy out of here.
24:19Two burly restaurant security guards
24:20arrived quickly
24:21and hauled Nate up.
24:22He thrashed and struggled,
24:23his gaze locked desperately onto me.
24:25The guards dragged Nate
24:25toward the front entrance
24:26without any ceremony.
24:27His almost deranged shouts
24:28echoed through the corridor.
24:29Harper, you're going to regret this!
24:31I raised the crystal wine glass
24:32in my hand.
24:33I didn't look back.
24:34That night,
24:34I had two glasses of Pinot Noir
24:36and went back to the hotel.
24:37I slept more soundly
24:38than I had in months.
24:40The next day,
24:40I was in the office
24:41reviewing the Q4 sales forecast.
24:43The front desk called my extension.
24:44Mrs. Hayes,
24:45there's a woman in the lobby
24:46refusing to leave.
24:47She's insisting on seeing you.
24:48I frowned.
24:49Who is it?
24:50She says her name is Maddie.
24:52I let out a cold laugh.
24:53Some things really are impossible
24:55to shake off.
24:56I took the elevator down.
24:58Maddie's hair was a tangled mess.
24:59She sat on one of the leather couches
25:01in the lobby.
25:01Her makeup completely destroyed.
25:03Mascara smeared all over her face.
25:04A small crowd of employees
25:05had gathered around,
25:06watching the spectacle.
25:07The moment she saw me,
25:08she lunged.
25:09Harper, you bitch!
25:10Look what you did tonight!
25:11Building security
25:12immediately held her back.
25:14She thrashed wildly,
25:15her sharp pink acrylic nails
25:16clawing at the air.
25:18You want to leave?
25:19Fine!
25:20But why did you have to take
25:21all the client accounts with you?
25:22Do you even know
25:23Nate's company is about to file
25:24for bankruptcy protection?
25:26The client's chosen me
25:27because I'm professional.
25:28What does that have to do
25:29with you and Nate?
25:31I paused,
25:32looking at her.
25:33As for the company
25:34going bankrupt,
25:35didn't you cause that yourself?
25:37Getting waste at the investor gala
25:39and single-handedly torputing
25:41a $50 million Series B.
25:43I've got to say,
25:44that's a talent I don't possess.
25:45Someone in the crowd
25:46of watching employees
25:47couldn't hold it in
25:48and laughed out loud instantly.
25:49She fumbled in her
25:50Louis Litton bag
25:51and pulled out
25:52a half-finished latte,
25:53hurling it at me
25:54with all her strength.
25:55I had seen it coming
25:56and sidestepped.
25:57The coffee splashed
25:58all over the security guard's
25:59uniform behind her.
26:01His face darkened.
26:02He wrestled her straight down
26:03onto the lobby floor tiles.
26:04Let me go!
26:05You useless pieces of trash!
26:07Maddie screamed
26:07like a woman possessed.
26:08I walked over
26:09and stood in front of her,
26:10looking down.
26:11Call 911
26:12and report an assault.
26:14Maddie's whole body
26:15went rigid.
26:15You'd call the cops?
26:17Aren't you afraid
26:18Nate will hate you for this?
26:20I looked down at her
26:20and smiled slightly.
26:22Whether he hates me or not,
26:23what does that have to do
26:24with me?
26:25Patrol officers
26:26from the Austin Police Department
26:27arrived on the scene quickly.
26:29They handcuffed Maddie
26:30on charges of assault
26:31and criminal trespass
26:32and hauled her
26:33into the back
26:34of a squad car.
26:35Calm returned to the lobby.
26:36I smoothed out my sleeve
26:37and stepped back
26:38into the elevator,
26:39heading up to my office
26:40to get back to my reports.
26:41After that whole farce
26:42was over,
26:43Tyler called me.
26:44Harper,
26:45you went way too far
26:46with this.
26:47It's Miss Hayes to you.
26:49Or Harper,
26:50since we're not exactly
26:51friends anymore.
26:52Tyler let out
26:53an awkward laugh.
26:54Fine, Harper.
26:55Nate is completely
26:56finished this time.
26:57The company's bank accounts
26:58are frozen.
26:58All his partners bail.
26:59To cover the gaps
27:00in his taxes,
27:00he sold that condo
27:01in Lincoln Hall.
27:01My grip on the pen
27:02didn't falter.
27:03The nib didn't pause
27:04on the paper
27:04for even a second.
27:05That property
27:06was under his name.
27:07Whether he sells it
27:08or not has nothing
27:08to do with me.
27:10Tyler was silent
27:11for a moment.
27:13Maddie got locked up
27:14in county jail.
27:14You were the one
27:15who called the cops?
27:16It was me.
27:17Nate went to the station.
27:19I raised an eyebrow.
27:21To post bail for her?
27:22No.
27:23There was an unmistakable
27:24note of sarcasm
27:25in Tyler's voice.
27:26He went to the station
27:27and right in front
27:28of the cops
27:29nearly strangled
27:30Maddie to death.
27:31My hand stopped
27:32for a second.
27:33Has he lost his mind?
27:35Pretty much.
27:36He found out Maddie
27:37not only torched
27:38the funding round
27:38but also secretly
27:39leaked the company's
27:40core pricing model
27:41to a competitor.
27:42They paid her
27:4250 grand in kickbacks.
27:44Nate is now
27:44completely and utterly broke.
27:46I leaned back
27:47in my chair
27:47and looked out the window
27:48at the clear
27:49boundless Texas sky.
27:50He brought this
27:51all on himself.
27:52Tyler tested
27:52the waters cautiously.
27:54Harper,
27:54we were all friends once.
27:56Nate's at the point
27:57where he can barely
27:57make rent.
27:58Do you think
27:58you could maybe...
27:59No.
28:00I cut him off flatly.
28:02Tyler,
28:02didn't you used to say
28:03in your little bro group chats
28:04that I wasn't good enough
28:05for Nate?
28:05That I was just a gold digger
28:07trying to climb
28:07the social ladder?
28:09And now you're coming
28:10to beg me on his behalf?
28:12Silence on Tyler's end.
28:13I hung up the phone.
28:14The months that followed,
28:16I threw every ounce
28:17of my energy into work.
28:18The Texas branch's performance
28:20left every other branch
28:21in the Southwest region
28:22in the dust.
28:23I used one solid
28:24earnings report
28:24after another
28:25to shut up
28:26every single one
28:26of the old men
28:27at headquarters
28:28who had doubted me.
28:29By the end of the year,
28:30David was called back
28:30to New York HQ
28:31and promoted to VP.
28:33I officially took over
28:34as general manager
28:35for the Texas region.
28:37The night of the
28:37annual awards gala,
28:39I drank quite a bit
28:40of champagne
28:40when I stepped out
28:41of the hotel entrance.
28:43The night breeze hit me
28:43and I sobered up a lot.
28:45Parked on the curb
28:45was a beat-up
28:46white Ford Transys cargo van,
28:48its body covered in scratches
28:49and splattered mud.
28:50A man was crouched beside it,
28:51struggling to unload
28:52a case of Evian water.
28:53He wore a filthy work jacket
28:54with the faded logo
28:55of some local water delivery company
28:56printed on the back.
28:57His back was hunched.
28:58One of the cases slipped
28:59and slammed down hard
29:00onto his steel-toed boots.
29:01He cried out in pain
29:02and collapsed onto the ground.
29:04The streetlight perfectly
29:05illuminated his profile.
29:06It was Nate.
29:07The same Silicon Valley CEO
29:09who once wore nothing
29:10but custom suits
29:11and couldn't go five minutes
29:12without mentioning
29:12valuations and exit strategies.
29:14Now he was reduced
29:15to hauling water
29:16for a delivery company,
29:17earning cash paid out
29:18by the day.
29:19I stood on the steps
29:20and watched quietly
29:21for a moment.
29:21He seemed to sense something.
29:23His head whipped around.
29:24The second his eyes met mine,
29:26his whole body
29:27went completely stiff.
29:28He frantically tried
29:29to wipe his face
29:30with a hand covered
29:31in engine grease.
29:32It only made the smotches worse.
29:34He struggled to stand up,
29:35desperate to hide
29:36behind the van.
29:37I walked down the steps
29:38one by one
29:38in my high heels.
29:40I stopped in front of him.
29:42Nate.
29:43His entire body shuddered.
29:45His head dropped so low
29:46it nearly touched his chest.
29:48Miss, Miss Hayes.
29:50He couldn't even bring himself
29:51to say my first name anymore.
29:53I looked at what he had become.
29:54I felt nothing.
29:55I heard your company went under.
29:57He bit down hard
29:58on his cracked, dried lips.
30:01Tears fell onto the concrete.
30:03Yes.
30:04And Maddie?
30:05I asked casually.
30:07She took that kickback
30:08and ran off to Los Angeles.
30:09Then some crypto scammer
30:11conned her out of every last cent.
30:12Now she's washing dishes
30:14in the back kitchen
30:15of a strip club
30:16on Hollywood Boulevard.
30:17His voice was rough
30:18as sandpaper.
30:19I nodded once.
30:21Suits her perfectly.
30:22Nate suddenly lifted his head.
30:23His blood-wrush eyes
30:24fixed on me.
30:25Harper, I deserved all of this.
30:26I dream about you
30:27every single night.
30:28You're in the kitchen
30:28frying eggs,
30:29helping me tie my tie.
30:30I regret everything.
30:31He suddenly dropped
30:32to his knees on the ground
30:33and reached out
30:33as if to grab the hem
30:34of my trench coat.
30:35Just give me one more chance, okay?
30:36I'll work for you.
30:37I'll do whatever you say.
30:38I stepped back,
30:39dodging his filthy hands.
30:41Nate, the way you look right now,
30:42it's just pathetic.
30:43He froze completely.
30:44No more struggling.
30:45No more excuses.
30:46He just looked at me
30:47like the life
30:48had been drained out of him.
30:49You weren't like this before.
30:50You used to feel bad
30:51whenever you saw me working late.
30:52Yeah.
30:53I used to be blind.
30:54But you took everything I did
30:55and treated it
30:56like it was just your due.
30:57Just so you could protect
30:58that pathetic little ego of yours
30:59in front of your so-called friends,
31:00in front of Maddie,
31:01you trampled my dignity
31:02into the ground.
31:03And now,
31:04now that you have
31:04absolutely nothing left,
31:06you finally remember me.
31:07Don't you find
31:08this whole act
31:09just disgusting?
31:10He buried his face
31:11in his hands
31:12in agony.
31:12A low,
31:13animal-like sound
31:14of anguish
31:14tore from his throat.
31:16I turned and walked
31:17toward the Uber Black
31:17waiting at the curb.
31:19The driver in white gloves
31:20opened the car door for me.
31:21I got in.
31:23I didn't look back.
31:24Not once.
31:27The car pulled away,
31:29leaving the figure
31:30kneeling on the roadside
31:31far,
31:31far behind
31:32in the rear view mirror.
31:34Two years later,
31:36I represented the Southwest region
31:38at the National Supply Chain Summit
31:39back in Chicago.
31:41After the conference,
31:42our business partners
31:42invited me to dinner
31:43at a newly opened
31:44rooftop restaurant downtown.
31:46The restaurant's location
31:47was close to the lakefront spot
31:48where Nate had proposed
31:50all those years ago.
31:51The same place where he,
31:52surrounded by Maddie and Tyler,
31:54had mocked me to my face.
31:56I walked into the restaurant
31:57in a sharply tailored
31:58Tom Brownie professional suit,
32:00my stilettos
32:01clicking against the floor.
32:03The Merida led us
32:04into the VIP private room.
32:06Midway through the meal,
32:08one of the partners
32:09accidentally
32:10knocked over a glass
32:11of Cabernet Sauvignon.
32:12I pressed the service bell.
32:14The door to the private room
32:16opened gently.
32:17A man in a server's vest
32:18walked in quickly,
32:19head down,
32:20carrying a cleaning cloth.
32:21He crouched to the floor
32:22and started wiping up
32:23the spilled red wine.
32:24The partner slid a contract
32:25renewable across the table to me.
32:27Miss Hayes,
32:28please review the terms again.
32:29If everything looks good,
32:30we can sign right now.
32:31I took the Monbonic fountain pen
32:33and signed my name
32:34on the signature line.
32:35Pleasure doing business with you.
32:38The server scrubbing
32:39the wine stain on the floor
32:40suddenly froze mid-motion.
32:42He slowly lifted his head.
32:45The cloth dropped
32:47from his hand
32:47onto the carpet.
32:49It was Tyler.
32:50He had bloated up significantly
32:52compared to two years ago.
32:53His face was greasy and slick,
32:54his eyes darting away.
32:55I was mildly surprised
32:56but regained my composure quickly.
32:57Do you know him, Miss Hayes?
32:59The business partner
32:59followed my gaze
33:00and frowned slightly.
33:01I picked up my sparkling water
33:02and took a sip.
33:03I don't.
33:04Tyler's face instantly flushed
33:05a deep red.
33:05He snatched the cloth off the floor
33:06and bolted out of the private room
33:07without looking back.
33:08Later, I heard from old contacts
33:09in Chicago that the Tyler family trust
33:10had run into major problems.
33:12All the assets under his father's name
33:13had been frozen.
33:14All those friends who used to club hop
33:15and race sports cars with him
33:16disappeared overnight.
33:16He found a minimum wage job
33:17at a restaurant on Indeed,
33:18barely scraping by
33:19to make the minimum payments
33:20on his credit cards.
33:20The day my business trip ended,
33:22it rained in Chicago.
33:23On the way to O'Hale International Airport,
33:25we passed through
33:25the old Lincoln Park neighborhood.
33:27The driver asked if I wanted to pull over
33:28for a moment to grab a coffee.
33:30I shook my head.
33:31No thanks.
33:32Straight to the airport.
33:32That apartment was someone else's home now.
33:34Everything inside it,
33:36along with all those
33:36sealed cardboard boxes,
33:38had been thrown away by me long ago.
33:40A push notification
33:40from a Chicago local news app
33:41popped up on my phone.
33:43Former tech founder Nate F.
33:44arrested on aggravated assault charges
33:45following street brawl
33:46with Amazon Flex driver
33:47over delivery route dispute.
33:48The attached photo
33:49was a shot of Nate from behind,
33:50his hands accucked,
33:51being pressed face down
33:51against the hood of a police cruiser.
33:53I swiped the notification away,
33:55closed my eyes,
33:56and leaned back into my seat.
33:57The plane climbed through thick clouds
33:59and broke through to 10,000 meters.
34:01Blinding sunlight filled the windows.
34:03After returning to Austin,
34:05I went straight to the title transfer center.
34:07Using the performance bonuses
34:08and stock options
34:09I'd accumulated over the past two years,
34:11I bought a sprawling penthouse
34:13in the city center
34:14overlooking Lady Baird Lake.
34:16The day I got the keys,
34:17I invited the entire office over
34:19for a housewarming party.
34:20Everyone filled the spacious living room,
34:22drinking local craft beer
34:23with country music playing.
34:25The balcony was lined
34:26with my favorite white roses.
34:28I stood by the Florida Cleese windows
34:30with a glass of Cabernet,
34:31gazing out at the light
34:32stretching across the city below.
34:34The night breeze drifted in,
34:36carrying the scent of the lake.
34:38I once believed I couldn't survive
34:40without all those some days.
34:42I found out later that I could.
34:44Because what every person can truly rely on
34:46has never been someone else's promises.
34:48The money I earn myself,
34:50it's what's inside my head
34:51that no one can ever take away.
34:53I raised my glass,
34:55gently clinking it
34:56against my own reflection in the window.
34:58Harper, here's to the future.
35:01Outside, the lights of Lady Baird Lake
35:03shimmered like a sea of stars.
35:06The red wine went down.
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