“Theresa.”
I turned to find Ayaan Bakshi, our head of engineering, approaching with cautious steps. Ayaan had been with us almost from the beginning, one of Marco’s first hires from Stanford.
“It’s good to see you,” he said, and unlike the others, his eyes met mine directly. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m here,” I replied, which was the most honest answer I could give.
Ayaan nodded, understanding in his gaze. “We’ve missed you. Both of you.”
The simple acknowledgment—that Marco’s absence was a hole in the fabric of this place—nearly undid me. I swallowed hard.
“How are things?” I asked, gesturing vaguely at the office around us.
Ayaan glanced over his shoulder before answering in a low voice. “Complicated. Arthur’s been making changes. Nothing major yet, but...the direction feels different.” He paused, then added, “The Ashley deal falling through didn’t help. Arthur’s been using it as proof that we need what he calls ‘experienced leadership.’”
“I see,” I managed. “I’d like to hear more about the changes Arthur’s been making,” I said. “Maybe we could?—”
“Theresa! What a delightful surprise!”
Perfect. Arthur Vance, the last person I wanted to see, had just materialized beside us, his smile far from reaching his eyes. He placed a hand on my elbow, as if I were a lost child he was guiding back to safety.
“I didn’t realize you were coming in today,” he said, with just the right note of concern. “You should have called. I would have cleared my schedule.”
“It was a last-minute decision,” I said, gently but firmly removing my arm from his grasp. “Ayaan was just catching me up.”
“Of course, of course.” Arthur’s smile tightened. “Ayaan, didn’t you have that call with the FDA consultant? We wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.”
The dismissal was thinly veiled. Ayaan hesitated, looking between us. “Right. I should get to that. Theresa, maybe we could catch up later? My calendar’s open this afternoon.”
“I’d like that,” I said, ignoring Arthur’s slight frown.
After Ayaan left, Arthur turned to me with a paternal expression that made my skin crawl. “You really should have called ahead. I could have prepared everyone. Your arrival has caused quite a stir.”
“I didn’t realize I needed permission to visit the company I co-founded,” I said.
Anger flickered across Arthur’s face—there and gone in an instant. “Of course not. I only meant that it might have been easier for you. The first day back is always difficult.” He gestured toward the executive wing. “Why don’t we go to my office and talk? I can bring you up to speed on everything that’s happened.”
His office. He wanted to handle me, to manage my return on his turf.
“No thank you, Arthur,” I said, keeping my voice level. “I’m going to my own office. I’ve a lot to do.”
Arthur’s smile stiffened. He’d expected me to still be the grieving widow from last week. He wasn’t ready for this version of me.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I turned and walked toward my office before he could respond.
My office was at the end of the executive wing, across from Marco’s. I hesitated before turning the handle, bracing myself.
Inside, everything was just as I’d left it a month ago right before Aspen. The same organized desk with my trusted Mac. The samepotted fern in the corner. The same wall of whiteboards covered in my notes, mapping out product roadmaps and market analysis. It was a snapshot from a life that no longer existed.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting the quiet envelop me. Through the glass wall separating my office from the corridor, I could see people passing, sneaking glances. I reached for the slender wand hanging beside the glass and, with a twist, snapped the integrated blinds shut, creating instant privacy.
A knock at the door quickly followed. “Come in.”
Lisa Stein, my executive assistant, appeared in the doorway with a sunny smile. “Theresa. I just heard you were here.” She hesitated. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Water?”
“Coffee would be wonderful,” I said, suddenly realizing how much I’d missed her.
