1
Resignation Letter
Fenella
“Iwanna quit.”I place the white envelope on Alan’s desk.
Alan looks at it, one eyebrow arched.I brace myself for the blow-up he’s capable of.He can go from calm to temperamental in seconds when he’s mad.
I swallow hard, waiting, but he doesn’t move.He stays in his chair, tapping his pen against his hand, elbows resting on the armrests as he stares at the envelope.After a while, he swivels his chair to face me.He uncrosses his legs and leans forward, both elbows on the desk.
My fingers tighten around my small white bag.My whole body stiffens in the chair, like I’m sitting in front of a judge waiting for a verdict.His cold stare cuts straight through me.
“Is this some kind of April Fool’s?”he asks, frowning.
“It’s December first, Alan, not April first.”My voice comes out flat, no hint of a joke.
“Then explain why you’re wasting my time with this.”He tears open the envelope and scans the paper.
“Because I’m leaving Gene.”
“You don’t resign from Gene, Fenella.That’s not how this works.”He waves the envelope.
“Of course I can,” I shoot back, leaning in.
“No, you can’t.I know you didn’t read the contract, but I’m sure Laird spelled it out for you.”He lays the letter down like the paper dirtied his hands.
“I haven’t told him yet, but trust me, he’ll be thrilled.”I shrug, keeping my tone flat.
“Aha.Makes sense now.If you had told him, he’d be floored—and probably end up with a migraine.I can already see it.The veins in his temples would be throbbing.”He narrows his eyes, pressing his temple like he’s the one in pain.
“You don’t know that,” I snap, shaking my head.He smiles faintly, like I just said something naïve.
“Yes, I do.You can walk away, sure.But first, you’d owe back every dollar.Salary, bonuses, all of it.Five years, that’s what you signed.Standard top model contract.Nothing personal.”
What?A sharp pang of shock hits my chest.Pay him back for everything?This can’t be true.I try to keep my cool, to press him like a ruthless model, but the words slip out in a whisper instead.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”My eyes widen, breath sharp.“You really set me up, didn’t you?”
“That’s what you signed.No one forced you, did they?”He shrugs, voice calm, almost kind.
Yes, Laird mentioned this months ago.Yes, he warned me about penalties if I broke the contract or ditched jobs.But I didn’t care.I didn’t listen.I just rushed to sign.
Now I taste my own poison, and Alan sees right through me.He knows I can’t do a thing but squeak like a cornered mouse, protesting with no way out.
“This is fraud.I’ll sue you.”The words rip out of me.
He stifles a laugh.“Go ahead.Laird will explain it better than me.Don’t cry to me if he calls you a fool.”He leans back, too calm.
I go quiet, chewing the inside of my cheek and my stupidity.God, yes, I never read the whole contract.Who could possibly digest that wall of text?My confidence crumbles under the reality he laid out.I should’ve asked Laird before barging into this office.
“I’m disappointed, Fenella.I’ve invested everything into you—time, money, reputation.I even staked my own name just for you.All to make you the dream girl you always claimed you wanted to be.Where has she gone?”
He pauses, glaring at me like I’m the one in the wrong.But shouldn’t I be the victim here?
“If this is how you repay me, fine.I’ll step back.”Alan throws up his hands like he’s surrendering.
My breath catches.Oh God, not this guilt trip again.I pretend to ignore everything else and focus on my fate.“So… you’ll let me go?”
