"Well." Lawton stood, straightened his tie. "I can't say I'm not disappointed to lose you. But I respect your honesty. And for what it's worth, Victoria, I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for. You've spent a lot of years being excellent at something that doesn't make you happy. Perhaps it's time to try something different."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Just promise me one thing." He paused at the door. "Whatever you're running toward, make sure it's something that deserves you running. Not everyone is worth giving up a corner office for."
HER PHONE RANG an hour later, after she'd cleared out her desk for the second time in four weeks and walked out of another prestigious building with a box of personal belongings and a growing collection of questionable life choices.
She answered without checking the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Vic! Perfect timing." Ambrose sounded ridiculously cheerful, which meant he was either drunk or had finally succeeded in some grand romantic gesture with Lukas. "Listen, are you sure you can’t make it this weekend? It’s not a family weekend without you."
"I'm rather busy with work," she started, the lie automatic. But for different reasons this time. Reasons that she couldn’t quite bring herself to get into with her brother. Not yet.
"Oh, come on. Surely you can spare one weekend? I'm turning twenty-nine, Victoria. That's practically ancient. I need my family there to remind me of my youth and vitality."
"You're being dramatic."
"I'm always dramatic. It's part of my charm." He paused. "Please? I really want you there. And besides, Mother will be devastated if you miss it. She's already planning to make that cake you love."
"I'm afraid I can't," she said. Was she really doing this? Was she really going to risk everything? "There's, um, there’s something I need to do."
"What could possibly be more important than your favorite brother's birthday?" Ambrose's voice had shifted, less playful now. More serious.
Everything, she thought. Nothing. The chance to tell Sasha the truth before she lost her nerve entirely.
"I just can't, Ambrose. I'm sorry."
"Right." He sounded disappointed but not surprised. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us. The offer stands."
"I won't. But thank you for the invitation."
She ended the call and sat staring at her phone, feeling something explode inside her chest. She really was doing this. Wasn’t she?
She’d just quit her job.
Jesus, she'd just quit her job. Walked away from the career she'd spent years building because it didn't feel right anymore. Because nothing felt right without Sasha in it. Because she'd finally realized that being perfect at something that made her miserable was significantly worse than being imperfect at something that made her happy.
She'd spent her entire life being careful. Being controlled. Making the sensible choice, the safe choice, the choice that looked good on paper and made her family proud. And where had it gotten her? Sitting alone in her Chelsea flat with a box of personal belongings and the growing certainty that she'd let the best thing in her life walk away because she'd been too scared to admit she wanted it.
Well. Not anymore.
Before she could second-guess herself, Victoria was scrolling through her contacts, finding the number she needed.
"Sullivan residence, Davies speaking."
"Davies, it's Victoria. I need Ambrose's Manchester address. I want to send him a birthday surprise."
"Of course, Miss Victoria. One moment."
She scribbled down the address on the back of a takeaway menu, her hand shaking slightly. This was insane. This was impulsive and terrifying and completely unlike her. She had noplan, no guarantee that Sasha would even want to see her, no idea what she'd say when she got there.
But she also knew, with sudden crystal clarity, that there would never be a perfect time for this. Nothing was ever perfect. Waiting for the right moment, the right words, the right conditions, that was just fear masquerading as caution. That was her entire life summed up in one pathetic pattern of avoidance.
She'd spent years waiting for perfect. Perfect grades, perfect job, perfect career trajectory. She'd controlled every variable, planned every contingency, eliminated every risk. And it had left her hollow. Successful but hollow. Perfect but completely, utterly alone.
Well. She was done being perfect.
Victoria grabbed her coat and headed for the door, her heart hammering against her ribs loud enough to hear. She had no idea what she was doing. No idea if this would work or if she was about to make a spectacular fool of herself. No idea if Sasha would even give her the chance to explain, or if she'd take one look at Victoria and slam the door in her face.
