I took the seat across from him, folding my hands in my lap.
“I’d like to request some time off,” I said evenly.
He leaned back slightly, studying me. “How long?”
“Three weeks.”
He let out a small breath, not quite a sigh, just acknowledgment, and tilted his head. “You’re aiming high.”
I met his gaze. “I know.”
There was a pause. Not dramatic. Just long enough for him to mentally run through schedules, workloads, reality.
“Elena,” he said finally, “I can approve two.”
I nodded. No surprise. No protest.
“I figured,” I said. “That works.”
He studied me for a moment, his brow creasing faintly. “Everything okay?”
The question wasn’t invasive. It was procedural. But it came from someone who had watched me long enough to notice when something was off.
“I need space to recalibrate,” I said. “I’m still committed to my role. I just need to come back... clearer.”
Thomas studied me for a moment longer, then nodded.
“Alright,” he said.
He exhaled lightly, his fingers tapping once against the edge of his laptop. “I should probably explain why I can’t give you the full three weeks.”
I waited.
“I called Harley in yesterday,” he continued. “About his resignation.”
The words landed more softly than I expected, but they still caught me off guard.
“Oh,” I said quietly. “He... hasn’t said anything to me yet.”
Thomas gave a small nod, as if he’d anticipated my reaction.
“Yeah. I wanted to confirm it with him yesterday,” he said. “This has been under discussion at the executive level for some time, especially the timing, given his background and long-term plans.”
That made sense. Still, I hadn’t expected it to feel like this, like a piece of stability shifting beneath my feet.
“He’s not permanent here,” Thomas added gently, as if reading my expression. “We’ve known that from the beginning.”
“I know,” I said, nodding slowly. “I just didn’t realize the timing would be... now.”
“Neither did I,” Thomas admitted. “But it explains why I need to be careful with approvals right now. Losing him means redistribution, at least temporarily.”
I understood. Of course I did.
There was a brief pause before he looked back at me, more considerate now than procedural.
“That said,” he continued, “your workload has been solid, and you haven’t taken much time off in a while. So if you want to start your leave sooner, while things are still manageable, I can arrange that.”
I lifted my gaze. “Sooner?”
