“I don’t know if Leif mentioned it to you, Asma, but lately I haven’t been feeling good at work,” Callum began. “I love Lamina. I owe my adult life to it, to the possibility of living in a place like this, but I’m inching towards burnout, and I don’t know how long I’ll be able to handle my job without losing the will to live.”
Asma blinked.
He didn’t dare look at Alejandra.
Since neither of them said anything, he continued.
“So, I’ve been thinking of taking three months off—”
“Just three months?” Leif cut in, already annoyed. “You need a year off, Callum.”
“A year?” Asma shrieked, sitting up straighter. “A year without our accountant? Lamina will sink.”
“I have amazing accountants—better than me—on my team,” Callum replied, shooting a glance at Leif, who rolled his eyes. “I can recommend someone to take over my position for the three months I’ve decided to take for myself.”
“But why?” Asma asked again, standing now, pacing slightly. “Don’t you love Lamina? She’s your baby.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t love a business that’s slowly draining the life out of me. And she’s notmybaby, she’s yours, Asma.”
Asma shook her head immediately. “It’s ours. The three of us built this together. And now you want to leave, and he’s being…”
She pointed at Leif, who ignored her completely, staring into his beer.
What the fuck happened between them on the way up here?
“I’m not leaving,” Callum insisted. “I’m taking a break. I need to not think about numbers. I need to focus on the important things, like my taid fading away while I spend time away from him.”
Asma sighed dramatically. “Not the grandfather card, Evans.”
He smirked faintly. “It’s not just that. It’s… you know this isn’t the life I wanted. I’ve always been an athlete, and—”
“You left the white lights of a swimming pool facility for an office with a beautiful view over London and a very high-paying salary,” Asma cut in.
“You can’t compare the two,” he said, shaking his head.
I'd trade this view every single day for the smell of chlorine.
Asma turned suddenly, arms crossed, eyes landing sharply on Alejandra. “Did you put that idea in his mind?”
Before either of them could reply—Alejandra already looking like she was about to say something very opinionated—Leif snapped.
“Are you so fucking blind you can’t see your best friend losing his spark right in front of you?”
The room went still.
“Are you so fucking self-absorbed you don’t notice the empty look on his face when he’s alone in his office?”
Asma flinched, just for a second. Then her expression hardened, teeth practically bared. “I care about him, if that’s what you’re implying. I’m not selfish, no matter how many times you suggest it!”
“Hey,” Callum stepped between them quickly. “Please don’t fight. I’m just asking for three fucking months off.”
Asma turned on him immediately, all that anger redirecting. “Take your fucking three months off. Do whatever the fuck you want. I don’t care.”
And before anyone could respond, she stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to echo through the flat.
“What the fuck happened between you two?” Callum asked, staring at Leif.
Leif ran a hand through his hair. “She broke up with Omar and I kissed her in the elevator this morning. And then, when I told her what I actually feel for her, she shut down and…”
