“I want to sell my share of the company to the guys and quit. I have a contract with them, and the only way I can get out of it is if they sign off and take my part,” I say. “I just need paperwork for them to sign and a witness to the signature.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Because it’s a legal document,” I say, furrowing my eyebrows at him.
“No. Why do you want to get rid of your part? The four of you grew this company together. Why are you getting rid of it?”
“I am just ready to move on to something else,” I lie.
“That’s a load of bullshit, and you know it,” he says. “Now, I’ve always kept what you tell me between us. The guys know that I will not tell them anything that you tell me. I will draw this paperwork up, but you’re gonna have to explain to me what’s going on.”
“Fine… I am in love with the guys, and I’m fucking terrified of getting my heart broken. I won’t survive it. I don’t see a life where it’s possible that not only do I get them, but I don’t have to choose,” I say. “Saturday night, I was rudely reminded by Alex that the reason why I am alone is because I don’t put out, nor have I ever. This led to the guys admitting that they’ve chased off all of my boyfriends on purpose because they say I deserve better or whatever. They got me to come out to the living room to watch a movie…”
“What happened?” he asks when I stop talking.
“They have certain things that they do and have done for a long time. Normally, it doesn’t bother me, but Saturday it did. They’ll either play with my hair, rub my feet, or just have their hands on me in general. It’s been like that since high school,” I say.
“Yeah,” he says, smirking.
“Well… Saturday, it got me… Very worked up, so to speak. Dean… he uh… might have gotten me off,” I say, and Todd smirks. “But I freaked the fuck out and ran away. I stayed in my room until this morning.”
“So now you are completely running away by giving away your share and quitting?” he asks.
“I’m also going to get out of the lease and move,” I say.
“You know that running is not gonna help, right?” he asks.
“If I’m not around them all the time, I can get away from the feelings.”
“I’m sure you could, but they’re not gonna let you do this. If you try to move, they’re just gonna move with you. I meant it when I said they are in love with you.”
“I’m not interested in taking that risk,” I say. “I told you, so please write up the paperwork. I want to give it to them before the meeting so they don’t really have time to argue with me.”
“I don’t think you realize what they will do to keep you from running. They all know this company is your dream,” he says as he pulls his laptop out and opens it.
“I’m not giving them a choice,” I say.
“Good luck with that,” he shrugs. He doesn’t say anything else while he starts typing. A short while later, he hits a button on hislaptop before setting it on my desk and standing up. “I have a copy for you, them, and me.”
“Thank you,” I say.
I read over the paper, and it is basically just me saying that I am giving them my share of the company to split evenly, and upon their signature, I am giving my immediate resignation. I sign my name on all the copies before standing and walking out of my office.
Todd follows me to Lance’s office, where he is sitting at his computer typing. I lay his copy in front of him and step back to let him read it.
Lance sighs and sits back in his seat before looking up at Todd. “Don’t look at him. He’s doing his job. Sign it,” I say.
Lance doesn’t say anything. He simply stands up with the paper in his hand and gently squeezes my shoulder before walking out, leaving me to stare at his empty desk. I was hoping he would just sign it, but I was wrong. I stay where I am, and a few minutes later, Dean and Mason come in when Lance returns. I hand their copies to them before stepping away further.
“Todd, can you shut the door?” Dean asks as he reads the paper.
“You guys have a meeting,” I say, specifying that they do, and I don’t. I’m fully prepared to quit today. I have everything organized to make their lives easier.
Mason grabs the receiver of the phone off of Lance’s desk and puts it to his ear before dialing a number. “Hey, Marlina. We are supposed to have a meeting at nine with the Board of Investors… Yes, well, do you mind letting them know that the meeting has been canceled for today? We will meet with them next week as scheduled… Thanks.”
“Mason,” I sigh when he ends the call.
“Sit,” he says.
