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Alone.
And that didn’t sound as safe as it once did.
He didn’t go home. Instead, he went straight to work, opening the office door at midnight with his all-hours pass, and went right up to his desk. Everyone was gone for the night. The lights were dim but they brightened when he passed the sensors at knee level.
He logged on to his desktop and accessed the company server, navigating through the shared folders that his team used to store and organize the data they collected for their clients’ deals. He found the one for Waterline Press, where his researcher had added file after file with information about the company, their weak points, their debts, the things they could use to pressure them.
He deleted the lot.
It was a good thing Thomas was too arrogant to think Keaton would ever do something like this, which was why he had admin-level IT privileges. So when he deleted something, it was gone. Forever.
Then he sat down and typed out his resignation email.
Thomas,
I think we both knew this time would come, although I personally didn’t see it happening quite so soon. But things have changed. I’ve changed.
I’m grateful you saw fit to take me under your wing, and I’m even more grateful for the support you’ve provided me over the years, especially after my wife passed away. I’ll never forget that.
But having my name on the door won’t make me happy now. Spending my days finding ways to screw the little guy won’t make me happy. Staying tied to the past won’t make me happy.
I’ve found a reason to choose a different path.
Therefore, I am tendering my resignation effective immediately. Thank you for being my boss and mentor, you have no idea how much I needed it. But ultimately, I’ve decided I am not cut out for Wall Street...and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Keaton
By the time Thomas was back in the office tomorrow, Keaton’s desk and shelves would be cleared out. He was never coming back here again.
24
One week later...
WALL STREET WHIZ GHOSTS
FAIRCHILD & HILL IN SHOCK DEPARTURE.
THE FINANCE INDUSTRY’S SHARK POPULATION IS REDUCED BY ONE—SHOCK RESIGNATION FROM THE WALL STREET WHIZ KID.
SOURCE CLAIMS SAX BURNED A DEAL ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR—FAIRCHILD & HILL
PREDICTED TO SUE.
The articles wereeverywhere. August stood in the middle of her client’s kitchen, scrolling on her phone as New York media exploded with the news of Keaton’s resignation from the firm where he’d worked for years. Apparently, it had happened sometime last week and they’d kept it hush-hush, but someone had finally leaked the news to the media. She hadn’t realized just how much of a big deal he was in that world—because it was about as far from her world as you could get.
But he’d been touted as a future big player, a mover and shaker.
And the news reports claiming that he’d taken a bunch of information about the deal he was working on...
He hadn’t taken it, she was sure of that. He’d destroyed it to save that small company.
August pulled up her text messages to fire one off to Leah.
AUGUST: Is Keaton okay?? His name is all over the news.
LEAH: I know!! I can’t reach him. I’m going to give him an hour before I take Molly over and bust down his door.
AUGUST: Call if you need reinforcements. I can stop past after my next appointment.
