Chapter 3: Goodbye, Not Sorry

I took out all the gift boxes I'd packed, meant for a few clients at the start of next month.

The boxes were stacked neatly in the corner, each one carefully chosen, wrapped with a handwritten note. Now, they felt like relics from another life.

"Alright, everyone! Come grab a gift!"

I stood in the middle of the sales floor, voice loud and clear. Heads snapped up, eyes wide with surprise.

At that moment, everyone in sales was staring blankly at their screens.

They looked like prisoners, hunched over their keyboards. The energy in the room shifted as my words sank in.

When they heard me, they all looked up, surprised at first, then started drifting over.

One by one, they gathered around, curiosity overcoming caution. For the first time all day, there was a spark of excitement.

"Isn’t this the raw honey you special-ordered for Director Jenkins’s father-in-law?"

Marcus picked up the jar, turning it over in his hands. The label still had my scribbled note taped to the lid.

"This is the cashmere scarf we spent ages picking out, and you had the pattern redone ten times before deciding. Wasn’t that for Mr. Lee? You’re not giving it to him now?"

Maya’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. She looked at me like she couldn’t believe what was happening.

"Nope. Everyone take what you want. Just a little something to remember our time together."

I smiled, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. This was my way of saying goodbye—of letting go.

Maya hesitated: "Are you sure this is okay? These were all bought with company money. Can we really just take these home?"

She looked around, as if expecting someone to jump out and stop us. I shook my head, reassuring her.

I waved it off: "Forget this place! I paid for these myself. Take them as a memento."

I tried to sound upbeat, but my voice cracked a little. I wanted them to have something to remember me by—something good.

Maya's eyes widened: "Boss, are you leaving us too?"

Her words hung in the air, heavy and final. I looked around at my team—the only real family I’d had here—and knew the answer was yes.

For the first time, saying it out loud didn’t scare me.