Page 79 of Sexting the Boss
“Where is Lila Bennett,” I ask.
“She resigned,” Marta brightly replies.
The word doesn’t register cleanly. “No.”
“Yes.” Her eyes widen as she slides a folder across her desk.
I open it and find a letter that’s tight and polite. Grave personal emergency. Immediate family medical crisis. Relocation required. Request to waive notice. Commitment to return company property by courier. Signed.
It reads like her voice, which is procedural without being dramatic.
Marta says, “We received the physical copy by courier this morning, and an email from her corporate account last night.”
“Confirm the sender,” I blurt out, although I’m having trouble stringing words together.
Marta’s lips press together, but she types. “Gateway logs show it routed through her apartment ISP, same as her normal access.”
That detail should calm me. It doesn’t.
“She didn’t speak to her manager,” I say.
“No,” Marta replies.
“Any exit interview,” I ask.
“She declined and cited emergency.”
My throat tightens. “And you approved it.”
Marta gives me a look. “We don’t hold employees hostage, Ethan. Not for notice periods.”
She’s right, and the fact makes me angrier.
I slide the folder back. “Forward me the letter.”
Marta lifts her brows.
“I’m not asking for gossip,” I say. “She handled sensitive information. If she left under duress, I need to know.”
Marta holds my gaze, then nods once. “I’ll send it.”
I make an immediate summons, and the guy I need shows up in my office within thirty minutes. Harrison, with his posture straight as ever, and his face mercifully blank. He doesn’t ask what happened. He sees it in my hands.
“Harrison,” I say. “Are you aware that Lila Bennett has resigned?”
He nods once. “Do you want me to initiate a welfare check?”
“No,” I answer, too fast. Then I force it slower. “Not unless we have direct evidence she’s in danger.”
Harrison watches me for a beat. “You think she is.”
“I think she’s running,” I say. “I don’t know from what.”
He tilts his head. “We can keep it narrow. No tailing. No following. Just a flag on external contact attempts.”
“On company channels,” I say.
“Yes,” Harrison replies. “If someone tries to access her accounts, if there’s a credential attempt, if there’s a spoof.”
