Chapter 14 - CLAIRE RETURNS TO THE OFFICE
Six months later, Claire returned to the building.
Not as employee.
As witness in an internal arbitration.
Same glass conference room.
Same table.
Vanessa was there.
Claire almost laughed at the symmetry.
Instead she said:
“I owe you an apology.”
Vanessa stared.
“For what part?”
Fair.
Claire answered:
“For knocking your hand away. For humiliating you. For acting like money made me better than you.”
Vanessa looked at her for a long time.
Then:
“You were awful.”
“I know.”
“Do you want forgiveness?”
Claire thought.
“No.”
That surprised Vanessa.
Claire added:
“I wanted to say it without asking you for anything.”
Vanessa nodded.
Not warmth.
May you like
Recognition.
Enough.
