Chapter 3
I stood up and took off my headset.
The door to the studio was suddenly pushed open, and Andy and Linda rushed in.
Andy's face was pale.
"Grace, you, " Andy stammered.
"Could you grab my stuff from the desk for me?" I asked. "My thermos and the drawing my daughter made, make sure you don't lose them."
Linda stood frozen, her eyes red. "Grace, are you really leaving?"
"It's not my choice," I said, placing the microphone gently on the desk. "They're making me go."
My phone wouldn't stop buzzing, the screen lighting up with a flood of WhatsApp messages.
Charles: [Grace, have you lost your mind? Do you even realize what you're doing?]
Edward: [Get back to the studio and clean up this mess right now, or you'll deal with the fallout yourself.]
I ignored them all.
But then I got a message from the platform rep: [Grace, what's going on? Cosmique is freaking out, and Susan is asking for you.]
I didn't bother explaining. I just replied with four words: [I'll get back to you later.]
As I walked out of the studio, the hallway was packed with people.
Staff from operations, marketing, and logistics were all craning their necks, watching me like they were witnessing a live scandal unfold.
Someone whispered, "Did she really say all that with millions watching?"
"Is she crazy? Isn't she openly fighting with the company?"
"I heard Emma's replacing her..."
I walked right through them, expressionless.
Not a single person stepped in or spoke up for me.
As I reached the elevator, I heard the sharp click of high heels hurrying after me.
"Grace, stop right there!" Emma called after me.
I didn't turn around.
It was Emma's voice, sharp and full of barely contained excitement.
Emma sneered, "You really think making a scene like this tonight is going to make the company beg you to stay? Dream on."
The elevator doors slid open.
I stepped inside.
"Your fans, your connections, your brand deals, " Emma continued.
Emma hurried after me, stopping just outside the elevator doors, a smug grin on her face.
"Starting tomorrow, they're all mine," she said.
I turned to face her.
The elevator doors began to close.
I shot her a smirk. "Good luck getting your return rate under fifty percent," I said.
The doors shut.
Emma's face lingered in the last sliver as the doors closed, her smile suddenly frozen.
*****
As I stepped out of the Radiant Media building, it was raining.
It was October in Newport City, and the night air was already cool.
I stood under the awning, watching the numbers on my phone screen keep jumping.
Even though the livestream had already gone dark, the whole thing was blowing up online, the hashtags were shooting up the trending charts.
[Grace Fired Live] had already hit number three.
[Radiant Media Backstabbing] was sitting at number seven.
The comments were all on my side.
[She's been holding this company together for four years, and they just toss her aside?]
[I only shopped because of Grace. Who even cares about Radiant Media without her?]
[Go solo, Grace! Wherever you go, I'll follow you anywhere!]
After scrolling for a couple of minutes, I slipped my phone back into my bag.
This wasn't the time to just sit back and watch the show.
I hailed a cab and headed home.
On the way, my mom called.
"Grace, your best friend just messaged me. Did something happen during your livestream?" Mom asked.
"It's nothing, Mom. I'm just changing jobs," I said.
"Changing jobs? How did it blow up on your livestream? Are you being bullied?"
I paused for a couple of seconds.
"It's all sorted out, Mom. Don't worry about it. Get some rest. How's Lily?"
"She's asleep. Her fever's gone today. Don't always hide the bad stuff from me."
"It's really fine. I'll tell you everything tomorrow."
After hanging up, neon lights blurred past the car window.
I closed my eyes, running through everything that happened tonight in my head.
Impulsive?
Maybe.
Did I regret it?
No.
I've been in this business for six years. Radiant Media isn't the only game in town.
But right now, the most urgent thing is the non-compete agreement.
I remember the non-compete clause in my contract said I couldn't do any livestreaming in the same industry for two years.
Back then, I didn't care. Who knew it would come back to bite me?
First thing tomorrow, I'm calling a lawyer.
When the cab pulled up to my apartment complex, I paid and got out.
The rain had stopped.
My phone buzzed again.
I figured it was just another angry text from Charles or Edward, so I didn't rush to check it.
When I reached my building, I used facial recognition to unlock the door, then finally checked my phone.
It wasn't Charles.
It was a number I'd saved a long time ago, but had never actually heard from.
Susan.
Her message was just one line:
[Grace, I saw what happened. Can we talk tomorrow? Just you and me.]