Chapter 4

I went to the office, officially ended my leave, and came home. Ryan never showed up.

I went straight to bed.

The next day, my boss, Rod Green, called me into his office.

The company was scouting for someone to take an extended assignment at our regional headquarters across the ocean. I had been the top choice, but my personal situation had delayed the final decision.

"I was going to tell you yesterday," he said, "but you'd just gotten back. Figured you could use a day to clear your head."

I knew what he was implying. I had been a…