Chapter 3
The offboarding process started at 10 AM.
Helen sent over a checklist with fourteen tasks.
The very first item was [Add all client contact information to the company's unified address book.]
I glanced at the list and locked the three notebooks back in my drawer.
I bought them with my own money, and all they had were the clients' personal preferences. They weren't company secrets.
There wasn't a single piece of information missing from the company's CRM system.
Grace dragged a chair over and sat next to me, watching the handover.
She crossed her legs, scrolling through her phone as she asked, "What kind of topics does Aaron like to talk about?"
"Work."
"What about outside of work?"
"Nothing."
She grew a bit impatient. "Emily, Jessica said you have to hand over everything about the client. Giving me the files isn't enough. You need to teach me how to handle him."
"All the details are in the CRM."
"Who reads all that?" Grace scoffed. "Give me the highlights."
I uploaded the last file to the company's cloud drive.
"Everything you need for the Brightwell Group project is right here. If you're confused about anything, check the records," I said.
"Your attitude—"
"Grace." Jessica suddenly appeared behind us, holding a cup of fresh coffee. "Before she leaves, I want her to do one more thing."
"What is it?" Grace asked.
Jessica handed me her phone.
The screen was open to WhatsApp, showing Aaron's chat window.
But instead of using her phone, Jessica wanted me to send a message to Aaron from my own phone.
"Tell Aaron that you've been feeling unwell lately, so you're passing things over to Grace for now. Let him reach out to her directly from now on," she said.
I listened to her every word. "You want me to tell Aaron myself that I'm not good enough, and someone else is taking over?"
"It's not that you're not good enough," Jessica replied, her voice gentle, as if she were explaining things to a kid. "It's just a company adjustment. Go with it, okay? No need to leave on a sour note, right?"
Grace let out a laugh right next to me.
I stared at Jessica's phone screen.
Aaron's WhatsApp profile picture was a pine tree.
It was the one right outside his office window. He'd shown it to me last winter.
He'd told me that he'd been in that building for eighteen years, and the pine had been there just as long.
"So, are you sending it or not?" Jessica urged me.
I handed her phone right back. "No."
Jessica's gentle facade suddenly cracked.
"You're already out. Why are you still putting on airs?" she snapped.
"Aaron has my number saved. What do you expect me to send?"
"His info's in the company system, too."
"Then use the company system to contact him. Why are you insisting on my phone?"
A few seconds of silence hung in the air.
Jessica took a deep breath, and her tone went back to normal. "Fine. Finish the handover."
She turned and walked away.
Before leaving, she gave Grace a quick look, signaling her to follow.
Grace hurried after her.
I overheard them chatting in the break room.
"Jessica, what if she won't play along?" Grace asked.
"Don't worry about it. Once she's out, I'll have Mr. Carter call Aaron. It's a junior employee leaving. Do you think the client is going to stick with her?" Jessica replied.
She laughed. "Eight million dollars on the table. Aaron's no fool."
I turned away and went back to packing up my stuff.
Then, my phone buzzed.
It was a WhatsApp message from Aaron.
Aaron: [Emily, is the quote for next month's renewal set? And same as always. Don't forget the premium black tea.]
I flipped my phone face down on the desk.
I didn't bother replying.