This is my fault. No, it's not. I shouldn't have called you. I should have figured something else out.
There wasn't anything else to figure out. You needed help. I helped. And now you don't have a job.
Ethan was quiet for a moment. Yeah, now I don't have a job. Lena put her head in her hands. What are you going to do?
I don't know. Start looking for something new, I guess. Figure out how to keep paying rent. Explain to Mia that her dad's an idiot who can't keep his priorities straight.
You're not an idiot. I'm something. They sat in silence, Elena's soft breathing the only sound in the room. Lena felt the weight of it pressing down on her.
The guilt, the responsibility, the mess they'd both made of everything. I'll talk to Jenkins, she said finally. I'll tell him it was my fault. That I forced you to cancel.
Lena, no. Why not? Because it won't help, and because it wasn't your fault. This was on me.
Ethan, I made the call. I knew what would happen, and I did it anyway. He looked at her. I'm not blaming you, so don't blame yourself.
Lena felt tears prick at her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. I don't know how you do that. Do what?
Stay so calm. Like nothing can touch you. Ethan laughed, but it sounded hollow. I'm not calm.
I'm terrified. I'm just really good at pretending I'm not. Elena stirred, making a small sound. Ethan adjusted his hold on her, and she settled back down.
Lena watched them, this man who just lost everything because of her, holding her daughter like she was the most important thing in the world. I'm going to fix this, Lena said. You can't fix it. I can try.
Lena, I mean it. You gave up your job for me, for us. The least I can do is try to make it right. Ethan looked at her for a long moment.
Then he nodded. Okay, but don't do anything crazy. Define crazy. Anything involving your mother.
Lena almost smiled. No promises. That night, after Ethan left with Elena, Lena sat at her kitchen table and stared at her phone. She knew what she needed to do.
She just didn't want to do it. Finally, she called. Victoria answered on the second ring. Lena, to what do I owe the pleasure?
I need your help. There was a pause. I'm listening. Ethan lost his job because of me, and I need you to fix it.
Fix it how? I don't know. You know people. You have connections.
Get him a new job, a better one. Victoria laughed. You want me to help the man I've been trying to get rid of for months? Yes.
Why would I do that? Because I'm asking you to. Another pause. And if I say no?
Then I'll do it myself, but it'll take longer, and it'll be messier. Victoria sighed. You really care about him, don't you? Lena didn't answer right away.
He showed up when I needed him. That matters. Does it matter enough? Enough for what?
Enough for you to risk everything for him. Your reputation, your company, your independence. I'm not risking anything. I'm just asking for help.
It's never just help, Lena. You know that. Lena closed her eyes. Will you do it or not?
Victoria was quiet for a long time. Then she said, I'll make some calls, but he owes me. He doesn't owe you anything. Then you owe me.
Fine. I owe you. Good. I'll be in touch.
She hung up before Lena could say anything else. Two days later, Ethan got a call from a company he'd never heard of. Tech Vanguard, they called themselves. A mid-sized firm specializing in cloud infrastructure.
They wanted to interview him for a senior project management position. How did they get my number? Ethan asked when Lena called to check in. I may have passed your resume along to a few people.
Lena, what? You need a job. They need someone good. It's a win-win.
Did your mother do this? Lena hesitated. Does it matter? Yeah, it does.
Why? Because I don't want charity, especially not from her. It's not charity. It's a job.
A real one. And from what I hear, they're impressed with your background. They're impressed because your mother told them to be. Ethan, just take the interview.
If it's not a good fit, you walk away, but at least give it a shot. Ethan was quiet. Then he said, Fine. But if this turns into some kind of power play, I'm out.
Deal. The interview was this following Monday. Ethan showed up in a suit he hadn't worn in months, feeling like an impostor. The office was sleek and modern, all glass walls and open floor plans.
The hiring manager, a woman named Carla Hines, met him in the lobby. Mr. Cole, thanks for coming in. Thanks for having me.
She led him to a conference room where two other people were waiting, a man in his 40s who introduced himself as the CTO, and a younger woman who was apparently the head of operations. They asked him about his experience, his approach to project management, his ability to handle high-pressure situations. Ethan answered honestly. He talked about the projects he'd led, the teams he'd managed, the mistakes he'd made.
He didn't sugarcoat anything. Can I ask why you left your last position? Carla said. Ethan had been waiting for this question.
I was let go. I had some personal circumstances that affected my availability, and my employer didn't think I could balance both. And can you? Balance both?
I'm figuring it out. That's not a very confident answer. It's an honest one. Carla smiled.
Fair enough. The interview lasted an hour. When it was over, Carla walked him back to the lobby. We'll be in touch by the end of the week, she said.
Thanks. Ethan left feeling like he'd just run a marathon. He sat in his car for a few minutes, trying to process what had just happened. Then his phone rang.
Lena. How'd it go? I don't know. Maybe okay.
That's good. Is it? Ethan, stop overthinking. You did your best.