How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

It was a call from one of the department heads at the main base.

"Elodie, there's an urgent work trip that just came up. It's critical, and they want our best senior engineer to lead the team. You'd need to leave tomorrow. Can you do it?"

Elodie brushed away the hand that had been toying with her earlobe. Jarrod seemed obsessed with every part of her, and when she pushed him off, he simply tightened his arm around her neck, pulling her closer. "A work trip? Where to? What exactly is the assignment?"

She had no choice but to nudge his shoulder with her elbow.

"To Solcrest. We have some strategic cooperation with them, but there are a lot of technical hurdles on their end. The higher-ups want you to go over as our representative, work through some of the technical issues, and provide in-depth training for their engineers."

Elodie immediately understood the country in question had always had close ties with theirs. The relationship was longstanding, and now, with her clearance high enough, she was aware of just how important these connections were. Diplomacy mattered-a lot.

If this assignment had come down from above, it was bound to be vital to the company's larger strategy.

"How long?" Elodie asked, already suspecting this wouldn't be a quick trip. "Two months."

Jarrod was close enough to hear every word. His dark eyes lifted, catching the implication.

Elodie hesitated. "I have to leave tomorrow?"

"Yes, it's urgent. Other teams will be going too, along with an elite pilot squad. VistaLink Technologies is involved-future collaboration depends on this. They'll send someone to assist you as well."

over. She knew the higher-ups had already set things in

chaotic over there, but don't worry, your safety will

"It's my job."

She ended the call.

watched her.

all too well-once she was assigned to a top-level team, she'd have to take charge, like it or

she really wanted was to fly straight to New York to see her son. But now, duty called-and it was no small

"I leave tomorrow. Solcrest."

Is this mission classified?" Elodie thought for a moment. "I think so. No one else will know. I need to pack." Packing for two months was

noticed Jarrod staying quiet, still holding

him, and he met her gaze with

"...What?"

at her lower back. "Ruining my

didn't have time to play along. She pried his hand off and

call you

as I

I'll go see our son as

order from above. But she couldn't let