Chapter 13
Evelyn looked down at the document.
Job title, salary structure, authority scope, project allocation—everything was spelled out clearly.
She'd worked at Ashford Group for over two years as a project supervisor in the marketing department. She managed three people and had a budget cap of eight hundred thousand dollars.
This document listed the position as Senior Project Manager. Independent team leadership authority, budget approval up to three million, reporting directly to the Director of Strategic Marketing.
Two full levels above where she'd been at Ashford Group.
Evelyn closed the document and looked up at Cedric.
"Was this position created specifically for me?"
Cedric picked up his tea, took a sip, and set it down.
"What do you think?"
"I think Parker Group wouldn't just happen to have an opening at this exact moment that perfectly matches my resume."
Cedric didn't deny it.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
"You're right. I approved this position. But Parker Group doesn't carry dead weight. Three-month probation period. If you don't deliver results, you're out. Do you think you can deliver?"
Evelyn looked down at the document again, her eyes landing on the project allocation section.
Parker Group's current focus areas—tourism real estate, renewable energy incubation, cross-border supply chain. She was familiar with almost every single one. Not by coincidence—during her two years at Ashford Group, she'd done all the foundational research on these sectors herself.
Evelyn realized Cedric had positioned her exactly where she could deliver the most value.
"I can."
She flipped to the last page, picked up the pen from Cedric's desk, and signed her name on the intent-to-hire form. Her handwriting was decisive, no hesitation.
Cedric watched her finish signing, then took the document and glanced at her signature.
"Report to HR tomorrow morning to complete your onboarding. Your desk is on the thirty-sixth floor, Strategic Marketing."
Evelyn stood and placed the pen back where she'd found it.
"Cedric, whether this position was created for me or not, you'll see results in three months."
Cedric looked up at her and nodded.
"I'm counting on it."
When Evelyn left Parker Group Tower, it was already dark outside. She stood at the entrance and took a deep breath.
The air smelled damp from earlier rain. The streetlights reflected off the wet pavement in pools of orange light.
As of today, she had no ties to Ashford Group.
She pulled out her phone and opened her email.
Fifteen minutes ago, right after signing the document in Cedric's office, she'd sent out her resignation email. Recipients included Mr. Lewis, the entire marketing department, and HR.
The body of the email contained only three sentences.
First: I, Evelyn Kendall, am resigning from my position as Project Supervisor in Ashford Group's Marketing Department, effective immediately, for personal reasons.
Second: A handoff checklist for all ongoing projects is attached.
Third: Please arrange transition meetings with the relevant parties as soon as possible.
The attachment was a document she'd spent three hours putting together. Progress reports for the Eastside project, contact records for Farcry Group, timelines for three clients in negotiation—she'd even noted each client's communication preferences and special considerations.
Everything she could hand off, she documented down to the last detail. What couldn't be handed off were the intangible things stored in her head, the nuances impossible to put on paper.
Meanwhile, on the thirty-second floor of Ashford Group headquarters, in the marketing department office area.
When the resignation email popped up on Mr. Lewis's screen, he was chewing a piece of gum.
He nearly choked on it.
He frantically opened the attachments, flipping through them one by one.
The midterm report for the Eastside tourism project was due to the client next Tuesday. Project data models and client communication minutes were in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively.
He clicked on Table 1. It was a standard project timeline—complete framework, clear milestones.
But in the data model column, there was only one line: Core parameters based on preliminary market research projections. For detailed derivation process, see Project Lead's memo (not archived).
Not archived.
Mr. Lewis opened the Farcry Group contact record.
Mr. Harrison's contact information, meeting times, topics discussed—Evelyn had listed everything. But the most critical part, the cooperation framework and pricing range Mr. Harrison had verbally agreed to, had a note that read: Verbally confirmed, not yet formalized in writing. Point of contact: Evelyn Kendall.
Mr. Lewis went through all three client negotiation records. Every single one was the same. The framework was there, the data was there, but the core elements—client relationships, negotiation leverage, the strategies for closing deals—none of that was included. Evelyn's handoff documents had the skeleton, but no flesh.
It wasn't that Evelyn was deliberately holding back. Marketing projects worked this way. The truly valuable stuff was never on paper. It lived in the trust between people. With Evelyn gone, those relationship chains were broken.
Mr. Lewis spit his gum into a tissue. He picked up his phone, hesitated for a few seconds, then dialed Sebastian's number.
The phone rang twice before someone picked up. Mr. Lewis forced himself to speak.
"Mr. Ashford."
Three seconds passed before a voice came through.
"What."
Sebastian's tone sounded off, like he'd just finished yelling at someone.
Mr. Lewis swallowed.
"Evelyn's resignation email came through. She sent the handoff checklist too."
"Okay."
"Mr. Ashford, the Eastside project's midterm report is due next week. There's no one who can take it over."
Silence on the other end for a few seconds.
"What do you mean no one can take it over? Marketing has over twenty people. You need me to assign someone personally?"
Mr. Lewis pushed through.
"Mr. Ashford, the core data model for that project was built by Evelyn alone. She didn't leave the derivation process before she left. The Eastside client rep has a good personal relationship with her. If we switch contacts, they might not accept it. And there's Mr. Harrison from Farcry—Evelyn talked to him personally at the dinner. Now his secretary says he doesn't have any meetings scheduled in the near future..."
"Enough." Sebastian cut him off. "Have John cover it. Give me three days."
The call ended.
Mr. Lewis stared at his phone screen and let out a long breath.
He hadn't dared tell Sebastian about something else.
This afternoon, a client they were negotiating with had called to ask, "I heard Evelyn went to Parker Group? We'd like to talk to Parker Group too. Let's put our discussions with Ashford Group on hold for now."
Sebastian hung up on Mr. Lewis and tossed his phone onto his desk.
His temple throbbed.
He already knew about Evelyn's resignation. The letter was sitting on his desk, black and white, signature clean and decisive.
He'd thought Evelyn was just throwing a fit.
Like every other time before. Make a scene, give him the cold shoulder for a few days, then eventually come back.