“What?” Andre laughed. “No. Not at all. They actually think it’s a good idea. Trust me, I needed the help, and more than once I had to have one of my sales reps join me in meetings—spending extra time on the job in a way that’s not necessarily going to make them money. Now they’ll be able to focus on their accounts and training sessions while you’ll be accompanying the new GM to meetings.”

That made sense. “Well, I’m relieved to hear they think it’s a good call.”

“They do. So we had a contractor come and carve out a new office for you,” my uncle explained, stopping in front of an office that had a glass front. “The office furniture just arrived. Never used, and it’s all yours.”

The office reminded me of a partial fishbowl. This was nothing like my tiny office with walls that weren’t see-through, but it was definitely nicer than I realized as I’d stepped inside.

The large, dark cherry wood desk was spotless—not even a fingerprint marked the shiny surface. A new desktop computer sat to the right. Beside it was a NASA-level phone system. Two chairs were stationed in front of the desk, and the chair behind it looked like it would be more comfortable than my bed. There was a credenza against one wall, and on the other was a large potted plant with palm leaves. Blinds covered the wall facing outside.

“What do you think?” Andre placed my box in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

“It’s great.”

“My office—well, my old office—is right on the other side of the sitting area.” He gestured to his right, and since I had glass walls, I looked past the sitting area, and saw the fully walled office of the GM.

“Has a new GM been hired yet?” I asked, wondering if another one of my uncles would be coming down in the interim.

His dark brows knitted. “You don’t know who’s replacing me?”

I placed my purse on my desk. “So the position has been filled?”

“Yes. It was filled quite some time ago,” he said as I turned around, moving toward the blinds. Been filled for quite some time? My father hadn’t mentioned that. I opened them as Andre said, “Actually, here he comes now. Earlier than I expected. Not that I’m surprised. You’re early, so of course, he’ll be early too. Just like old times.”

Just like old times?

I froze.

My fingers were wrapped around the little knob connected to the blinds and I simply stopped moving as a series of shivers crawled across my shoulders.

I’ll see you again soon.

No. No. No.