“What did you just say?” he asked, blinking as if he hadn’t heard me correctly.

“You don’t have to pretend you didn’t hear me, Ryan,” I said, looking him straight in the eyes. “I know you did.”

“I can’t believe you,” he muttered, shutting his eyes briefly. “How can you demand something like this?”

“You told me to ask for anything,” I reminded him, my gaze dropping to his mouth before snapping back to his eyes. “You said you’d do anything to keep me from walking out of that door with my resignation. You promised. And this… this is the only price I’m interested in.”

I turned on my heel,...