After lunch, I returned to the office to collect the rest of my belongings. Most of my colleagues avoided eye contact, uncomfortable with what had happened. Greg eventually came to my desk and apologized for remaining silent during my firing. He admitted that he had known Nick’s character for years but had convinced himself that staying quiet was the practical choice. Before leaving, Greg offered to contact people he knew throughout the industry and help me find another opportunity. I thanked him, although neither of us could know whether his calls would lead anywhere.

As I carried my box to the car, my phone rang. An unfamiliar man introduced himself as Thomas Marsh and explained that he was Eleanor’s son. The hospital had given him my number, and he wanted to thank me personally. Eleanor was stable, he said, and the paramedics believed my quick response had made a crucial difference. I was relieved to hear she was alive, but I explained that I had lost my job because I arrived late for an important presentation. Thomas went quiet. Then he asked the name of my former employer and which company we had been pitching. When I answered, his tone changed. “Sebastian,” he said, “I think I may know someone who needs to hear what happened to you.”