Chapter 18: Forty Days

The property manager asked for a video call at eight the next morning, which was four in the afternoon in Seattle.

I took it in the small meeting room with the door shut and a paper cup of Dojin's coffee.

Dojin had walked me to work and then sat in the room next door with the wall between us, working very loudly so I'd know he was there.

The man on my screen was in our old living room.

I could see the couch, the empty bookshelf and the yellow sticky note I had left, still pressed to the counter.

"Ms. Renberg, thank you," he said. "I'll be quick."

"You read my email, so you know where the account stands."

"I did."

"The reason I wanted to see you," he said, and looked uncomfortable, "is that Mr. Gullikson wrote to me this morning."

"He says you've agreed to go back on the lease with him."

I put my cup down.

"I haven't agreed to anything."

"That's what I assumed. I'd like to note it."

"Please note it in capital letters."

He typed something, and then a second window opened on my screen.

"He's also asked to join the call," the manager said. "I told him he could listen."

Colson's face appeared in a small square in the corner.

He was in what looked like a hotel business center, with a plastic plant behind him.

He looked ten years older than he had in the lobby.

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