Page 170 of Wasted Grace

BONUS EPILOGUE ONE

Advik

TWO YEARS LATER

I hear a knock on my office door.

“Come on in,” I say to my uninvited visitor after hanging up on my Gree. It has been two blissful years with her and I constantly find myself wanting to be near her still.

Fuck. I miss her.

“Hey, Advik.” The GenVault CEO himself enters. “You got a minute?”

I thought he’d simply walk in. Manoj Bakshi was the one person who saw me struggling after the Mehul Bedi takedown. And how Dev’s death had affected me. He had suggested that I take a few weeks off to regroup and decide whether to resume my role at GenVault or not.

At first I respected his advice. Then I came around to admire his empathy. He knew there was a balance between the fame the firm was getting and overworking his employees. And he’d taken me up on thatout, when I told him I wanted to shift to a part-time position instead of a full-time employee.

I had reduced my client portfolio two years ago. Balancing GenVault and High on Happy—the bar I owned with Vikram.

“Manoj sir. Yes, of course.” I gesture at the chair across my desk. “How can I help?”

He smiles and settles down. An uncomfortable silence takes over.

“There’s... no easy way to say this but...”

Dread iced my veins. I was anticipating this would happen. He’d given me an offer once—last year. But I refused it. I still handle over 13% of the company’s clientele. However, that can be redistributed.

And now that I think about it—High on Happy was taking up more of my time and energy.

Shit.Had I slacked off?

Was my productivity down?

I swallow hard, waiting for him. A reluctant sense of relief spreading through. I wanted to be at my bar more than I wanted to be here. But this job did provide a level of financial security.Fuck.

He smiles softly at my possibly frightened expression. “We’re going to have to let you go.”

The room tilts. My brain already calculating budgets and mortgage. Expenses like car insurance and the contribution to mine and Greesha’s joint savings account. Can I do it?

Then he chuckles and adds, “And... then offer you an independent contractor position.”

I frown. “I’m sorry. Did you—?”

“Listen, I can see this job is draining you. Handling clients is becoming harder with the way our firm has positioned itself in the market. Your expertise is needed, but you don’t need to handle clients. The only reason we want you around is to help them. But you don’t need to be a part-time partner to do that.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “But... who’s going to handle the clients? I can surely move to a consulting position but... I have—”

“We’re going to start looking for candidates. And if you’re okay with still providing the support at a reduced consulting capacity, then that’s okay with me. I don’t... listen.” He shifts uncomfortably in his chair. “Everything that happened with Mehul Bedi—loss of Dev—I don’t think it’s healthy for you to remain here. I commend you for trying for three years. But I’ve seen you withdrawing. We want to keep you, but not when it’s... hurting you.”

“I...” don’t know what to say. Fuck. This man is the best boss I’ve ever had. I’ve spent overnine yearsin this company, and I never thought I’d get an option of this much flexibility.

I tell him I’ll think about it. That I’d need to talk to Gree first and then decide.

I was rarely at the office—coming in once a week—so I was glad we were able to talk face-to-face. But something in me was shaking with excitement.

This felt like a new chapter. And if Gree agreed, it’ll give us more time for the next step in our relationship.

When the clock hits five, I start packing up. A permanent smile pasted on my face. Gree usually works from home. Her job at SentinelOne has been a steady fixture that she genuinely enjoys.