As I sit outside the HR office, I fiddle with the code of conduct pamphlet they put together as part of their larger employee education piece everyone has been taking prior to signing. I'm aware of who is in the office ahead of me because I can hear his raised voice through the door.

Perhaps I should leave, but it's a tiny comfort to realize he's been treating more than just me in a deplorable way. Some of the members on my team made me feel as though I was the only one experiencing his brand of passive-aggressive nonsense.

Doesn't sound like he's too concerned with the passive part anymore and has gone straight to aggressive. Thankfully all the code of conduct meetings have at least two HR staff members present at each one.

While I wait, my mind wanders to Ash and his complicated relationship with Imogen. They aren't sharing custody of Chloe, but the last couple of Sundays, she's been at her parents' place when Ash has dropped her off. They're talking. I've seen his phone light up with text messages from her, and while he's never in a hurry to answer them, each one feels like a knife to my heart.

On top of that, he didn't directly answer my question about what he'd do it she wanted him back. His sense that it was 'unlikely' wasn't exactly comforting.

Having felt the full force of Ash's commitment, I can't imagine any woman giving that up once they're in their right mind. It was pretty clear from what Ash told me that Imogen wasn't in her right mind at all when she left. If she is now, all bets are off, as far as I'm concerned. She could be playing the long game with him, waiting for me to leave so she can sweep back in.

Which is why I'm standing outside HR right now. Waiting for them to get back to me with details of whether I'm staying or going has been nauseating. I can't have instability with Ash and instability here or I'll be the one who's not in the right frame of mind.

The door flies open and Jack stutters to a stop when he sees me sitting in the chair directly across.

"Suppose you got what you wanted in the end," he sneers.

"I never wanted you to quit or get fired, I just wanted you to do your job."

"Bloody high maintenance women." He throws up his hands and rolls his eyes.

"Said every man who couldn't or wouldn't rise to the standard set." The gloves are off. I'm not sure whether he's opted to leave or if he's been fired, but as long as I'm no longer dealing with him, I'll be much happier.

He storms away, and two building security guards emerge from a door down the hall to follow him.

I tap my knuckles on the half-open door, and Penelope calls for me to come in. She and Zack, a male colleague I'd spoken to before about my code of conduct concerns, are at her desk pouring over something on her screen.

"Paige, how can we help you?" Penelope asks.

"I was wondering whether you'd heard anything about me staying on here or going back? I haven't heard anything from the Michigan office, and I'm the type who likes to have things lined up."

Penelope and Zack exchange a glance, and then Penelope clicks away from whatever they're looking at to something else. She types a few things and lets out a sigh.

"At this point, we'll definitely have you until the end of April."

That's another month. At least four more weeks.

She purses her lips and clicks a few other things. "We've been chatting to the Michigan branch. Do you have a preference on location? You weren't sure last time we spoke."

The temptation to say I want to stay runs through me like a wildfire. Things between me and Ash have been better than I expected since Imogen returned, but I'm still not convinced he won't go back to her. He's exceptional at forgiveness, and she is the mother of his child. Add to that, they've got ten years of history. The only people I have ten years of history with are family members, and I know how I feel about all of them—even Gwen.

"No preference," I say. "Career advancement and salary will be at the top of my mind. Joey and I will be happy in either place."

"Oh, wonderful." She smiles. "You've sorted out something with your childminder then? We didn't want to pressure you about it."

Shit. Right. She's been waiting for me to get back to her. "Yes." I lie.

With Imogen back in the picture, I haven't mentioned the extra time to Ash. Feels impossible when I don't even have a definite timeline. There's a big difference between a few weeks and another year.

"I apologize for not getting back to you." I'm tempted to extend my lie and say we only recently talked about it, but even this lie feels wrong.

"We'll have a package together for you to consider in the next couple of weeks. I'll let the Michigan branch know you're open to returning as well." She gives a small grimace. "Though I hope our offer will be more appealing."

After thanking her for being so flexible, I head back to my office. Maryam follows me in.

"I heard Jack had to be escorted out," she says in a hushed whisper.

"Unfortunate, but true." I open my desktop and click into my email. Nothing pressing, so I lean back in my chair and let out a sigh. If only Imogen hadn't returned, all these decisions about to land in my lap would be easy.

"The code of conduct training seems to be going well. I overheard Catherine say she was glad you came to this branch. That you recognized the people who were actually doing their jobs properly and worked to do something about those who weren't."

"I tried," I say. "All of Jack's work friends are getting a second chance to make a better impression, though time may be running out for that."

"The project is behind. They won't send you home before it's finished."

"Maybe not." I fiddle with a pen on my desk, and my email chimes, but I leave it closed.

"One of my favorite things is how fair you've tried to be since you arrived. You want what's best for the company, but you don't neglect the employees either. Balancing interests can be tricky, and so many people I've worked for don't get it right."

"I'm not sure I always get it right either."

"You try to keep your personal feelings out of hard decisions, which I admire. It's easy to give a knee jerk answer."

Which is funny because this conversation is starting to touch on nerves I'd rather leave untouched. I click open my email, and there's one from Mark, my old boss in Michigan. My heart kicks in my chest. They've actually sent me an offer—it's literally the subject of the email.

"I, um." I stare at the unopened email. "I've got a few things I need to take care of."

"Right. Yeah. Me too." She grins. "It's a good day, isn't it? Feels like a fresh start."

I hover my house over the email, and I'm not sure if it feels like a fresh start or the beginning of the end.

~ * ~

On Sunday, Ash is at football with Chloe, and I've just put Joey down for a nap when the doorbell rings. Normally, the tires cracking on the gravel driveway are a dead giveaway that someone is here, but from upstairs you don't notice it as much.

I hustle down the stairs expecting a delivery driver with a couple of outfits I ordered for Chloe. But when I swing open the door, my smile dies on my face. Even though I've only seen him once before, the distain in his expression aimed at Ash will live somewhere in me forever.

"Toby," I say. "Ash isn't here, but I'm assuming you know that since Chloe should be at your house." My eyes widen on a thought. "Are Ash and Chloe okay?"

"Everyone is fine. I just wanted to take the opportunity to have a little chat with you." He looks me up and down. "Though I'm afraid you've got me at a disadvantage, since I don't know your name."

I purse my lips, and I consider not telling him. Everything about his attitude rubs me in completely the wrong way. He's got a chip on his shoulder.

"Paige," I say, but I don't extend my hand, and I don't offer to have him in for a cup of tea, which would be the normal British custom. While my social circle isn't particularly big here, Ash has had enough friends and acquaintances around for me to understand my role. Shame I won't be playing it.

"I was hoping we could have a chat." He makes to step forward into the house, and I angle the door shut a little more.

"You're free to speak."

He eyes me with distaste. "How old are you, exactly?"

"I don't see how what's any of your business." I let out a sigh. "Just say whatever you need to say, Toby. While you might want to disguise this as some sort of social call, you're not very good at pretending."

"Obviously, you and your son come from some sort of broken home situation, but there's no need for Ash, Imogen, and Chloe to suffer the same fate. Your misguided relationship with your employee isn't likely to go anywhere long term, is it? You'll be on some sort of work visa, and Imogen would never let Ash take Chloe out of the country."

Somehow I suspect it's not Imogen who'd put up the biggest fight over where Ash chose to raise Chloe, but I'm not poking the bear on my doorstep. I don't say anything, and I wait for him to continue.

"I can't see that you'd want to be the reason Ash and Imogen don't give it another go."

"I doubt I'd be the reason," I say. "Imogen did leave Ash and Chloe, after all." I raise my eyebrows.

"There are circumstances—" He fumbles. "Things you know nothing about."

"Pills. Shaken babies." I give him a pointed look. Ash and I have talked about all of it more than once, and while he's never explicitly said it, he'd have forgiven Imogen almost anything if she'd spoken to him about how she was feeling. Instead, she hid it.

Toby's jaw tics. "Americans."

This elicits a laugh. The number of times my nationality has been used as a weapon in this country would probably shock most people.

"Ash is a grown man," I say. "He's capable of making his own decisions. If he decides that being with Imogen is what's best for him and Chloe, then I'll support him." The words taste bitter in my mouth, but I'm fairly certain they're true. I wouldn't hate him for it, even if his decision broke my heart in the process.

"Happy to hear you won't try to convince him otherwise, especially since your relationship is temporary."

His word choice stings, but it's not untrue, at least at this point. Up to now, Ash has been honest about everything. The fact that he hasn't hidden any of the ugliness makes me think he's where he wants to be—with me. If he starts to show sign of being unwilling or unable to make the hard decisions, then maybe I'll have to be the one to do it.

"Go enjoy your time with your granddaughter, Toby. You're lucky Ash is forgiving." I shut the door, and then I lean against it.

As long as Ash is being honest about whatever he's thinking and feeling, I've got no reason to throw on the brakes or put up an emotional roadblock. Why would I ruin the best relationship I've ever had?

On Friday when I opened the email from the Michigan branch, I told my old boss that he'd hear from me after I had the offer from the UK branch. With an extra four weeks to play with and their penchant for taking their sweet time, it might be a little while before I hear from them.

In the meantime, I really need to talk to Ash about the extra month. When he gets home, I'll bite the bullet and tell him what's been happening at work.

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