Instead, it was an official letter from the human resources department of the Parker Group.

*Dear Emma, this letter is to inform you that your contract as an independent architectural consultant has been terminated, effective immediately, due to restructuring.*

I let out a dry, humorless laugh.

“They took my job too,” I said, looking up at Thomas. “I designed three of their residential layouts this year. They just threw me out.”

Thomas walked over to a heavy oak roll-top desk in the corner of the room.

He pulled a small brass key from his pocket and unlocked the bottom drawer.

“This is exactly how they play,” Thomas said, his back to me. “They strip away your resources until you think you have no choice but to crawl back and beg for their terms.”

He reached into the drawer and pulled out a thick, yellowed manila envelope.

It was tied with a faded red string, the edges frayed from years of storage.

“They did it to me first,” Thomas said, walking back to the sofa.

He sat down in the armchair opposite me, placing the heavy envelope on the coffee table between us.