Plan ahead

She didn’t let herself overthink it.

Will’s response was exactly what she expected—sweet, overwhelmed, reverent… and very, very ready.

And he was waiting for her signal.

She picked up the phone and typed:

Emily:
Pick me up at the corner of Brighton and Maple, 7:10 sharp. I’ll drive over after Jason leaves.

Emily:
Park around the side, not directly out front. I’ll see you.

Emily:
Don’t be late.

Send.

No emoji.

No softening.

Just direct, clean instruction.

Then she powered the phone off. She didn’t want to see his response. Not yet. She already knew what it would say.

Emily stood, naked in her office, and exhaled.

Then got dressed.

No rush. No flurry of guilt or nerves. Just smooth, practiced movement as she pulled her slacks back on, slipped into her blouse, straightened her hair.

Next came the eye drops—the kind she knew would make her eyes red, a little watery. Not painful. Just tired-looking.

She blinked twice in the mirror, gave it a moment, then stepped out of her office.

She stopped at the water cooler.

Passed reception.

Made a point to casually chat with Angela in accounting and Darren from payroll.

It didn’t take long.

“Everything okay, Em? You look kinda pale.”

“You sleeping alright?”

“You sound a little stuffy.”

Perfect.

She smiled weakly, touched her temple. “Think I’m coming down with something. Been dragging since this morning.”

Concerned nods. Angela even patted her hand.

Back in her office, she sent a short email to her manager: “Not feeling great today—might call out tomorrow if this gets worse. Just a heads-up.”

By the time she left work, the groundwork was flawless.

No one would question it when she didn’t show up tomorrow.

Tasha would think she went to work like normal—Jason had already mentioned having a late meeting Friday, which meant he’d be out past dinner.

And Emily?

She had an entire day to disappear. Twelve full hours to do whatever she wanted.

With whoever she wanted.

She felt her pulse tighten at the thought as she buckled into the car.

Tomorrow was Friday.

And everything was ready.