Quite Well

Richard turned the handle without knocking and pushed the door open with casual ease. Emily followed a step behind, her bag still slung over her shoulder.

Inside, Martin Belkin looked up from his desk, clearly not expecting visitors—especially not this one.

His face shifted in real time. First, a flicker of surprise. Then something quieter, less easy to name. His smile came a beat too late, and his eyes darted briefly—not to Richard, but to Emily.

A calculation. A mask sliding into place. He stood up.

“Mr. Levanthal. Wasn’t expecting you today.”

Richard, all relaxed confidence, gave him a friendly nod as he stepped into the office. “Emily and I ran into each other in the hall. Figured I’d drop in, see how we’re handling re-onboards. I like to keep tabs when good people come back.”

Martin’s hand hovered too long on the folder in front of him. His other hand adjusted his tie—a tic of discomfort. “Of course. Everything’s in order. I was just about to walk her through some return-to-work forms.”

Richard gestured toward the two chairs across from the desk. “Perfect. Don’t mind me then.”

Emily sat, her back straight. Martin’s smile didn’t quite settle. His mouth moved, but the friendly cadence had dulled.

Whatever he’d planned for this meeting, it wasn’t this.

Not with Richard Levanthal in the room.

Martin cleared his throat as he sat down, flipping open the folder with slightly more **** than necessary. “Just a few things we need to run through, Emily. Return-to-work forms, adjusted payroll confirmations, and a couple of signature updates related to your parental leave rollover.”

Emily nodded, glancing down at the top form. Her pen hovered.

“Take your time,” Martin added, too quickly. “No rush at all.”

Richard leaned back in the second chair, legs crossed, the picture of polite interest. “I know it’s a lot of paperwork to jump back into. But it’s important. This place doesn’t run without women like you holding it together.”

Emily glanced up at him, startled by the warmth behind the compliment.

Martin smiled thinly. “Absolutely.”

“Any surprises since you came back?” Richard asked, shifting his attention to her fully. “Office politics still the same zoo?”

Emily hesitated. “Some familiar faces. Some… new energy.”

Martin cut in. “It’s always an adjustment, first day back.”

“Sure,” Richard said. “But that’s why I like to check in. People don’t always say what they’re really thinking when they’re being shuffled through HR.”

Emily looked at him carefully. It didn’t feel like small talk.

Martin busied himself aligning the stack of papers.

She signed the first few forms in silence. Then the next. Halfway through, she felt Richard watching—not leering, not inappropriate, just… attentive. Protective, even.

When she finished the last signature, Martin reached for the packet with a nod. “That’s everything. You’re officially back in the system. Full-time status confirmed.”

“Great,” Emily said, standing.

Richard stood with her. “You ever need anything, you reach out. Directly. HR can’t always see what’s in front of them.”

Martin didn’t respond.

Emily smiled faintly. “I will.”

Richard opened the door for her, stepping aside with a small gesture. She passed through first, feeling Martin’s gaze on her back until the door clicked shut again.

The hallway felt brighter now. Less weighted.

And somewhere deep in her stomach, the tightness began to ease.