E-mail from the Owner

Just as Emily’s fingers slipped the top button through the crisp edge of her blouse, her computer chimed.

New Email – [1]

She glanced at the screen, still standing beside her chair, the shirt hanging half-buttoned over her bare chest, her breasts soft now, empty and warm, her skin still tingling faintly from the suction and the tension she’d carried all morning.

The sender made her pause.

From: Richard Levanthal
Subject: Congrats!

The owner.

He rarely emailed employees directly—especially not individual ones. Emily blinked, then clicked.

-0-

Emily—

I just heard you were back today. First, huge congratulations. Chloe, right? Beautiful name. I won’t pretend to remember what it was like at the very beginning—it’s been almost twenty years for me—but I do remember being tired. Like... existentially tired.

No one warned me that babies could cry that much without combusting. I used to walk around the house at 3am whispering things like “please sleep or I will sell my soul to the devil.”

I don’t know how you’re even standing upright.

That said—I wanted to say thank you. Coming back after leave, especially with a little one at home, takes serious strength. You’re one of the good ones, and we’re glad to have you.

But—between you and me? Don’t power through the whole day. You’ve earned a soft re-entry.

Close your laptop early. Go home. Sniff the top of your baby’s head. That smell is finite and priceless.

We’ll survive without you for an afternoon.

—Richard

-0-

Emily stared at the screen, lips parting slightly.

Something in her chest—tight and aching all morning—loosened. Just a little.

No schemes. No looks. No games.

Just kindness.

She reached out and closed her laptop.

Her shirt still hung open at the top, the faint suction marks on her chest still visible.

She smiled, just a little.

Then began buttoning the rest of the blouse, slower this time, with the rest of the day ahead of her… and maybe something better waiting at home.