Chapter 13 · The Agency Folder

"Your sister's contract just got flagged."

Divina from HR didn't even look up. She slid a manila folder across the desk like it was a parking ticket. GULFPEARL MANPOWER AGENCY was stamped in red across the top, and under it, in blue ballpoint: SANTOS, IRENE (NENENG) — STATUS: ON HOLD.

"Flagged for what?" My voice came out flat because if I let it shake, it would keep shaking.

"Above my pay grade." Divina finally looked up, and there was something almost sorry in it. "There's also this." She pushed a second paper over. TRANSFER MEMO — EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. Reassignment: Housekeeping, Floors 4–9. Signed: J. MIN, COO.

Jae's signature. His actual handwriting, the M with the hard slash through it.

I stood there with two papers in my hands and my whole chest went cold, colder than the AC vent blasting down on Divina's desk. He'd folded. One dinner with Tita Corazon and one threat about Whitfield's vote, and he'd folded, and he hadn't even told me himself.