THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        EPISODE 15
The hum of the Turquoise
Software office was a
low-frequency drone that
made James's head ache.
He was four hours into
a data audit, surrounded
by interns ten years
younger than him. Robert
walked through the floor,
his presence causing a
ripple of straightened
backs and silenced
conversations. He stopped
at James's cubicle, his
expression unreadable.
"You missed a decimal
on the third quarter
projection," Robert said,
loud enough for the
nearby interns to hear.
James felt the heat
crawl up his neck. "I'll
fix it immediately, sir."
"Don't fix it for me,
James. Fix it for the
client. In this building,
my last name isn't on
your paycheck, your
accuracy is." Robert
walked away without a
second glance. At the
same moment, Shirley was
at the gallery, staring
at the empty space where
the Towers plaque used
to be. A wealthy donor
approached her, looking
confused. "Shirley, I
heard you,ve gone
independent. Brave move.
But I also heard the
estate is cutting back on
the gala sponsorships."
Shirley managed a tight
smile. "The gala is
fine. The brand is just
changing its focus."
"And what is the new
focus?" the donor asked.
"Survival," Shirley
whispered to herself as
the donor walked away.
Back at the estate, Minnie
was packing a small bag.
Robert found her in the
bedroom, her suitcase
open on the silk duvet.
"Where are you going?"
he asked, the first hint
of fear in his voice.
"To Dorothy's," Minnie
said. "I promised her I'd
help her paint the new
place. And honestly,
Robert, I need to see
what a house looks like
when it's not full of
ghosts." Robert sat on
the edge of the bed, the
weight of the radical
honesty finally breaking
his posture. "The ghosts
are all I have left,
Minnie." "No," she said,
kissing his cheek. "The
truth is what you have
left. But you have to
learn how to live in it."
The radical honesty
wasn't just moving the
children out; it was
unmaking the marriage
that built the walls
in the first place.

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