A Fund of His Own

By Friday, Ethan resigned before they could fire him. The separation agreement included non-disparagement, confidentiality, and a reminder that Blackquarry would defend its rights vigorously. It did not include a recommendation. He left with two boxes: books, notebooks, a framed printout of the Cobalt chart Priya had given him as a joke, and the knowledge that his reputation was already being rewritten in rooms he could not enter. At twenty-eight, he had money for the first time in his life, but not enough to be careless. His Blackquarry bonuses had paid debts and built savings. They had not made him rich by Wall Street standards. Rich meant you could survive being hated. Ethan was not there yet.