When her colleagues heard she was resigning, reactions varied from surprise to envy. They buzzed around her, asking, "Ms. Harper, what are your plans after you leave?" "Are you taking a break or...?" Ellis didn't pay much attention to what her colleagues were saying; however, it was undeniable that this group was more pleasant than those she worked with at Hudson Group, even though they were a bit too fond of gossiping behind her back. At Hudson, the colleagues had looked down on her, assuming Victoria would replace her and become the new boss lady, unworthy of their respect since Easton didn't favor her. She could say with certainty that very few at Hudson held her in high regard. She wondered how she ever managed to work in such an environment! Reflecting on this made her almost laugh at her own naivety. After handing over her duties, Ellis left with the few personal items she had. Stepping out of the Tate Group building, she couldn't help but glance at the logo a few times. Since her kidnapping, she had been constantly hustling, dealing with all sorts of pressures. Now, reflecting on her experiences, less than a year felt like a decade. Without a job, she couldn't just sit idle. A month of traveling had significantly dented her savings. In search of new employment, Ellis also moved out of Maya's place. With the Brooks family's downfall, her safety concerns had diminished; it was time to live on her own again. Maya disagreed with Ellis's decision, cautioning her, "Ellis, the Brooks family just fell apart; it's not safe for you to live alone so suddenly." "It's fine," Ellis assured her, unfazed by Maya's concerns. Unable to persuade Ellis, Maya reluctantly helped her move. After setting up her new place, Maya made a quick trip back to the law firm to grab some client files for an upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, Morty called Maya asking, "Did Ellis resign?" Maya was surprised Morty's first question was about her friend. Ellis had firmly rejected Morty's advances several times. Morty was likely looking for insider information, but Maya knew to keep her lips sealed. "Resign? What resignation? Ellis didn't tell me anything about that," she feigned ignorance. "Is she unhappy at Tate Group? I have some great job leads. I'll send the details to you; could you forward them to her? Thanks," Morty said, ignoring Maya's pretense. Ellis and Maya were roommates; it was implausible for Maya not to know about Ellis's resignation. "Mr. Morty…" Maya began, but Morty had already hung up. So, Morty was out there trying to find Ellis a job! Friends could be casual with Morty, but she had to be careful. The contract with Nexus Group wasn't up yet! Curiously, Maya glanced at the job details Morty sent and half-heartedly replied, "Forwarded." The jobs Morty mentioned weren't ordinary at all. They were executive positions, offering six-figure monthly salaries, various bonuses, and even stock options, enticing sums that would make anyone eager.Maya forwarded the details to Ellis, joking, "Girl, your admirer's trying to hook you up with a job." At that moment, Ellis was lying on the couch, resting. She briefly scanned the message. When Maya mentioned her admirer, she clearly meant Morty. Ellis wasn't interested in Morty's sugar-coated advances. Besides, didn't Morty know Zion had people looking for me? She frowned and replied, "Keep work and Morty separate; whatever he says or does, you don't need to send it my way." Maya responded, "Wasn't going to, but the job was too good not to show you." Morty and Easton weren't cut from the same cloth. Easton would take back his gifts on a whim, letting others have only temporary ownership, not worth having. But Morty's offerings were even less desirable, especially if she wasn't interested in reciprocating his affection. Ellis didn't reply further, the fatigue overcoming her as she slowly closed her eyes.As night fell and she woke to her stomach growling, she remembered a restaurant downstairs that had great food. Needing to stretch after lying down for so long, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and went downstairs for dinner. But the moment she stepped outside her apartment building, she was met with brute force. Her hands were restrained, and darkness enveloped her vision. Before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her head. Then, she knew nothing more. As she nearly collapsed, two men acted swiftly, stuffing her into a nearby car. In Varnesh, a small town, Victoria received a notification for a photo and opened it.