Mason stood in the quiet study and looked at the thick legal paper resting in his hands. He heard my words, and the serious corporate expression on his face softened into something very human and vulnerable. He did not ask me if I was sure about my decision, and he did not hesitate to take the next physical step.
He gripped the top of the marriage contract with both hands and pulled his arms apart. The heavy paper made a loud, sharp noise while he ripped the document in half.
He stacked the torn halves together, and he ripped the paper again. He reduced the strict business arrangement into a pile of useless scraps, and he dropped the pieces into the metal trash bin next to his mahogany desk. The physical symbol of our fake relationship vanished in a matter of seconds, because we did not need to hide behind a legal shield anymore.
"The business contract is gone," Mason said in a low, steady voice. "You are no longer my employee, and you do not owe me any more public performances."
