– Unfinished Business
| September 24, 2023 - 7:30 PM
Lin pulled into the apartment parking lot, the weight of her phone in her pocket feeling satisfying.
Tonight had been productive.
She had secured proof against Vivian Zhao. She had set things in motion. And now? She just wanted to go home, eat, and maybe—finally—sleep.
But the moment she stepped out of her car, her mood soured.
Because someone was waiting for her.
Nathan Liu.
Her ex.
Leaning against the wall near the apartment entrance, arms crossed, expression tense. He straightened the moment he saw her, pushing off the wall.
"Lin," he said, voice tight.
Lin kept walking.
| September 24, 2023 - 7:32 PM
She reached for her keys, ignoring him completely, but Nathan stepped in front of the door, blocking her way.
"Lin, talk to me."
Lin tilted her head, bored. "Pretty sure I already did."
Nathan's jaw tightened. "Over text? After three years together?"
Lin crossed her arms. "Nathan. The breakup is final. You should move on."
Nathan's hands curled into fists at his sides. "You're acting like none of it mattered."
Lin's expression didn't change. Because it didn't. She stepped past him, unlocking the door without looking back.
| September 24, 2023 - 7:35 PM
She shut the door in his face.
Nathan didn't deserve answers.
And soon?
He'd have much bigger things to worry about.
| September 24, 2023 - 9:12 PM
Lin sat at her desk, laptop open, fingers tapping steadily against the keys. The apartment was quiet—her parents had already gone to bed.
But Lin?
She had work to do.
She pulled up her browser and typed:
"How to survive the apocalypse."
A flood of results popped up. Some were useless clickbait—"10 Ways to Survive Zombies!" with ridiculous suggestions like "carry a baseball bat" or "hide in a shopping mall."
Idiots.
She refined her search.
Survivalist forums. Prepper networks. Off-grid communities.
That's where the real information would be.
| September 24, 2023 - 9:25 PM
She scrolled through pages of discussions—people debating water filtration methods, arguing about the best firearms for long-term defense, sharing blueprints for makeshift bunkers.
Her eyes locked onto a particular forum thread:
[Doomsday Ready: What You Need BEFORE SHTF]
Lin clicked.
| September 24, 2023 - 9:27 PM
The first post was a checklist, written by a user named IronClad88.
TOP PRIORITIES BEFORE SHTF (Sh*t Hits The Fan)
✔ Water: Storage, purification, access to natural sources. No water, no survival.
✔ Food: Long-term storage, farming, hunting. Canned goods only last so long.
✔ Shelter: Defensible, hidden from raiders. High walls, strong doors, escape routes.
✔ Weapons: Firearms, melee, ammo stockpiles. If you can't protect it, you don't own it.
✔ Power & Fuel: Generators, solar, backup supplies. The grid will fail fast.
✔ Medical Supplies: First aid, antibiotics, knowledge. Doctors won't be around forever.
Lin leaned back, absorbing the information.
She was already ahead—she had secured land, fresh water, a plan for food.
But there was still so much to do.
She clicked through more threads, scanning strategies, making notes.
| September 24, 2023 - 9:55 PM
One comment caught her eye:
"If you're serious about prepping, don't just read. Connect. Join the network."
Below it was a link to a private forum.
Lin clicked.
A message popped up:
"Registration requires approval. Answer the following: Why do you want to join?"
Lin smirked.
She started typing.
"I know what's coming. And I intend to survive it."
Send.
| September 24, 2023 - 10:00 PM
Lin closed her laptop.
She had just opened a new door.
And soon?
She'd see just how deep this world went.
| September 24, 2023 - 10:13 PM
Lin had just closed her laptop, her mind still racing through everything she had learned, when her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen.
William Zhao.
Lin's brow twitched. What the hell does he want this late?
She let it ring twice before answering.
| Call Started – 10:14 PM
"Lin," Zhao's voice came through, sharp, clipped, impatient. "Why aren't you answering my emails?"
Lin leaned back in her chair, eyes flicking to her laptop. She hadn't even checked. Didn't care.
"Because it's Sunday night, and I don't work Sundays," she said smoothly.
A pause. Then a low exhale, like he was holding back annoyance.
"I need you to reschedule my Tokyo trip," Zhao said. "Meetings need to be moved up. I want it done by tomorrow morning."
Lin resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course. William Zhao, billionaire CEO, acting like his schedule was the most important thing in the world.
A world that was going to collapse in 92 days.
Lin tapped her fingers against the desk. She could do this in ten minutes. But she wasn't in the mood to be ordered around like some 24/7 on-call servant.
She made a point of checking the time. "It's past ten, Mr. Zhao."
"Then finish it before you sleep."
Lin let the silence stretch.
Then she smirked. "Actually, I meant to tell you—I spoke with HR about switching to a remote position."
Silence.
Then—Zhao laughed, short and disbelieving. "Remote? Lin, do you think I hired you to sit at home?"
Lin's smirk didn't fade. "Do you think I need to be in an office to handle your calls and emails?"
A beat of silence.
Zhao was many things—a selfish, arrogant bastard—but he wasn't stupid.
Finally, he sighed. "Fine. We'll discuss it later. Just get the Tokyo meetings fixed."
Lin's smirk widened. "Of course, sir."
| Call Ended – 10:16 PM
She set her phone down, stretching lazily.
He didn't say no.
Step three? In progress.
Now, all she had to do was make herself impossible to replace—then disappear before anyone noticed.
| September 24, 2023 - 10:20 PM
Lin cracked her knuckles, opened her laptop, and pulled up William Zhao's Tokyo itinerary.
She could have done this in her sleep.
A few emails, a couple of schedule adjustments, and a quick call to his assistant in Japan—done in seven minutes.
She hit send, leaned back, and exhaled slowly.
Her eyes flicked to her previous tab—the survival forum application. Still pending.
Her future was already shifting.
Now, she just had to make sure nothing tied her down.
| September 24, 2023 - 10:35 PM
Her phone buzzed.
Email from HR:
Subject: Remote Work Request Update
She opened it.
Dear Lin,
After reviewing your request, we have tentatively approved your transition to a remote position, pending final confirmation from Mr. Zhao. Please note that this arrangement will be subject to quarterly performance reviews.
Formal documentation will be sent soon.
Best regards,
HR Department
Lin smirked.
Tentatively approved.
Which meant Zhao hadn't fought it.
He might be an arrogant ass, but he wasn't stupid—he knew she was too efficient to replace easily.
Step three?
Locked in.
| September 24, 2023 - 10:40 PM
She closed her laptop.
Her days of chained office hours were over.
Now?
She could focus on what really mattered.