Page 531 of Rage

The sad part of all of this is that the drug approved by the FDA as a contraceptive for men will likely sit in litigation for years before it ever sees the light of day. Men could take a pill every day, much like women do, but with no hormones interfering and no side effects whatsoever. The trials said that people with a placebo complained of headache, dry mouth, and other things, while those on the drug reported none. None at all.

Nobody knows that Romello isn’t just another rich CEO. He hid his involvement well, and with me as the “fall guy” for the exposure and the story leak, nobody will ever know. Yeah, he needs to find another job, but his multi-million dollar pension says that he has plenty of time to look around.

This news from Zenith won’t tarnish his record because, of course, he had no knowledge of the misdeeds—not publicly. He was brought on to run the business, not any of the criminal activity.

Mia still needs some time until her strength fully returns. We visit the park together, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass revitalizing our spirits. I walk next to her slowly until we get to the nearest bench. She has to take blood thinners andhas a portable oxygen device until the blood clot in her lung dissolves.

“I’m proud of you,” she says, squeezing my hand.

“Couldn’t have done it without you,” I reply with a smile.

Romello joins us, bringing coffee and pastries. There’s a lightness to him now, a freedom.

“Ladies.” He nods his head at Mia and winks at me.

As we sit together, I feel a sense of peace. The future is uncertain, but for now, there’s hope.

Epilogue

Standing outside the now-abandoned Zenith Corp building, I take a deep breath. There is a small white sign taped to the inside of the glass that says:

PROTECTED BY LIVE SECURITY SURVEILLANCE

I have to laugh at the absurdity of a huge skyscraper with dozens of floors fully occupied last week, and now only a few security guards remain on the premises.

The air is crisp, carrying the scent of possibility. Romello joins me, slipping his hand into mine. A forehead kiss follows.

“Ready for the next adventure?” he asks.

I glance at him, a smile tugging at my lips. “Always.”

He opens the door of the sleek black car. “Your chariot awaits, m’lady.”

With Zenith taken down, this battle had been won, but the war is never over. Women will always have to fight for their rights until there is true equality.

I will carry this RAGE inside of me, the embers of a fire burning eternally. A Woman’s work is never done.

THE END

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