LOGINShare
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: CRACKS IN THE QUIET.
Last Updated:
2024-12-31 19:29:06
Related chapters
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY: SILENT CONFESSIONS.
Fred and Jerry looked at each other uneasily, the words that had been spoken hanging in the air. In an unsaid effort to cover up any tension that had crept into the room, both men quickly cleared their throats. As he scrambled for a way out, Fred muttered, "Yeah, um… Jerry," breaking the stillness. "You know, I forgot to call the doctor even though I said I would." With a vague motion of his hand, he hoped the topic shift would stick. Helen, however, didn't believe it. With her hands clasped together and her keen eyes darting between them, she leaned forward . Her piercing eyes glowed with suspicion, and they both writhed even more in silence.Helen had come to inquire simply if Fred and Jerry were ready to eat. However, their low voices and disjointed sentences stopped her cold as she got closer to the living room. She hovered behind the door, listening intently to every muttered detail, intrigued. That's how she learned about it. Fred and Jerry felt their spines tingle as Helen's
Last Updated : 2025-01-01BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: A STORM OF REVELATIONS.
Jerry stood motionless, unable to endure the oppressive quiet. He stared at Laura, her thin body quivering with tears streaming down her face. Her face was smeared with tears as she leaned heavily against the wall and stared at the phone that was resting menacingly on the table. Helen quickly rushed to Laura's side after realizing how serious the situation was. She softly clutched her hand, her voice quiet and comforting. "What's wrong, Laura?”. “ Are you acquainted with her?” As she drew Laura in closer, protecting her from the mounting tension in the room, Helen's worry was evident.As Laura's shaky fingers brushed her wet cheeks, her sobbing grew more intense. Her eyes slowly turned to Fred, and it was clear that she was hateful. She was unable to conceal the wave of disdain that washed over her. All the grief and betrayal memories from her previous employment returned, all of them related to women Fred had somehow crossed paths with.Laura's long-simmering anger towards Fred was
Last Updated : 2025-01-02BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: TIDES OF CONFESSION.
The weight of Helen's confession created a tense mood in Laura's room. Helen stared at Laura's disbelieving expression as her voice faltered, just before she revealed the secret. The moment was cut short when a loud, authoritative voice roared from the doorway. "Helen!" Unmistakably forceful and booming, the voice echoed like a sudden thunderclap throughout the room. The astonished gaze of both women snapped to the door as they froze. Jerry was standing there, his massive body silhouetted against the hallway light. His tone left no space for debate as his piercing eyes flitted to Helen."Helen!” His voice brought no opposition, he commanded, "Come with me immediately." Under the pressure of Jerry's dominant presence, Helen faltered, her determination faltering. She glanced inquisitively at Laura, who had a confused and suspicious look on her face. Jerry's timing was perfect, or maybe premeditated. He had realized the seriousness of the situation and acted quickly, seeing Helen's re
Last Updated : 2025-01-03BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: AN OMEN OF CHAOS.
Fred froze, his thoughts whirling. How could Linda have predicted that he would be at Presbyterian Hospital at that precise moment? The microphone in the sheriff's car suddenly struck him. His eyes were fixed on Linda, and he felt a surge of rage, like she was taunting him. "What are you doing here?" As she drew closer, Fred made a crisp, authoritative demand. Linda's mouth curled into a cunning smile. "You're so rude all the time, Fred”. Her eyes never left his as she spoke in a low, derisive tone, "You really should change that attitude." Her confidence radiated threat as she leaned nonchalantly against his car."What are your plans, Linda?”. “Which game are you playing now?” Fred snarled and stood up, telling her to get away. Linda nodded slowly and deliberately as she chuckled softly. "My plans? She repeated, her voice brimming with sarcastic innocence, "My game?" She moved closer, putting a hand on his shoulder with measured audacity. Her unrelenting gaze ripped through him.
Last Updated : 2025-01-04BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR: DESIRE AND CHAOS.
There was a chill in the air as Linda walked closer and fixed Jack with her piercing, predatory eyes. Her presence was both dominating and unnerving, as if she had come specifically for him. Maggie automatically tightened her hold on Jack and positioned herself in front of him in a protective manner. She maintained a piercing, unblinking gaze on Linda. "What are you doing here?" Maggie gently shoved Jack behind her and requested in a forceful voice. Linda smiled mischievously and held out her hand. "Oh, do you remember me?" Her tone was full of sarcasm as she teased. The security guard in the vicinity watched the incident from a distance, his face displaying hesitation as he considered his next course of action."Yes, exactly”. “Tell me, what are you doing here?" Maggie retorted, her voice icy and full of controlled rage. The tension was broken by Linda's sarcastic tone as she leaned closer. "Give me a chance to introduce myself again”. “I am Linda Jones”. “One of the numerous wom
Last Updated : 2025-01-05BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: A HEART IN PIECES.
Maggie halted, her wide eyes taking in the scene before her, her shaking fists gripping the door frame. As she looked at Fred and Sarah in a state of unkempt anarchy, her heart felt like a stone. She had just gotten back from the hospital with a few necessities for herself and Jack, with plans to stop by the office to pick up her misplaced hoodie. She was broken by the scene she bumped into. She had just intended to speak with Fred privately to express her regret for her involvement in Jack's medical situation. She felt a great deal of guilt and wanted to make things right. Fred, however, had obviously hurried back to the office with a completely different goal in mind.Maggie's voice trembled as she asked, "Fred, how could you?" Her shock gave way to pure betrayal, and Fred fumbled, snatching on his shirt as he hurried toward her. "Maggie, wait, it's not what it looks like!" he stammered, desperation thick in his voice. Behind him, Sarah, panicked and flustered, tugged at her tigh
Last Updated : 2025-01-06BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: LOST IN THE WARDS.
Maggie felt like everything was falling apart around her. Under the thunderous boom of panic in her chest, the hospital's clean smell dissipated. Jack was not in bed. "Oh my God, Jack!”. She cried out, "Jack!" as her voice reverberated across the deserted ward. Her panicked eyes darted to every dark corner of the corridor as she ran out of the room. As she frantically looked for any indication of him, her heart sounded loudly in her ears. She hardly heard hurried footsteps until she ran into Fred, who was charging at her, his face white with haste."Fred - Fred!”. “He's not here!” Maggie sobbed as she gripped his arm shakily. Panic overcame her, and tears fell down her cheeks. Raw terror clawed at her throat, causing her voice to crack.Fred thought his chest had been cut by a knife. He felt a wave of panic as Maggie's words replayed in his mind. “What?”. “Where is Jack?” His voice trembled as he demanded. He didn't wait for an answer before running in the direction of the ward whe
Last Updated : 2025-01-07BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN: THE SILENT WITNESS.
Maggie shifted uneasily as the shadowy figure drew closer, her heart rate increasing. Her eyes darted about the darkened walkway as her fingers fumbled with the hem of her coat. But she let out a loud breath as the person stepped out of the darkness. It was merely a kid. Fred narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, trying to see the approaching figure. He laughed as he realized who it was. "Oh!”. "You again," he said, with a hint of humor in his voice. Daniel, Laura's younger brother, was in front of them. The boy's little stature shifted from foot to foot, giving him a sheepish appearance. He obviously needed to go to the bathroom.Maggie exhaled a sigh of relief and relaxed her stiff shoulders. "This is the child Jack was referring to, right?”. “His new best friend?” Her tone was light but nevertheless tinged with frustration as she questioned. She folded her arms and stared at Daniel, who appeared to be wishing he were somewhere else.Fred studied Daniel with his arms folded and hi
Last Updated : 2025-01-08
Latest chapter
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT: FATAL INVITATION.
Maggie had her phone clasped tightly while sitting stiffly on the couch. It glowed faintly on her face but burned hotter deep within her mind as Laura's message went into her through each excruciating word. The words blurred as Maggie's eyes became obscured with fury. A sharp breath ripped from her lungs, and she expelled it slowly as the strangling pressure inside her chest felt like it could crush her from within.Laura was pregnant with Fred's child. Maggie still could not believe her eyes.A cold hollow ache lodged deep inside Maggie’s gut, swiftly engulfed by an almost furious tide so powerful that her hands began to shake. Her jaw was clenched, grinding her teeth as she reread the message, every single word fueling the fire that ravaged her."Fred's child..." that thought slumped into her mind like a deadly toxin, curling around her heart. She could see it happening: Laura, radiant with the beauty of motherhood, next to Fred, her palm on her distended belly, whispering his nam
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN: LOST AND FOUND.
It was weirdly still in that office, amplifying the noise of Laura's own heartbeat in it. She stood frozen, taking shallow breaths, trembling fingers clutching the photograph in place and eyes skimming over the glossy image, disbelief tightening around her like a vice. Her late father was in the picture, standing alongside Maggie. That crash over her mind was the very realization that it knocked the air out of her lungs. "No..." she whispered softly, her voice trailing off. Her hand shot into her mouth as if trying to prevent a sudden gasp from rushing out.But the truth was right there and undeniable. Her father, whom she had loved and dreamed of since his passing, was smiling in the photograph with his arm around Maggie. They looked happy. They looked like family. Like they belonged together.Memories surged through Laura’s mind, swift and relentless. The warmth of her childhood, the love she had once known, before it all shattered.The arguments. The bitter accusations. The pain
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX: THE MOMENT THAT BROKE HER.
The small white piece of paper trembled in Fred's hands, the two bold lines staring into him like a silent accusation. The very well-structured life that he had lived stood on the verge of being devastated-nothing else but the evidence that dangled in front of him forfeit. Gingerly, he tightened his grip around the paper; his knuckles turned white as sharp bursts of breath followed. Underneath his skin, anger simmered so closely to boiling; but, it was just a matter of time for it to explode. "What the… what is this?" He said in an intrusive, icy voice.Laura winced under the venom in his tone. This was not how she was expecting the moment to turn out. She hadn't really envisioned it at all. Still, if she had, surely it would have and should have been different. Different from this. "Fred?" Her voice became soft; she paused. “Why are you looking at me like that, Fred?”. Fred gave a bitter laugh, a short one without warmth. He shook his head, disbelief in evidence by the way his eye
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE: THE PRICE OF ONE NIGHT.
As the doctor's words vibrated in her ears, she found herself stuck when she sat staring into blank air.“The test came back positive”. The doctor revealed. A sharp pang shot through her chest. The world blurred around her; her vision swam. "What? No”. Her voice trembled like a whisper. "How? It was only one night. That's impossible."Her cold, unsteady hands reached forward to grab the paper resting on the table. And she grabbed it without care, wrinkling the edges with her fingers and quickly scanning through the results. With her tear-stained vision, she barely saw the words, but she understood their meaning beyond doubt. A heavy surge of emotions inundated her, guilt twisting her insides, shame scorching her heart, and anger bubbling just beneath her skin as images of her mother flashed through her thoughts, the tenderness of her voice erasing into utter disappointment in memory.She lied to her mother, to Jerry, to herself. The truth lay buried within Fred, believing that one
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR: A CROSSROAD OF CONSEQUENCES.
There was an awful silence in the house, the deadlier with the slight rubbing of leaves against each other outside, while on the edge of the couch Mrs. Charlotte excitedly tapped her fingers against her right knee. Her mind had, for a time, fought against her growing unease, but the suspicion would not yield any further. There's something really wrong with Laura.Over the past couple of days, the girl had been acting really weird, pale, weak, and a shadow of her usual energetic self. Initially, Mrs. Charlotte was convincing enough to persuade herself that her daughter was simply wearing herself out, probably getting over a passing illness. But the signs got hard to ignore eventually. That feeling of concern transformed into sheer determination. Steeling her breath, she stood up and made her way again toward the hallway that led to Laura's room. This time, she would not simply let a vague conversation fade away on easy reassurances. Her feet settled against the floor beneath the doo
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE: UNSPOKEN FEARS.
Laura stood in Fred's office with her arms crossed in front of her and inspected him closely as though his face was some complicated puzzle. The atmosphere between them was tightly strung with an electric hotness, as hundreds of different thoughts raced through her mind, all forming around the same question that had been torturing her painfully for the last few days. She wanted answers, real answers, no comforting platitudes or charming words thrown out there in reply to her discomfort. Dropping one foot after placing it gently in front, then lowering it into a whisper to bring him in. Laura began as she stared into his eyes softly, "Fred," “I don’t get it”. “If we are together, why should we hide it?”. “What are you afraid of?" She paused for a beat. "Why does it have to be a secret?".Fred did not answer right away. He remained still, an inscrutable expression on his face. The charismatic man she fell for now appeared far away, his gaze averted from hers while he tapped his finger
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO: A LOVE WRAPPED IN LIES.
Laura narrowed her eyes at the cashier; her suspicion was falling into the deep abyss of mistrust as the sharp, jarring laughter had escaped the lips of the woman standing before her. There was something, obviously, wrong about this, which made an awkward little tingle run throughout Laura’s neck. "I asked…”. “Why are you laughing?" She rephrased the question, forcefully subduing her feelings, but unmistakably the heat laced her voice. For a split second, the cashier's gaze held that of Laura's and seemed for a moment as though she might remember. But the idea dissipated quickly; her smile turned into a frown for a second and shook Laura off, saying, "Oh, it's nothing," now a voice suddenly too casual to be comfortable while sliding Laura's phone across the counter.“The payment has been successfully processed. You’re all set to go.”Laura hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around the receipt. That laughter, it had felt pointed, like there was a hidden joke, one she wasn’t in
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE: GILDED LIES.
One could feel the energy in the cafe buzzing about tenfold, the thick scent of coffee, sharply contrasted by the sweetness of baking, and then made a loud, annoying harmony of swishing voices and clinking mugs, one that seemed to focus on absolute nothingness for Laura. Her world had shrunk to nothing else except for the awkward broken silence between her and Jerry.Laura stood at the counter, making herself stiff, aware of his nearness beside her, and he had been waiting, waiting for answers, for just one explanation that could somehow justify the change in her behavior. His patience was wearing thin, evidenced by the way his knuckles pressed down against the polished counter, his legs were drawn tense and his expression unreadable.Jerry did not want to prolong the silence any further and, after a few moments, reached behind him for a rag and began cleaning the counter, pretending that he was busy. His own eyes remained glued on Laura, watching, searching.Before he finally spoke,
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY: THE TRUTH HE CANNOT HANDLE.
Jerry paced restlessly before the doorstep of Laura’s apartment, fixated on Fred’s car parked close to the building. He tried to fit pieces together of the dark thoughts surging through his mind regarding what Fred could be doing in Laura’s place for the entire night. Slowly, his jaw stiffened, and his hands curled into fists. He really got angry at the thought of Fred choosing this instead of returning home; him being there for Laura filled Jerry with fury. Jealousy coursed down his veins, giving him a tense posture. After a deep breath inward, Jerry turned back to the door and knocked loudly, the impatience building within him slowly with each moment of unresolved silence.Inside, Laura and Fred rushed toward the door while tightly holding each other's hands. “Open the door, really, come on!” Fred exclaimed urgently. His gaze passed over the door's glass panel, then managed to catch Jerry’s silhouette standing outside.“No”. “You open the door,” Laura insisted, wildly adjusting he
