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CHAPTER FOURTY-FOUR: TANGLED IN SCANDAL.
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2024-12-18 16:06:25Related chapters
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTY-FIVE: BETWEEN GUILT AND BLACKMAIL.
Laura and Sarah walked to the table, the atmosphere between them tense and filled with uncertainty. As they sat down, Laura’s gaze remained fixed on Sarah, her mind racing with questions. What could Sarah possibly want to talk about? The last time they spoke, it was all about hostility in the air. Laura wondered whether this sudden change of behavior really meant anything or was just another game of Sarah's manipulation. All she could do now was wait for Sarah to speak, the silence between the two leaving Laura high and dry on what to expect.Fred shot Sarah a warning stare from across the room, his eyes cold and intense. Sarah met his gaze, understanding the silent threat instantly. She couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound carrying through the air with an almost mocking undertone.Laura, sensing the tension between them, turned to Sarah, a hint of confusion in her voice. “What’s funny?” She asked, her brows furrowing slightly. The question hung in the air, but Sarah just smirke
Last Updated : 2024-12-18BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTY-SIX: UNDER PRESSURE.
Fred came to a halt, frozen by Jerry’s penetrating stare, his pulse raced as he considered his next move.Jerry’s question hung in the air, accusatory. Fred looked back and forth at Sarah and Jerry, resolving that he would not let the secret out about Jack.“Listen… there’s nothing,” Fred finally said, not quite with his clipped voice but calm, a cover for the tension wrapping itself around him. He wanted to get out of this before it went south. “And I have to go. We have to go now.”Not waiting for an answer, Fred yanked Sarah’s arm as they walked out of the cafe.Fred couldn’t leave Sarah behind with Jerry; he knew her to be unpredictable, an opportunist who flourished on blackmail. The last thing he wanted was for her to play him in order to profit off his secret.Fred and Sarah left and Jerry stood there watching them go, his head filled with confusion. He had tried to fit it all together, and none of it had made sense.Jerry felt that Fred was concealing something, especially wit
Last Updated : 2024-12-19BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTY-SEVEN: UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Jerry hesitated, feeling his heart race as he saw the woman in front of him. Her presence was unexpected and almost surreal. "Linda?" He whispered, barely audible, as he cautiously stepped closer. She gazed at him, calm and confident, her expression inscrutable, but oddly familiar. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity of knowing, and her lips formed a small smile that didn’t seem to reach her eyes. "Yes, Jerry, it's me," Linda said, her tone steady as she extended her hand towards him. There was no hesitation in her gesture, only a subtle firmness that showed her self-assurance. Jerry reached out carefully and briefly shook her cool, deliberate hand. He pulled back quickly, his mind racing. Why was she here, of all places? "You seem surprised," Linda observed, tilting her head slightly, her soft smile unchanged. "I can see it written all over your face." Jerry tried to compose himself, but questions flooded his mind. He couldn't shake the unease creeping up his spine. Why now? W
Last Updated : 2024-12-19BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTY-EIGHT: THE CRY FOR LIFE.
Fred and Maggie rushed into the car, their hearts pounding with fear as if the walls of their reality were closing in.“Go… please go!” Maggie sobbed, her voice quaking as she kept hitting Fred's arm, urging him to drive faster. She cried out in agony, tears flowing down her cheeks almost as if every drop was tearing at her very flesh. Fred's palms quivered as he held onto the steering wheel.The car sped off, leaving the company and its cold, indifferent walls behind. His focus remained locked on the road ahead, though his mind raced with dark possibilities.“Maggie, relax, please,” Fred pleaded, his voice cracking under the weight of his own rising panic.But Maggie couldn’t be calmed. She wept uncontrollably, her mind echoing the haunting words of her neighbor. “Fred… they said something happened. Is my son dead?” She choked out, her body shaking as she buried her face in her hands.Fred glanced at her briefly, his chest tightening. He had never seen her this broken. He fought bac
Last Updated : 2024-12-20BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTY-NINE: ENTANGLED LIVES.
As Fred continued to pace nervously, his eyes once again met Daniel’s. The young boy was still standing at a distance, his gaze locked on Fred with an intensity that seemed unusual for someone his age. Daniel’s concern was visible, his eyes filled with worry as he watched the unfolding drama.Fred paused mid-step, instinctively sensing that the child was more invested in the situation than he should be. He stared back at Daniel, feeling a strange weight in the boy’s gaze, as though he recognized something about him. The feeling was unsettling, as if he had seen Daniel somewhere before, but Fred couldn’t quite place it. His mind raced, but the connection remained elusive.Shaking off the nagging thought, Fred looked away and resumed his restless pacing. Each intense step he took made his heart pump faster, squeezing tighter in anxiety. He could hardly concentrate on anything with the indescribable fear of Jack's well-being attached to it.He glanced toward the doctor’s office, waiting
Last Updated : 2024-12-21BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTY: THE EDGE OF EXPOSURE.
Fred was frozen and stared at Jerry and Laura. The air became strangling. His throat felt as dry as sand and beat feverishly in his chest. Despite the coldness of the air, trickling sweat began to run down his face."What are you doing here?" The voice of Jerry swooped through the silence and cut like a knife, sharp and accusing.The question made Fred flinch, his hands trembling a bit as he tried to keep his cool. His gaze flickered at Laura, who stood rooted, expression-free.Jerry took a step closer before him, moving slowly and narrowing his eyes as they locked on Fred. He leaned forward, scanning Fred’s face with a look that was both probing and unnerving.“You’re sweating,” Jerry observed coldly, his brows furrowing deeper. “Nervous, are we?”.Fred opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. The room seemed to shrink around him, the weight of Jerry’s gaze pressing down on him like a storm about to break.Laura’s gaze flickered between the two men, tension etched into her
Last Updated : 2024-12-22BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: THE VEIL OF DECEIT.
Fred wanted her to stop calling. The ringing phone seemed louder than ever when all the eyes in the room turned towards him, their curiosity increased. Fear in his chest. Taking Sarah's call to them would be disastrous.They had a deal, and Jack's fragile health put everything at risk. Even worse, Fred feared Sarah's wrath. If she pulls, she might reveal his secret to Laura.“Give me a minute... I'll be right back”, Fred tripped, his voice tense when he left the room in a hurry.The cool air from the hospital hall did little to calm him down. He scanned the hallway, his eyes landed on an empty room on the other side. Desperation moved his legs. He slipped in and Fred found himself surrounded by darkness. The room was cold and uninviting, but it provided the solitude he desired.Fred ran into the room, locked the door firmly behind him. He couldn't afford to risk someone sneaking up on him, not now. The weak buzz of the hospital echoed outside, but within the dark room, it was creepy q
Last Updated : 2024-12-24BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: SILENT STORMS.
The tension in the room was high as the doctor's voice cut through Fred's internal conflict. He said, "Maggie…" in a calm but determined tone. Maggie's heart was beating so hard that it seemed to reverberate throughout the silent room as she cautiously turned to face him. She hastily covered up the flash of panic in her eyes. She knew there was no room for error as the pressure of the moment weighed heavily on her. Her mind raced at that moment. At all costs, she had to keep the truth hidden and keep Fred's secret safe. It would be disastrous to tell Jerry and Laura that Fred was Jack's father. She could not afford to take the chance of the fallout.Maggie's voice was solid but strained as she said, "His father is... out of town, sir." The words were heavy and purposeful, and they fell out of her mouth like stones. Her jaw tensed as the lie, laden with necessity, began to take shape. She knew what was at risk, yet it wasn't easy. If she faltered now, Fred would be ruthlessly angry.
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: SCARS FROM THE PAST.
Laura's face lit up with a dazzling smile as she jumped toward the counter with her arms out. She embraced the man without hesitation, giving him the kind of warm embrace that only loyal pals receive. "Laura... With a tone full of sincere joy, the man said, "I'm so glad to see you again." After holding her for a little longer, he took a step back and glanced over her for a moment. "You now work here?".With a tiny tremble in her voice, she answered, "Yes… yes, I do." A shadow of uneasiness appeared on her face, and the radiance in her manner faded. "After the incident, you know”.Her voice trailed off, hardly more than a whisper. Unwanted memories returned, causing a pale flush to sweep over her face. It all came rushing back: the humiliation, the betrayal. Struggling to steady herself, she swallowed hard. The man knew the importance of what she had said because he had been a security guard at her previous job. He had attempted to alert her to the ruthless schemes of Mary and the ot
BEHIND 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
BEHIND 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
BEHIND 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
BEHIND 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
BEHIND 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.
BEHIND 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
BEHIND 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
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
