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CHAPTER NINE: A CRY IN THE CROWD.
Last Updated:
2024-12-02 18:43:10
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TEN: UNSEEN BONDS.
“Is Jack safe?” Laura’s voice was barely a whisper, the question slipped from her lips as if voicing it could ease the tightness in her chest. Her heart beat a frenzied rhythm.She took a deep breath and cast one last glance toward the street as she forced herself to step back into the cozy, softly lit cafe.Her mind raced as she approached the counter, her thoughts tangled and pressed. She needed answers.“Fred took the child away in his vehicle,” she finally said, her voice quivering as she locked eyes with Jerry. “Why would he do that?” The question lingered in the air, carrying an undertone of desperation that she couldn’t hide.Jerry’s brows shot up, his surprise evident as he turned to look at her. “Fred? When?” He asked, blinking away his shock. He glanced at the line of customers but didn’t seem in any hurry to attend to them; something about Laura’s expression held him in place.Laura clenched her hands, willing herself to stay calm, though unease gnawed at her like a rele
Last Updated : 2024-12-03BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ELEVEN: A DANGEROUS GAME BEGINS.
Maggie quickly fixed her outfit and hair, glanced in the mirror, and checked her looks for the last time. She had to make sure that she looked perfect. No one should suspect anything.Her heart still beat with the lingering thrill, but she forced herself into a calm expression as she quietly slipped out of the office, casting a final, playful look back at Fred. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered, her gaze suggestive, a silent reminder of the taste they’d just shared.Fred hurriedly buttoned his shirt and ran a hand through his hair, breathing deeply to steady himself. He adjusted his collar and settled into his chair, but the persistent knocking made his heart hammer even harder. Who could be at his door, pounding with such urgency? Fred thought to himself.Maggie’s heels clicked against the polished floor as she moved toward the entrance. She thrust the door open, only to have her expression hang. "Oh...it’s just you,” she said, clearly annoyed.The cleaner stood there, looking
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Fred's vehicle sped into the yard, the ground beneath it scattering gravel in all directions and he made a swift halt.Not because he was scared, but because he was happy with how things were going according to his elaborate plan, his heart was thumping.He looked at the time on his watch and oh well, it was still early. In one hour, Jerry would be back home, which was just the amount of time Fred required to complete his mission.There was a pause in the car as he looked around to check if anyone was looking. The compound was utterly quiet with the only sound being leaves swaying in the wind.Pleased with his environment, Fred's hand sneaked into the vehicle's glove compartment from which he retrieved a worn-out paper. It was Laura’s resume, detailed, precise, and the perfect bait for his plan.Fred placed the document on the passenger seat, smoothing out its creases with a sly smile. “Desperate women are the easiest to manipulate,” he muttered, recalling Laura’s helplessness and he
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“Jerry… Jerry, wait!” Fred’s voice rang out in the dim hallway as he jogged after his cousin. His tone was desperate, edged with panic, but Jerry didn’t slow down. His broad shoulders were tense, his pace brisk, and in his hand, he clutched Laura’s resume, the damning evidence of Fred’s manipulation.Fred caught up and grabbed Jerry’s arm, spinning him around. “Jerry, come on, bro! Let’s talk about this. You can’t tell her!” Fred pleaded.Jerry’s face contorted in anger. “Fred, what is it now? Haven’t you done enough?” His voice rose, echoing off the walls. “You flirt with every woman in this town like it’s some kind of game, and you’re still not satisfied?”.Fred shifted nervously, his usual cocky demeanor faltering. “Jerry, listen, she was too stubborn. I just wanted to get her attention. That’s all!” His voice cracked, betraying his unease.“Too stubborn?” Jerry’s laugh was bitter, humorless. “Fred, not Laura! She’s been through enough already. She doesn’t need you messing with
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Laura was overwhelmed. Her head was plagued with conflicts, insecurities, and a pain that wouldn’t go away. Waves of emotion had struck her, and as her body sank against the sink in the restroom, tears began to flow freely from the corners of her eyes like drops of rain falling from the eaves of a house.Laura faced the mirror in front of her as if trying to find something. In that state, however, she didn't want to be seen and wished to stay like that for hours.A loud bang on the restroom’s door brought her to a sudden halt.“Is anyone there?” An impatient woman’s voice reached her, followed by more banging.Laura hastily dried her face with the sleeve of the uniform and coughed to mask her voice. ‘Um… Yes, yes, I’ll be out in a minute!’ she said, making sure her voice sounded as calm as possible.She gave her reflection one last glance and opened the door.The customer stood there with an annoyed expression but greeted her nonetheless. “Hello there.”“Good morning, ma’am,” Laura
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“Uh - um, I - I’m sorry” Laura broke the silence and awkward situation as her voice trembled and she gently pulled away from Jerry’s firm grip. Her cheeks burned red, she avoided his gaze and fumbled to straighten her dress and regain composure.Jerry hesitated, feeling the heat rise to his own face.He could feel the quickening of his heart in ways that he could almost hear it pound in his ears with every heartbeat. He coughed, averting his gaze from her. “Um - yeah, didn’t notice the floor was slippery too,” he mumbled, his voice unnaturally high.The air between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and emotions neither was ready to confront. The faint sound of the cafe’s clock ticking was the only noise cutting through the tense silence.“We, sorry, I - I think we should close right away, it's getting late” Jerry stammered as he stylishly took out his phone from his pocket to distract himself from the uncomfortable stares Laura gave him while she readjusted herself too.“O
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Jerry was rooted to the door, his gaze fixated on the unexpected turn of events before him. It was something beyond his imagination. Not even close. A woman, wearing one of Fred’s shirts almost inappropriately, stood half naked looking for Fred in his other room.She didn’t seem to even notice, or maybe she just didn’t care, that Jerry was in front of her."Fred?" She called out, a high-pitched and indifferent voice as though Jerry wasn't standing there.The walls felt as though they were closing in on him. The air was trapped in his throat, fists were drawn, and the heart rate increased. What he was currently witnessing was incomprehensible.How could Fred have someone in his room at this hour? And still, come to talk to me like he really cared? What was happening?.“Excuse me?” Jerry’s voice was low and firm, though his body betrayed his rising anger. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?” His eyes fixed on the lady, unwilling to look away. Her presence pissed him off more t
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Laura finally gathered the strength to steady her breath, the fluttering in her chest slowly subsided. With great effort, she managed to bring her trembling right hand to his face and touched Jerry’s cheek as she spoke. “Jerry…” She began, her voice quiet, shaking as if it were about to break. The sentence was daunting, quite literally. She never would have thought she would find herself in such a situation, definitely not like this and definitely not with him. “I… I can’t even express how conflicted I am at this moment, but I had no idea you liked me that way. All this time I thought you considered me as a friend, a colleague.”She had never intended to cause him any pain. He was her best friend and now she was going to let it all go and there was something she had to say that was going to be the most cruel. “But how could I let him down easily?” She wondered. “How do I explain to him, that even if he is a perfect man, and in every way I have no problem with him, I just don’t love
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
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Laura's lips moved as she mumbled the words to herself, squinting as she read the message on the screen. “Hello, Jerry, are you available tomorrow so we can see?” A beat skipped across her heart. "Diana is asking to meet Jerry tomorrow." Her voice was hardly more than a whisper when she whispered. As she attempted to digest the information, a mixture of confusion and uneasiness settled in her chest. Jerry's voice came from the hallway before she could finish thinking, and she heard his footsteps getting louder as he hurried toward the living room. "Laura! I'll be there now! Are you prepared for the moment of greatness?”.Laura was startled, and her eyes widened in fear. "Oh no!" she mumbled to herself. She crossed her legs and threw the phone onto the chair in a single motion, trying to look calm as though she hadn't seen anything. "Yes, Jerry! I'm prepared!” Just as he walked in, she gave him a fake smile in return.Jerry smiled, bowed playfully, and stepped forward, his right han
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Fred stood motionless, staring at Laura while his fingers made soft strokes across her hair. Slowly and deliberately, as if committing every strand to memory, he touched, relishing the moment. He whispered, "You're... you're so beautiful, I must confess," in a deep, appreciative voice. His thumb delicately caressed her skin as his hand moved from her hair to her fingers. Laura's body shivered at the unexpected feeling, and she saw a strange weakness settling over her. One part of her tried to resist the allure of his presence, while the other part yearned to give in to the warmth of his touch.She could now see why so many women felt helpless in Fred Walker's presence. He exuded a seductive charisma that made it simple to get swept up in his charms. It took a strong-willed woman with sufficient self-control and determination to avoid adding her name to his lengthy list of victories. Laura, on the other hand, was not going to be another win for him. "Thank you," she said hastily, try
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Laura had already taken a seat in Fred's office, waiting for their chat to start with her fingers gripped together. She didn't know why, but there was tension in the air between them. Every few seconds, Fred's gaze shifted toward the entrance as though anticipating a distraction. Then footsteps reverberated down the corridor, loud and determined. Laura's heart beat in time with the footsteps that were approaching. Her stomach churned as she and Fred looked at each other uneasily, both of them automatically turning to face the entrance. Maggie suddenly burst through the door, pushing it open until it struck the wall behind her. She paced like an animal in a cage as she stomped deeper into the office, her eyes wild and her face enraged.“Seriously Fred?” Maggie spat, anger leaking into her voice. After glancing back and forth between them, she called out to both of them with a finger. “No one should enter your office until you're finished! I think that was an instruction?”. Tension
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As he shut off the engine, Fred's deep rumbling faded, and he pulled up in front of his companions. The fresh morning air was accompanied by the faint murmur of city life. Laura paused for a second before continuing. As she carefully slid open the car door, she whispered quietly, "Thank you for the ride." She walked out, waiting for him to follow, her eyes still on the classy car. Ever self-assured, Fred opened his door and stepped out, leaving the sound of the door slamming reverberating over the silent parking lot. As he walked toward her with a knowing sneer on his lips, his ego was clearly visible. In a silky, quiet voice, he whispered, "You're welcome, Laura," before giving her a playful wink.Ben, the security officer, saw them from afar and came running over. He said, "Good morning, sir," as he extended his hand to grab Fred's work bag. His motions were quick and well-practiced, an unwritten habit. Fred Walker was fun for Ben to be around. He occasionally gave him large grat
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With his work bag firmly grasped in his hand, Jerry proceeded directly to Laura's seat. His resolve was clear as his gaze never left her. Unaware of the tension, Fred kept eating his cookie and drinking his juice while idly observing Jerry. Laura sensed Jerry standing next to her, and her face flushed. His presence was intolerable to her because of the rage she still carried from the recent revelation. She wasn't prepared to talk to him, much less confront him. After hesitating, Jerry slowly extended his hand and touched her shoulder. She shivered at the comforting warmth of his touch. She leaped out of her chair, startled, and knocked the table a little.Fred felt the abrupt change in the air and cut down on his juice. He was still unaware that he was the cause of Laura's aloof behavior toward Jerry. Jerry's voice broke as his emotions overflowed. "Please, Laura, I... I apologize." Laura suddenly turned to face Fred. "I'll see you at work tomorrow”. She hurried away after saying
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As Fred's words reverberated across the corridor, Helen and Laura sprang apart, their hands sliding from one another's clasp. Their bodies tensed with fear as the sound sent a wave of uneasiness through them. Helen said, her voice hardly audible, "He's home." Laura's throat became abruptly dry as she swallowed forcefully. Unconsciously, she clasped her fingers together, an anxious habit she had never been able to completely break. She shuddered at the prospect of seeing Fred again. Each interaction with him had been a struggle that ended in sour remarks, tears, or worse.Just before they arrived at the door, Helen took Laura's arm and spoke in a cautious whisper. “Don't let your guard down, listen. When you speak, be firm. Be professional. Ignore him and keep your eyes on your objective, regardless of what he says. You must save your house and raise money for your mother's medical care. That is the only thing that counts”. As Helen's words became clear to Laura, she drew in a trembl
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As the doctor at the other end of the call waited for Laura's reaction, she stood in total silence. “Laura? Are you still there?” He spoke again, trying to get her attention and get a response. When she didn't respond, he pressed on, his voice a little urgent. "Firstly of all, I called to inform you that you have two weeks left to settle the outstanding balance on your mother's medical loan. Unfortunately, owing to unanticipated circumstances, the foundation that partially funded the expenditures has withdrawn its offer. I regret to inform you that there is now 10,000 dollars left in the balance”.The words hit Laura like a fist, paralyzing her for a moment. Grabbing the phone by the ear, she gazed at the screen, her eyes wide, attempting to decipher his words."How?" At last, her voice breaking from the shock of the realization, she inquired. "We didn't agree on that. We didn't talk about this”. She grabbed the phone with shaking hands and an excruciatingly heavy chest. "I understa
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Fred Walker, it was him. Like a predator evaluating its prey, he stood there with his customary air of dominance, his piercing blue eyes fixed on hers. Laura's courage faltered under his controlling gaze, and she felt the usual knot in her stomach tighten. His presence was oppressive, almost stifling. His overwhelming aura, which usually managed to leave her speechless, temporarily paralyzed her. The cleaning team nearby seemed to detect the tension in the air, which was thick enough to cut with a knife. They looked away as they fumbled to collect their equipment, and Laura was startled out of her reverie by the loud scream of metal on the floor."Why are you here?" This time, her tone was firm and piercing as she ordered. "And how the hell did you get my home address?" She said, holding her bag to her chest like a shield and clenching her fingers around the strap. As she approached him, her terror giving way to a fury that burned through her like fire, her voice was tinged with accu
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX: THE COST OF REPAIR.
With her heart racing, Laura wrapped her fingers around the doorknob. Tightly closing her eyes, she began a silent countdown. “Three, two, one”. Quickly, she opened the door and threw the hammer into the air, ready to defend herself. "Hey! Hey! Slow down!” A man's voice, laced with terror, screamed. He dodged, raising his hands above his head to shield himself from the impending blow.Laura's breathing became slow as her eyes opened. The five men in front of her had terrified expressions on their faces. They stared at her with wide, confused eyes while holding brooms, boxes, mop sticks, and other cleaning supplies.A tidal wave of shame swept over her. She forced an uncomfortable smile across her lips as she swiftly lowered the hammer and tucked it behind her back. Though the heat of shame burned hot in her cheeks, she tried to regain her composure by rubbing her shaky hand over her face. The only sound in the oppressive silence that ensued was the slight rustle of the implements th
