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CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: A TIP AND A TRUTH.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-06 20:46:12
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN: A PAWN IN HIS GAME.
Laura's whole body shook with anger and rage as she clenched the paper in her trembling fists. The day in the cafe, the day that everything changed, flashed through her head in a flurry of recollections. In her haste, she had abandoned her purse and fled into the streets without thinking to avoid Fred Walker. She could still hear him calling after her in a low, frantic voice. "Wait, Laura!".Fred had stormed out of the restroom, fumbling with his trousers as he rushed in her direction. His expression was strained, a mix of remorse and desperation. Laura, however, had already retreated a few paces and held out a quivering finger to prevent him from approaching. Her pulse was pounding, her breath ragged."Stop! Just stop there!” Her voice was rough with emotion as she screamed. "Don’t you dare come close to me." Her whole body tense, she backed away toward the exit, her vision obscured by tears. She felt disgusted by the sight of Fred. Laura didn't wait for Fred to take a step forw
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: THE SILENCE BEFORE THE STORM.
Laura and Maggie hurried into the reception area, looking around the room to see what was causing the disturbance. Ben was positioned squarely in front of a man in the middle of everything, his arms outstretched as though he were preventing him from going inside. His posture was defensive and stiff. Maggie moved forward and touched Ben's shoulder tenderly before yanking him back a little. "Wait, Ben. What does he want, and who is he?” Her eyes shifted to the man as she asked.Laura abruptly met the stranger's eyes as she followed Maggie's movements. Her face flashed with recognition, and her demeanor changed instantaneously. She rushed forward and pleaded, "Oh, please, let him in." "He's part of the maintenance and cleaning team." With a worried expression, she stepped closer to the man. She clasped her hands together in a begging motion and said, "I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding." Maggie scowled with perplexity. "Do you know him?" She asked.Laura gave a nod. “He's here to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER NINETY-NINE: TOO LATE TO MEND.
Fred pulled into his compound on Academy Street, and stopped the car. Laura was anxious and resolute, throwing the door open and jumping out before the engine had even completely died down. She wanted to distance herself from Fred as much as she could. She had no intention of allowing him to use words to control her because she was well aware of his abilities. Without giving him another glance, Fred saw her dash out of the car and into the house. His heart boiled with frustration. "Laura, you might hurt yourself!” He shouted after her, "Come on, slow down!" but she didn't slow down. She was clearly trying to avoid him.He tightened his jaw and held on to the driving wheel. The revelation at work had devastated everything once more, right when he had begun to mend his relationship with her. A wave of anger swept through him, and he smacked his palm twice against the steering wheel in rage. His roiling anger was reflected in the loud honking that reverberated throughout the silent com
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED: THE MOMENT IT CHANGED.
They reached Laura's house on Craft Street shortly after that. Jerry did not move after turning off the engine. His head fell low as shame and remorse weighed heavily on him, and his hands stood clasped around the steering wheel. Tears fell silently on his cheeks. Laura remained silent. Pulling her bag behind her, she pushed the car door open and headed for the front entrance. Every stride she took was heavy and tinged with grief she couldn't express. She hesitated as she got closer to the door. She stopped and wiped her eyes with her palms. Jerry gently raised his head, still fighting the tears in his eyes. As she turned and headed back toward the car, his eyes were fixed on her."I appreciate all that you have done. Thank you," Laura murmured quietly. She put her luggage down and reached up to her neck, her fingers shaking as she held the necklace he had given her. Jerry felt his heart tighten. He bolted from the car as soon as he realized what she was going to do. "No, Laura!"
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE: A DANGEROUS BARGAIN.
Jerry entered Mr. Tim's office with purposeful steps, his hands clasped behind his back. As he glanced around the office, he soon found Sarah sitting in front of Mr. Tim. She had obviously come before their boss. “Hi, Jerry," Sarah said, smiling broadly and waving at him. In exchange, Jerry mustered a courteous smile. "Good morning”. He approached Mr. Tim's desk and said, "Welcome," in a neutral tone. But Mr. Tim hardly gave him a nod. He already understood why Jerry had come and was not interested in conversing, his focus stayed on the laptop screen in front of him.His chilly greeting did not deter Jerry. He was adamant about achieving his goals. "Good morning, Mr. Tim," he said confidently, taking a deep breath. He kept his eyes fixed on the man, anticipating a reply. At last, Mr. Tim nodded slightly and pointed to the chair next to Sarah. "Good morning, sit," he said curtly. After a brief moment of hesitation, Jerry carefully and deliberately lowered himself into the chair an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO: NO TURNING BACK.
Jerry's gaze shifted to the phone Sarah was holding, then returned to her. He nodded briefly after closely examining her face. "Deal," he said, concluding their arrangement. Sarah's face immediately lit up with a mixture of delight and mischief. Her delight was scarcely restrained as she slapped her hands together. “Fantastic! When are we going?” Her voice was full of expectation as she asked. Jerry let out a breath, his mind already planning his next move. "After I finish my work for the day," he made a clear decision. Sarah turned triumphantly toward the door and nodded in agreement. With a mischievous arrogance in her voice, she threw one last comment over her shoulder before leaving. "My work here is done." She spun dramatically and stormed out, leaving Jerry standing in silence. He was motionless in Mr. Tim's office for a considerable amount of time, his mind racing. His thoughts replayed the exchange between Linda and Rose that he had overheard. Are they trying to coerce Fre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-12BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THREE: BLOODLINES AND BETRAYALS.
Fred staggered back a little when Sarah jumped on him with an enthusiastic embrace. He let out a quiet groan and steadied himself by reaching for the door frame. With a hint of humor in his voice, Fred taunted, "I knew it was you." "Everywhere you go, anyone can always smell your perfume." His laugh was rich and deep, yet it had a sinister undertone. With a tight hold, he carefully pulled her hands away from his torso, causing her to shudder unexpectedly from the slight pressure. His piercing gaze, full of seduction and unsaid wants, fastened onto hers. He was reminded of their previous meeting in his office, which rekindled a passion that had not really gone out.In an attempt to withstand his intense gaze, Sarah twirled a lock of her hair anxiously. Every time, his gaze weakened her, removing her defenses with a single, lingering glance. She could not resist him no matter how hard she tried. Jerry cleared his throat quietly from the living room, clearly uncomfortable with the tens
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: BETWEEN BLOOD AND DUTY.
With their eyes locked in wordless resolve, they hurried out of Fred's car and arrived at the station. The weight of unresolved facts weighed heavily on each of them, and they each carried their own problems. Fred said, "Let's go in," and he strode quickly to the entrance.Sarah and Jerry trailed behind. Jerry was deep in contemplation, struggling with the agonizing realization that he had been Jack's uncle for years without realizing it. How could Fred have withheld something so important from him? The treachery was painful. With a raging desire for vengeance, Sarah accelerated her pace to walk next to Fred. Sarah's only desire now was to cause them to suffer because Rose had kept Fred's existence from her for far too long.A voice behind them yelled, "Over here!" as they got closer to the sheriff's office. With a wave of his hand, the sheriff demanded their instant attention. Fred's breath caught as his head jerked in his direction. He yelled, "Sheriff!" and started to jog. Jerr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14
Bab terbaru
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE: THE RUIN OF MAGGIE.
Helen’s sudden entrance into the living room sent fear spiraling through the air, for her presence suffocated them like a noose tightening around their throats. The tension that had ignited just a while ago with Fred furious and Maggie quaking in fear, now turned into this isolated silence that filled every corner of the room with the promise of a terror. Helen’s wide eyes were shifting between Fred, Thomas, and Maggie, her breath hitching while she soaked in the unspoken truths that hung between them.Maggie remained paralyzed with fear, her body rigid. Fred's fists were loosening, but the breath he took was not as even as it should have been, as though he had to hold on to something like control. Thomas jumped on his feet like he was about to say something with lips parting, but no sound came from his mouth. Not one of them was prepared for this.Not only did Helen's hands tremble on the doorframe, but her face became pale as well. “I…” Her voice was shaky at this point. “What… who,
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO: WHEN THE PAST STRIKES.
Maggie froze at the entrance of Fred’s living room, clutching her breath, and became stunned as her eyes found the two men sitting, looking straight at her. This space is large, yet it seemed to be suffocating, with its very walls pressing against it. Shadows foreboding in the dim light extended the shapes of Fred and Thomas almost to the point of monstrosity. Her eyes darted between them and Maggie could hear her heart thumping in her ears as she tried to gauge the nature of the trap she had unknowingly walked into. Amusedly, Fred reclined in his chair, a devilish grin on his lips. His sharp eyes gleamed with something sinister, his posture exuding dangerous confidence. "What's the matter, Maggie?" He said, dripping with falsehood and mockery. "Cat got your tongue? Come in. Don't be shy Maggie. Join us."Maggie's breath caught in her throat, and she had to barely swallow to force her quaking legs forward. Each step was like marching toward the inevitable. She could feel Fred's steel
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE: BETRAYAL UNVEILED.
The next morning. Fred Walker lay motionless in bed, staring at the ceiling while the tempestuous thoughts of fury and regret further entangled his mind. The betrayal burned within him, raw and relentless, deeply sank into pride like a jagged knife. It tortured him now as Maggie would deceive him for years through an intricate web of lies, convincing enough for him to see nothing till now. And now that he had seen it, he was going to make sure she faced the consequences. Not yet, however. Not until Thomas was there.Fred required Maggie to see him standing before her, feeling undeniable and suffocating weight pressing down upon her by her own deception. He wanted her to know what she had done and see it reflected in his eyes, knowing there was no escape.Shame clawed at his chest, a little bitter and unwelcome companion. He hadn’t even had the courage to tell Jerry everything that had happened. Not yet ready to confess the truth about him and Laura, but Jack’s situation was one thing
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY: THE TRUTH THAT BURNS.
The weight of betrayal felt like a stone upon Laura's chest; Laura had held on to the letter with trembling fingers that grazed over its frayed edges. A thick choking lump was rising from her throat, one that the harsh truth of what she had just read was now finding its way into. Her heart was behaving erratically, each blast sounding against her ribs with a warning sound she could no longer ignore. She thought she had broken a heart and hurt someone enough to last a lifetime. Yet nothing compared to the raging storm that now engulfed her from inside. Jack was not Fred's son. Maggie had kept deceiving him for over ten years, making him believe he had fathered the child when the truth was far darker. The revelation burned like acid in Laura's gut, as each thought seared through her mind while she forced herself to breathe. Fred had the right to know. With that conviction, Laura stuffed the letter into her bag and held on tightly to it, imagining that it might be able to disappear if
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE: BITTER REVELATIONS.
Laura gasped, retreating from shock as Jack suddenly threw himself between her and Maggie, his small body shaking with an odd frenzy of fear and urgent determination. His large brown eyes, usually so innocent and childlike, expressed something more desperate, aimed at accusations against his mother."Mom, no!" Jack shouted in a cracking voice. "You put something in her food! I saw you!". Silence crashed over the dining room like a suffocating wave. Maggie went even paler, instantly losing her color. For a second, she had opened a window into her soul, revealing something genuine and unguarded behind her mask. The napkin rested in her lap and was now twirling and twisting between her fingers and around her clenched fists. Then the placid, practiced expression came back onto her face again, the one she had worn so many times before and which froze every heart with its innocence."Jack," she said, her voice sharp, even venomous. "That is enough." But Laura was not there yet; she had n
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
