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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-THREE: SHATTERED GOODBYES.
Last Updated:
2025-03-25 22:31:19
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FOUR: A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
Fred lifted his eyes at the very mention of his name. Tension entailed in every part of his body under the pressure of conflicting emotions pressing down upon him. His heart was heavy from an image of Maggie, Thomas, and Jack driving away from him when he stood there amidst revelations he was not ready to face; things like betrayal, painful years of deception, and a son he felt he had. And just when he expected to grab a moment of breath, another person from his past showed before him. Helen was standing a few feet away, observing him with an expression marked by sadness and some fuzzy emotion he could not place, pity perhaps. Her appearance was unexpected, as he had been expecting her to be busy in the kitchen, or with house chores, but somehow he was not startled. Maybe he was too worn out to be surprised anymore. With warm and knowing eyes, Helen moved closer, her slow and steady tread bridging the gap between their two worlds. The world around them felt muted, and time itself s
Last Updated : 2025-03-26BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FIVE: A CONVERSATION LONG OVERDUE.
Laura's voice startled the silence, and Fred was pulled out of his thought process. "Fred?".His eyes darted in her direction before he said anything. His jaw tightly set and shoulders stiff, something unreadable lingering in his eyes. Anger, perhaps? Jealousy? Laura could not quite tell. She sighed and inched closer. "Fred, what's wrong?".He didn't answer for a moment. His face was well-guarded, fingers twitching at his side, and then he muttered with a slow shake of his head, “Nothing, you can go,” then quickly added, “just be back before customers come in.”Her breath caught something in his tone. It wasn't casual dismissal but colder, serrated with something he couldn't quite place. Still, she agreed not to push it. "Alright". "I won't take long."Fred didn't reply but gave her a curt nod and turned toward his office, his back rigid as he disappeared inside.Laura stood there for a second, watching the closed door as the unease settled in her chest. Fred was not one to act all
Last Updated : 2025-03-27BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-SIX: A MESSAGE UNTOLD.
Jerry just stared at the message on his cell phone and grinned widely. His fingers wrapped firmly around the device, completely fixated on the words running through his eyes over and over again as if relishing each letter. He was so glued to his phone that he could not hear Laura shouting his name over and over again. Her voice, growing more impatient with each repeated call, could hardly reach his ears. She stood near him, arms folded and brows knitted in disappointment. "Jerry," she called a little more loudly now.Still no response.She pressed her lips into a line and strolled very close, watching as reality disappeared for Jerry, leaving him glued to that screen. She was hurting below the surface, and the fury had curled her fingers tightly at her sides. It was so unusual of him to ignore her when she was right there.No response. The sharp breath escaped her lungs as she changed positions from one foot to another. Was he intentionally ignoring her? Her face clouded over as s
Last Updated : 2025-03-28BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-SEVEN: AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL.
Laura's heart raced as she ran behind Fred, her heels clicking sharply against the polished office floor. Something in the way he'd called her had unsettled her. Fred never sounded like that unless it was really important. Now, her mind raced with worrisome possibilities, most of them terrible. She threw the door of his office wide, walked in, and froze. There was little air left to breathe. Across from Fred's desk, an attractive woman was sitting there. She imparted an eerie, calm self-confidence. Posture upright. Expression blank.Laura's belly twisted. It was a sinking feeling spreading through her chest.Who was she?The silence felt utterly unbearable in the room, extending and amplifying each beat of Laura's heart. The intrusion of the woman felt not only unexpected but also slightly illicit. Fred hadn't said anything about meeting someone. If it had to do with work, why had he called her so urgently?Her eyes jumped at Fred, looking for answers, but his face gave nothing away
Last Updated : 2025-03-29BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-EIGHT: A DATE WITH DESTINY.
The dull echoes of her heels striking the polished floor preceded Laura's swift breeze through the front door. Each thrum of her heart spoke her excitement; her mind lingered solely on the evening that lay ahead. She had just one hour left to get ready for dinner at Fred's place. All had to be well.Mrs. Charlotte was sitting on her usual couch, a book thrusting outward from her lap, while Daniel lounged next to her, scrolling lazily on his phone. As Laura stormed in without a word, both looked up, surprise mixed with confusion overtaking their faces as she brushed past them."Where are you rushing to Laura?" Her mother quipped, rather amused.Laura didn't slow down; she didn't answer. There was no time for mockery; all thoughts were on one thing: winning Fred's admiration. Laura opened the door to her bedroom and forcefully swung it shut after entering. Once inside, she took a deep breath and quickly surveyed her room, as if just figuring out how to start. Everything about the dress,
Last Updated : 2025-03-30BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-NINE: THE PROPOSAL.
Laura’s breath snagged in the middle, shallow, and so uneven to the point of being expelled out somewhere between the lungs and lips. A strange ringing noise buzzed in her ears, but along with it, she could still hear the wild erratic beating of her heart; it thumped louder and louder in contrast to the stillness of that room.She blinked once, twice, and her mind was trying to catch up with the unfolding moment before her eyes. In the middle of the beautifully elegant apartment stood Fred on one knee: a sight that shot bolts through her, anchoring her to the spot. His saturated gaze couldn't leave her face, his expression filled with so much expectancy and hope. He had a small velvet box open in his hand, with an engagement ring resting inside. The diamond sparkled at every angle it received light, projecting tiny luminous reflections into the room, as if the very moment had been sealed in some surreal glow. Right next to him, Jerry stood watch with crossed arms and a grin on his
Last Updated : 2025-04-01BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY: A FUTURE IN QUESTION.
Pulling her closer with all that he had, Fred lured Laura against him in a deep, lingering kiss. His touch was airy but strong, and the surrounding warmth of his body felt almost like a protective shield. Laura sighed against his mouth as her fingers wove into his hair, drifting into his embrace.The two hearts thumped in time, erasing the space between them and moving together so precisely that it was almost magical. Every word they whispered, every lingering caress, seemed to carry a meaning beyond mere language. With a gentle caress, Fred traced down her neck, dizzied by the glowing warmth of her kiss, while his hands flooded over the lines of her body, reaching, memorizing, and claiming every inch as if terrified it would escape his grasp. Across the muscles of his back, Laura kept sweeping her hands, fingertips teasing his skin while she drew him toward her. No guidance was ever needed as their bodies fit effortlessly together like instinct and desire, with a natural rhythm of t
Last Updated : 2025-04-01BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE: UNSPOKEN DECISIONS.
Dr. Hayes broke through the thick silence in the room, his calm but authoritative presence demandingly freezing the mounting tension. It was not his role to mediate personal conflicts, nor was he, in this instance, in a position to deal with their personal matters. His only concern was with Laura and the child. "Come along with me," he said; his voice lacked any intonation to permit debate about this demand. Before they could say anything, he turned to walk down the hall toward his office.For a moment, Fred and Laura hesitated, thoughts of what this meant for them flashing through the airless space between them. But they had to follow. Their soft footsteps barely made a sound against the stark hospital floor once again. Each crunching sound blasted forth their uncertainty. The hallway stretched before them, a quiet course that led toward solutions, or perhaps more questions.Having arrived at his office, Dr. Hayes swung open the door for them to enter. "Please," he said, his hand rai
Last Updated : 2025-04-02
Latest chapter
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE: UNSPOKEN DECISIONS.
Dr. Hayes broke through the thick silence in the room, his calm but authoritative presence demandingly freezing the mounting tension. It was not his role to mediate personal conflicts, nor was he, in this instance, in a position to deal with their personal matters. His only concern was with Laura and the child. "Come along with me," he said; his voice lacked any intonation to permit debate about this demand. Before they could say anything, he turned to walk down the hall toward his office.For a moment, Fred and Laura hesitated, thoughts of what this meant for them flashing through the airless space between them. But they had to follow. Their soft footsteps barely made a sound against the stark hospital floor once again. Each crunching sound blasted forth their uncertainty. The hallway stretched before them, a quiet course that led toward solutions, or perhaps more questions.Having arrived at his office, Dr. Hayes swung open the door for them to enter. "Please," he said, his hand rai
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY: A FUTURE IN QUESTION.
Pulling her closer with all that he had, Fred lured Laura against him in a deep, lingering kiss. His touch was airy but strong, and the surrounding warmth of his body felt almost like a protective shield. Laura sighed against his mouth as her fingers wove into his hair, drifting into his embrace.The two hearts thumped in time, erasing the space between them and moving together so precisely that it was almost magical. Every word they whispered, every lingering caress, seemed to carry a meaning beyond mere language. With a gentle caress, Fred traced down her neck, dizzied by the glowing warmth of her kiss, while his hands flooded over the lines of her body, reaching, memorizing, and claiming every inch as if terrified it would escape his grasp. Across the muscles of his back, Laura kept sweeping her hands, fingertips teasing his skin while she drew him toward her. No guidance was ever needed as their bodies fit effortlessly together like instinct and desire, with a natural rhythm of t
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-NINE: THE PROPOSAL.
Laura’s breath snagged in the middle, shallow, and so uneven to the point of being expelled out somewhere between the lungs and lips. A strange ringing noise buzzed in her ears, but along with it, she could still hear the wild erratic beating of her heart; it thumped louder and louder in contrast to the stillness of that room.She blinked once, twice, and her mind was trying to catch up with the unfolding moment before her eyes. In the middle of the beautifully elegant apartment stood Fred on one knee: a sight that shot bolts through her, anchoring her to the spot. His saturated gaze couldn't leave her face, his expression filled with so much expectancy and hope. He had a small velvet box open in his hand, with an engagement ring resting inside. The diamond sparkled at every angle it received light, projecting tiny luminous reflections into the room, as if the very moment had been sealed in some surreal glow. Right next to him, Jerry stood watch with crossed arms and a grin on his
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-EIGHT: A DATE WITH DESTINY.
The dull echoes of her heels striking the polished floor preceded Laura's swift breeze through the front door. Each thrum of her heart spoke her excitement; her mind lingered solely on the evening that lay ahead. She had just one hour left to get ready for dinner at Fred's place. All had to be well.Mrs. Charlotte was sitting on her usual couch, a book thrusting outward from her lap, while Daniel lounged next to her, scrolling lazily on his phone. As Laura stormed in without a word, both looked up, surprise mixed with confusion overtaking their faces as she brushed past them."Where are you rushing to Laura?" Her mother quipped, rather amused.Laura didn't slow down; she didn't answer. There was no time for mockery; all thoughts were on one thing: winning Fred's admiration. Laura opened the door to her bedroom and forcefully swung it shut after entering. Once inside, she took a deep breath and quickly surveyed her room, as if just figuring out how to start. Everything about the dress,
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-SEVEN: AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL.
Laura's heart raced as she ran behind Fred, her heels clicking sharply against the polished office floor. Something in the way he'd called her had unsettled her. Fred never sounded like that unless it was really important. Now, her mind raced with worrisome possibilities, most of them terrible. She threw the door of his office wide, walked in, and froze. There was little air left to breathe. Across from Fred's desk, an attractive woman was sitting there. She imparted an eerie, calm self-confidence. Posture upright. Expression blank.Laura's belly twisted. It was a sinking feeling spreading through her chest.Who was she?The silence felt utterly unbearable in the room, extending and amplifying each beat of Laura's heart. The intrusion of the woman felt not only unexpected but also slightly illicit. Fred hadn't said anything about meeting someone. If it had to do with work, why had he called her so urgently?Her eyes jumped at Fred, looking for answers, but his face gave nothing away
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-SIX: A MESSAGE UNTOLD.
Jerry just stared at the message on his cell phone and grinned widely. His fingers wrapped firmly around the device, completely fixated on the words running through his eyes over and over again as if relishing each letter. He was so glued to his phone that he could not hear Laura shouting his name over and over again. Her voice, growing more impatient with each repeated call, could hardly reach his ears. She stood near him, arms folded and brows knitted in disappointment. "Jerry," she called a little more loudly now.Still no response.She pressed her lips into a line and strolled very close, watching as reality disappeared for Jerry, leaving him glued to that screen. She was hurting below the surface, and the fury had curled her fingers tightly at her sides. It was so unusual of him to ignore her when she was right there.No response. The sharp breath escaped her lungs as she changed positions from one foot to another. Was he intentionally ignoring her? Her face clouded over as s
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FIVE: A CONVERSATION LONG OVERDUE.
Laura's voice startled the silence, and Fred was pulled out of his thought process. "Fred?".His eyes darted in her direction before he said anything. His jaw tightly set and shoulders stiff, something unreadable lingering in his eyes. Anger, perhaps? Jealousy? Laura could not quite tell. She sighed and inched closer. "Fred, what's wrong?".He didn't answer for a moment. His face was well-guarded, fingers twitching at his side, and then he muttered with a slow shake of his head, “Nothing, you can go,” then quickly added, “just be back before customers come in.”Her breath caught something in his tone. It wasn't casual dismissal but colder, serrated with something he couldn't quite place. Still, she agreed not to push it. "Alright". "I won't take long."Fred didn't reply but gave her a curt nod and turned toward his office, his back rigid as he disappeared inside.Laura stood there for a second, watching the closed door as the unease settled in her chest. Fred was not one to act all
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-FOUR: A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
Fred lifted his eyes at the very mention of his name. Tension entailed in every part of his body under the pressure of conflicting emotions pressing down upon him. His heart was heavy from an image of Maggie, Thomas, and Jack driving away from him when he stood there amidst revelations he was not ready to face; things like betrayal, painful years of deception, and a son he felt he had. And just when he expected to grab a moment of breath, another person from his past showed before him. Helen was standing a few feet away, observing him with an expression marked by sadness and some fuzzy emotion he could not place, pity perhaps. Her appearance was unexpected, as he had been expecting her to be busy in the kitchen, or with house chores, but somehow he was not startled. Maybe he was too worn out to be surprised anymore. With warm and knowing eyes, Helen moved closer, her slow and steady tread bridging the gap between their two worlds. The world around them felt muted, and time itself s
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-THREE: SHATTERED GOODBYES.
Fred stood frozen, every muscle in his body drawn tight with tension before Thomas, Maggie, and Jack. The very moment bore heavily on his shoulders as if under the pressure of some great strangling force; his heart thudded in his chest, throbbing with a chaotic mixture of rage, regret, and confusion. He had never felt so helpless in his life, watching Maggie prepare to walk out of his life, this time perhaps for good.Is this really what she wants? Does she truly love Thomas? Or is she simply leaving because there is no choice? Because she had lost everything? His piercing gaze slapped Maggie across the face, compelling a desperate search for her expression, anything that might tell him she wasn't doing this willingly. But all he could read was a mask that had become unreadable. The lady who once gave him everything, who once stared at him as though he was her entire world, now stood in front of him in silence. Doubt thrashed in his mind, sharp and relentless. Had she ever truly lov
