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CHAPTER TEN: UNSEEN BONDS.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-03 19:03:41
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BEHIND 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-05BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWELVE: THE TRAP.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-06BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A DELICATE TRUTH.
“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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-07BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FOURTEEN: A DEBT TOO HEAVY.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-08BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTEEN: A FRAGILE CONNECTION.
“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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-09BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE CONFESSION.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: SHATTERED HOPES.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: SHADOWS OF THE PAST.
“I had no idea I’d get to see you again,” the female voice continued, dripping with an eerie tone as she stood before Laura and blocked her path. The woman’s posture was confident, almost as if she were relishing the moment, and there was a sinister gleam in her eyes as she looked directly at Laura.Laura came to an abrupt stop, a bitter wave of familiarity engulfed her. This was one of the women who had conspired against her in her last workplace, the very same women who had accused her of stealing, resulting in her disgracing firing.It seemed incredibly cruel that they would have to meet again.The woman’s figure somehow interfered with the space that was supposed to be empty between them. She smiled with mischief all over her face, as if warming up to Laura’s discomfort.Motioning step with one foot forward, she studied Laura with unsettling intensity and narrowed eyes.“Did you have to stalk me again?” Laura lashed out her voice a little sharp, irritation painted on every word.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO: A WEDDING IN MOTION.
He squeezed Laura's hand as a source of reassurance. His warmth calmed her, keeping her grounded as she struggled with the mention of Maggie and Thomas. The interference of the past rested heavily upon her, and Fred leaned in, low and soothing, whispering, "It is our day, Laura. Let's not let the past ruin it." With a measured exhalation, Laura let his words sink into her thoughts. True, they were right. This moment was for them, their future, their happiness. She held his gaze, the depth of his confidence calming the storm brewing inside her. A slight nod of acceptance from her and a tightening of her fingers around him, told Fred everything she was thinking. "You are right. This will be about us." Mrs. Charlotte watched through the closed-up atmosphere and witnessed Laura's choice. A small, agreeable nod from her gave Laura the reassurance that she had made the right decision. Of course, these events left Jerry and Helen unimpressed and were thrown into silent opposition against
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
