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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A DELICATE TRUTH.
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2024-12-07 17:51:59Related chapters
BEHIND 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 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.
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER NINETEEN: A SHIELD IN THE CHAOS.
“A coffee shop? Really?”, “Such a shame,” came the voice in an arrogant tone whether for the grief or mockery. The man smirked and glanced at the broken cup and coffee spill on the floor beside Laura.“And you should clean the mess you just made too. I’m not surprised you’re good at destroying things,” he added with a cruel laugh.Laura froze, her hands tightened into fists at her sides as the voice sent a shiver through her. She slowly looked up, her heart sank. It was him. The man who was her boss in the past and sacked her from her employment as a cleaner without affording her an opportunity to clarify herself was next to her. She could feel his unpleasant presence hovering over her.Jerry stood a few steps away, noticed the tension, and stepped forward, he placed himself protectively in front of Laura. His jaw tightened as he fixed the man with a firm, warning look.“Laura… who is he?” Jerry asked, his voice calm but with an edge of anger.“He’s the one I told you about,” Laura r
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY: INTRUDER IN THE SHADOWS.
Laura stood frozen at the door with her body formed by that warm sunlight pouring down the afternoon. Her expression was more unreadable than the rest, though her cutting gaze went straight through Jerry's soul as the air became thick with tension. "Who was it you were talking with, Jerry?" She asked in soft tones filled with a paradox of calmness and suspicion, as each syllable sounded like distant thunder predicting a coming storm.Jerry's eyes went round and his throat dropped. The sound in the air went dead, then as his heart raced he sprang abruptly to his feet, making the chair scrape against the floor with a sharp, jarring sound. He hurried toward her, his movements were clumsy, almost desperate.Laura’s brows furrowed slightly and her sharp intuition kicked in. “Jerry? Are you sure you’re fine?” She asked, her tone more probing now. Her gaze lingered on him like she was dissecting every word, every gesture, every hesitation.Jerry swallowed hard and nodded hastily. “Oh… ye
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: THE PHOTOGRAPH.
“Miss Laura… is everything alright?” The man from the squad asked gently, his brows furrowed as he observed her reaction to the photograph.Laura's trembling fingers reached down, knees buckling slightly, to grasp the passport photo lying on the ground. Breaths came in short, jagged bursts, and her eyes widened in astonishment as that face stared back from the glossy paper."I-I know this girl," Laura practically stammered, voice at a whisper barely audible. "I can't believe this." She gripped the photo tighter, knuckles turned white as if the intention was to crush it."Why would she do this to me?" Laura muttered to herself, her voice cracked with emotion. “And how… how did she even know my address?” The words seemed to carry the weight of betrayal, and her gaze remained locked on the photograph as tears welled up in her eyes.The squad leader stepped forward, his presence commanding yet composed, exuding a quiet authority that seemed to anchor the chaos swirling around them. His e
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
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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
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: CRACKS IN THE QUIET.
The sheriff's car felt like a pressure cooker on the verge of blowing up. Fred and Jerry gazed at the microphone as if it were a live grenade. Tension permeated the air, and the weight of their unsaid anxieties increased with every second that went by. Jerry suddenly pushed the door open and jumped out. Furious, he snatched up the microphone, threw it on the gravel, and trampled relentlessly on it. The damage did little to calm the insanity roiling in his mind, but each strike sent bits flying.After sitting motionless for a while, Fred whispered to himself, "She... she heard about Jack." They spoke in a raspy voice, as though speaking out loud brought their nightmare to life. With caution, he exited the car, focusing his attention on Jerry. Jerry's chest heaved as if he had just run a mile as he stood over the broken remains. He stared into the malfunctioning instrument, but his mind was elsewhere. Linda had heard how much? What would she do next? The questions ran incessantly, eac
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: A TANGLED JUSTICE.
As the strain increased, the sheriff's poise began to falter. In a silent attempt to maintain control of the scenario that was erupting before him, his normally steady palms were clenched into fists. He inhaled deeply and tried to speak in a calm manner as he walked up to the furious young lady. “Linda... it is me, your dad," he murmured gently, trying to break through the flaming barrier of her rage with a firm yet calming tone."Oh, Dad! I see that you were also pulled into his pitiful mess by the scared cat”. With a tone full of disdain, she spit out, "He should have just eaten it and perished."The sheriff’s brows narrowed, his thoughts rushing to piece together her scream. What had led her to this level of rage?He started by purposefully using her real name to ground her, "Meredith, darling." "How did you know it was consumed by the rats?" He tried to entice her out without frightening her anymore, so his words were purposeful, and his eyes were keen. “Indeed!”, “How did you k
