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CHAPTER THIRTY: THE BURDEN OF KNOWING.
Last Updated:
2024-12-11 20:24:41
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: ROADS TO JUSTICE.
Jerry's entire body was tense, vibrating with an undercurrent of furious energy, a shadow of emotions that threatened to explode forth. His jaw was tightly held while looking at Fred. Every molecule in Jerry's body cried to be liberated, for his fist to smash down on Fred's smug face, but he held back and breathed through the blazing, molten anger that surged hot and rough within him.Jerry stepped closer to Fred, his voice low but sharp, each word slicing through the tense air like a blade. "Stick to our deal, and we won't have a problem," he said, his tone carrying an edge that left no room for argument. His piercing gaze bore into Fred's, making it clear he wasn't bluffing.As he turned to leave, Jerry's shoulder deliberately collided with Fred's in a move that was part warning, part challenge. The contact was firm and intentional, a physical punctuation to his words.Without a glance back, Jerry strode towards the door, purposeful and heavy with anger. He stormed out of the room
Last Updated : 2024-12-11BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: THE HOUR OF RECKONING.
As they curved into Hoover Street, the car began to slow, tires crunching softly over loose gravel. The neighborhood around was heavy with silence, an unsettling feel in contrast to the throbbing tension inside the vehicle.Jerry leaned forward, his sharp eyes scanning the identical facades of the apartments that lined the street like silent patrols.“There,” he said, his voice low and firm, as his finger pointed to a weathered brick building, ivy creeping stubbornly up its walls. “Here it is," Jerry added once again, quieter now, as if he was trying to keep it from waking the shadows behind the curtains of the apartment.The driver drove to a slow stop, the humming of the motor fading into the street's stillness. No one moved for a second. The air was heavy with silence inside the car, wrapped with a blanket of apprehension, as if every soul present was braced for what lay ahead."Everybody out! Now!" barked the sheriff, his voice sharp and commanding, slicing through the taut silenc
Last Updated : 2024-12-12BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: THE COMPELLED CONFESSION.
Mary’s hand moved slowly, a quick flick of her fingers behind her back, a silent command for the two women lingering in the doorway to run back. Her movements were smooth but deliberate, an act born out of instinct rather than conscious thought. Her mind raced as she locked eyes with the young officer standing before her, his stance firm, his gaze locked on her. She knew she was caught. The sinking feeling in her stomach confirmed it, a lead weight dragging her down. This wasn’t the first time Mary had flirted with trouble, but this… this felt different. She could sense the walls closing in. Her two friends, Rose and Sarah, hovered behind her, their faces a mix of confusion and concern. They didn’t yet understand the gravity of the situation. Mary could see it in their casual postures, in the way Sarah absently chewed her gum, and how Rose's arms were crossed as if this were some minor inconvenience. They don’t get it, Mary thought bitterly. But I do. “Go,” Mary mouthed silentl
Last Updated : 2024-12-12BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: TIES THAT BIND.
The air was thick with an unspoken tension, the faint hum of passing traffic punctuating the moment. Laura froze, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes met the gaze of Jack standing a few steps behind them. His presence was both startling and surreal, like a ghost from a dream she hadn’t expected to revisit.Her eyes remained glued to him.Jack stood a few paces behind them, his figure small yet impossibly striking against the muted backdrop of the city. His wide eyes held a strange intensity, their depths filled with recognition and something else, something unnameable. The faint smile on his lips was disarming, but it carried an undercurrent of vulnerability, as if he, too, was unsure of his place in this reunion.His presence was startling, almost surreal, like a phantom stepping out of her past. The memory of that chaotic day at the cafe resurfaced with vivid clarity: the angry mob, the boy’s terrified cries, and her own instinctive leap to shield him. Seeing Jack now, standing w
Last Updated : 2024-12-13BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: THE CALM BEFORE THE FURY.
Jerry carefully pushed the door open, the soft creak of the hinges betraying their arrival. He and Laura stepped into the room, but Mr. Tim remained utterly still. His fingers tapped a rhythm across the keys of his laptop, immersed in whatever absorbed his concentration. Not a glance acknowledged his visitors with his full concentration on the screen. The room hushed thickly, as if he could not notice them at all, with an unusual tension hanging above as Jerry and Laura stared at each other, waiting for what would come next.“Good… Good morning, Mr. Tim,” Jerry greeted in a low, measured tone, taking a step closer to the desk. His voice carried an edge of uncertainty, a subtle sign of the tension hanging in the air.“Good morning, sir,” Laura added, her words quieter but no less polite, as she followed Jerry closely behind. Her eyes briefly flickered over Mr. Tim, noting the cold detachment in his posture, and the palpable silence that filled the room. The weight of the moment pres
Last Updated : 2024-12-13BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: HEATED GROUNDS.
Laura's voice pitched high and furious, while she glared at the woman before her. "What are you doing here?" Her demand came, her body shaking with fury as she tightened her fists, signaling that she wouldn't hold back from fighting, controlling her emotions by some margin. Laura's patience had reached its limit; the boiling tension on her conscience pushed her to the edge. She no longer bothered about what would happen next, the decision to rise and retaliate was set in concrete. Her patience with all their fuss had expired, and now she was ready to fight back and put all the instigators back in their place.The woman standing before Laura was no stranger; she was one of Mary’s friends, someone they had encountered at the station earlier that day. Her presence now felt like an unwelcome intrusion.“What am I doing here? The real question is, what are you doing here, Laura?” She shot back, her tone dripping with arrogance. A smirk played on her lips as she raised her shoulders in a s
Last Updated : 2024-12-14BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: THREADS OF SCANDAL.
"Sarah knows Fred?" Jerry whispered to Laura, both shaking their heads in disbelief and disgust. The realization hung in the air, heavy and uncomfortable.Fred, noticing Sarah approaching him with eager steps, instinctively tried to create some distance, but it was futile.Sarah was already all over him, her hands touching him casually as if nothing were wrong. Fred's discomfort was evident, but his attempts to pull away were weak against her relentless advances. The scene was awkward, filled with tension, as Jerry and Laura watched, unable to look away from the unfolding mess. The drama seemed endless.“Baby! It’s me… Sarah! From the other night,” Sarah purred, twirling her hair with her fingers and biting her lips slowly in a provocative gesture. She then reached forward, pulling Fred’s tie slowly, causing him to stagger slightly. Nothing but tension could be seen as she leaned forward. "Sarah... what do you want?" Fred whispered, his voice tight with discomfort. He ran a hand thr
Last Updated : 2024-12-14BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: UNMASKING THE MONSTER.
Fred’s piercing glare locked onto Helen, sharp enough to cut through the tension hanging in the air. Each step he took toward her was deliberate, his presence imposing.“You see,” he began, his tone dripping with disdain, “the thing about you… poor, homeless people, is that you’re never grateful.”His voice was low, measured, yet brimming with contempt, each word aimed like a dagger. His eyes bore into her, unblinking, as if daring her to respond. The room seemed to shrink around them, suffocating from the weight of his scornful words. Helen held her ground, her fists clenched.“Step back, Fred!” Jerry’s voice was firm, cutting through the tension. He shifted slightly, positioning himself as a shield, signaling Helen to retreat behind him.Fred halted, a bitter smirk curling his lips. “Jerry… you,” he drawled, his tone mocking, “you’re always in my business.” He took a deliberate pause, letting the words hang in the air. “When do you plan on minding your own business in my home?”.Fre
Last Updated : 2024-12-15
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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
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR: A CROSSROAD OF CONSEQUENCES.
There was an awful silence in the house, the deadlier with the slight rubbing of leaves against each other outside, while on the edge of the couch Mrs. Charlotte excitedly tapped her fingers against her right knee. Her mind had, for a time, fought against her growing unease, but the suspicion would not yield any further. There's something really wrong with Laura.Over the past couple of days, the girl had been acting really weird, pale, weak, and a shadow of her usual energetic self. Initially, Mrs. Charlotte was convincing enough to persuade herself that her daughter was simply wearing herself out, probably getting over a passing illness. But the signs got hard to ignore eventually. That feeling of concern transformed into sheer determination. Steeling her breath, she stood up and made her way again toward the hallway that led to Laura's room. This time, she would not simply let a vague conversation fade away on easy reassurances. Her feet settled against the floor beneath the doo
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE: UNSPOKEN FEARS.
Laura stood in Fred's office with her arms crossed in front of her and inspected him closely as though his face was some complicated puzzle. The atmosphere between them was tightly strung with an electric hotness, as hundreds of different thoughts raced through her mind, all forming around the same question that had been torturing her painfully for the last few days. She wanted answers, real answers, no comforting platitudes or charming words thrown out there in reply to her discomfort. Dropping one foot after placing it gently in front, then lowering it into a whisper to bring him in. Laura began as she stared into his eyes softly, "Fred," “I don’t get it”. “If we are together, why should we hide it?”. “What are you afraid of?" She paused for a beat. "Why does it have to be a secret?".Fred did not answer right away. He remained still, an inscrutable expression on his face. The charismatic man she fell for now appeared far away, his gaze averted from hers while he tapped his finger
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO: A LOVE WRAPPED IN LIES.
Laura narrowed her eyes at the cashier; her suspicion was falling into the deep abyss of mistrust as the sharp, jarring laughter had escaped the lips of the woman standing before her. There was something, obviously, wrong about this, which made an awkward little tingle run throughout Laura’s neck. "I asked…”. “Why are you laughing?" She rephrased the question, forcefully subduing her feelings, but unmistakably the heat laced her voice. For a split second, the cashier's gaze held that of Laura's and seemed for a moment as though she might remember. But the idea dissipated quickly; her smile turned into a frown for a second and shook Laura off, saying, "Oh, it's nothing," now a voice suddenly too casual to be comfortable while sliding Laura's phone across the counter.“The payment has been successfully processed. You’re all set to go.”Laura hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around the receipt. That laughter, it had felt pointed, like there was a hidden joke, one she wasn’t in
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE: GILDED LIES.
One could feel the energy in the cafe buzzing about tenfold, the thick scent of coffee, sharply contrasted by the sweetness of baking, and then made a loud, annoying harmony of swishing voices and clinking mugs, one that seemed to focus on absolute nothingness for Laura. Her world had shrunk to nothing else except for the awkward broken silence between her and Jerry.Laura stood at the counter, making herself stiff, aware of his nearness beside her, and he had been waiting, waiting for answers, for just one explanation that could somehow justify the change in her behavior. His patience was wearing thin, evidenced by the way his knuckles pressed down against the polished counter, his legs were drawn tense and his expression unreadable.Jerry did not want to prolong the silence any further and, after a few moments, reached behind him for a rag and began cleaning the counter, pretending that he was busy. His own eyes remained glued on Laura, watching, searching.Before he finally spoke,
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY: THE TRUTH HE CANNOT HANDLE.
Jerry paced restlessly before the doorstep of Laura’s apartment, fixated on Fred’s car parked close to the building. He tried to fit pieces together of the dark thoughts surging through his mind regarding what Fred could be doing in Laura’s place for the entire night. Slowly, his jaw stiffened, and his hands curled into fists. He really got angry at the thought of Fred choosing this instead of returning home; him being there for Laura filled Jerry with fury. Jealousy coursed down his veins, giving him a tense posture. After a deep breath inward, Jerry turned back to the door and knocked loudly, the impatience building within him slowly with each moment of unresolved silence.Inside, Laura and Fred rushed toward the door while tightly holding each other's hands. “Open the door, really, come on!” Fred exclaimed urgently. His gaze passed over the door's glass panel, then managed to catch Jerry’s silhouette standing outside.“No”. “You open the door,” Laura insisted, wildly adjusting he
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN: SECRETS BENEATH THE SHEETS.
Her memories enveloped her mind, still moments of stolen intimacy, with the warmth of his touch barely sliding off her skin. They made a pool of emotions rush through her, almost stealing her breath away while anticipation was mounting inside her. But water splashing in the bathroom jolted her from the bliss of memories. Seconds later, Fred stepped out, water droplets glistening down from his wet hair onto the floor as he passed his hand through the strands and shook them dry, his eyes glistening on her. His lips danced with a small smile as he advanced toward the bed, still bare of clothing. With the utmost tenderness, he knelt down and placed both his hands on her legs while saying, "Come here, beautiful" with a voice that sounded steady but was thrown in with tenderness.Laura hesitated for a moment but let him pull her closer. Known warmth trickled through her and chilled her deep heart. She inhaled strongly, as if the atmosphere were electrified by the pulsating moment. Fred's
