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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: HEARTS IN THE CROSSFIRE.
Last Updated:
2024-12-10 07:49:21
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BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: UNSPOKEN TRUTHS.
More light fell on the room from the bedside lamp casting soft amber light across the walls. "Laura?" Said a voice from outside the door as it made them startle. The soft, hesitant voice from the doorway cut through the quiet tension in the room like a blade, and both Laura and Jerry froze. They glanced at each other instinctively, the unspoken understanding between them prompted immediate action. Laura straightened her posture and brushed invisible creases from her blouse, while Jerry shifted on the bed, leaning back with an air of nonchalance that didn't quite match the flicker of unease in his eyes. Their hurried movements betrayed their surprise, the casualness they tried to project not entirely convincing. Laura's heart raced as she turned her head towards the door, her breath hitched slightly. The closeness they'd been wrapped in just moments ago shattered as reality intruded with a firm knock, accompanied by a familiar voice. "Laura... please, can I come in?" Hel
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: THREADS OF SUSPICION.
The sound of heavy footsteps approached the door, each one echoed ominously in the quiet hall. Laura’s heart pounded as she found herself face to face with Fred, his piercing blue eyes glinting with a hint of arrogance. She instinctively tightened her grip on the door.“I asked you, what do you want?!” She snapped, her voice was sharp and sliced through the tension like a blade. Her tone rose with a defensive edge, each word fortified by a mix of anger and exasperation. Her movements were deliberate, a subtle declaration of power and control, though her hands trembled slightly at her sides, betraying the storm raging within her.Fred stood his ground, his tall frame blocking out the light from the hallway behind him. “Laura… wait,” he said, lifting his hands as if to calm her. “I’m here for peace. Just listen to what I have to say.” His voice carried a hint of desperation, though his expression remained as smug as ever.Laura didn’t move. She wasn’t one to let herself be swayed by Fr
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: INTO THE LION’S DEN.
Laura, who buried her head in her hands and trembled with silent sobs, lived through an agonizingly long moment in the room heavy with tension. Jerry, always around to help her, sat beside her with a gentle hand resting on her shoulder. “We’ll figure it out,” he promised, his voice steady but strained. He wanted to believe his own words but really couldn't help the gnawing uncertainty. How could they possibly make things right? How could he bring justice to Laura without plunging her further into despair?.Jerry stood, pacing the cramped room as helplessness washed over him. The walls seemed to close in, reflecting his frustration. Justice wasn’t just an option, it was a necessity. The consequences of Mary’s actions had to be faced by her. Her move of destruction was more than an act of vandalism. It had been an invasion of Laura's dignity, her sanctuary, and peace of mind.Laura's weeping became quieter across the room, and she shook her shoulders in grief.The echo of Mr. Tim’s s
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: LINES CROSSED.
Jerry realized he wasn’t feeling Laura’s hand against his anymore. At that time, as he responded sharply, awareness jolted through him like a rising pulse. His darted gaze searched through the room beyond him and his breath seized when he sighted her.At that moment, she was not where she should be, which was next to him. Instead, she was crouched on the floor with Fred, their hands overlapping on her phone as if frozen in time, their gazes locked in an inexplicable connection.The sight unsettled him; it was completely unexpected.“Laura, what are you doing?” Jerry’s voice, low and steady, carried a sharp edge, jealousy unmistakably woven into his tone. He strode toward them, his movements brisk, as if compelled by something primal.His voice sliced through the quiet like a knife, breaking into a strange stillness. Laura blinked, surprised, as though just awakening from a dream.Her cheeks flushed, and she instinctively pulled her hand away, snatching her phone from the floor with tr
Last Updated : 2024-12-10BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER THIRTY: THE BURDEN OF KNOWING.
Jerry stood frozen, feeling the wall dimly lit at the end of the hallway as his hand gripped the door frame for support as he tried to wrestle with what he had just seen. Helen had been sneaking away from Fred's room in the dead of night, it was Helen who had been with him.His breath stuttered in his throat as a pain in his chest shot up, flaring a gut-wrenching response of mixed emotions of shock and disbelief. For Fred, this wouldn't be out of the ordinary as he had typically behaved so carelessly, unrepentantly carrying a string of brief affairs. Jerry had lost count, really, of how many times he had covered for his cousin, Fred, or listened to him boast about some conquest. But this? This was different. This wasn’t some random woman Fred had charmed at a bar. This was Helen, modest, reserved Helen, the woman Jerry had thought was above such entanglements.Jerry leaned back against the wall and his thoughts raced. How could Helen, of all people, be involved with someone like Fred
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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 : 2024-12-12
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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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
BEHIND OFFICE DOORS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY-TWO: THE HEART REMEMBERS.
Laura stood transfixed, air caught in her throat, staring at Fred standing at her doorstep. The jolt sent a mix of shock, anger, and something that she didn't know. Her heart hobbled such that it thumped violently, pulse drumming in her ears. Of all the possibilities, she had never pictured seeing him here, now.Why was he here? What did he really want?Her hands clenched into tight fists by her sides, aflame with memories of their last communication.The coldness with which he spoke. His cruelty all remained fresh, a wound that had not yet begun to heal. Yet he was standing there before her now as though none of it had ever happened. The sheer audacity of it pushed something hot and sharp within her, tilting her fury toward it and washing out her initial shock. She focused her glare and clenched her jaw. "What the hell are you doing here, Fred?". She hadn't meant for it to sound as harsh; her tone had been colored with anger. She didn't care. He had no right coming in like this, not
