*~~Chapter Sixty-Nine~~*

{~~Avery Sterling~~}

If Shawn hadn’t shown up to tell me that my shift was over, I would have continued working well into the night without realizing the time. He strolled into my office with his usual easy going demeanor, giving me a playful nudge. “Hey, workaholic, your shift is over. Time to pack up.”

I glanced at the clock on my computer screen and was genuinely surprised to see that it was already eight o’clock. The hours had slipped away while I was immersed in a mountain of paperwork, reports, and endless emails. “Thanks, Shawn. I didn’t even notice,” I said, flashing him a grateful smile.

He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “I figured. You’ve been in the zone all day. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t planning to spend the night here.”

“Believe me, I wouldn’t if I could avoid it,” I replied, shutting down my computer and gathering my belongings. I stuffed my bag with my laptop, files, and a few personal items, making sure not to leave anything important behind. As