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Chapter 14

Author: Leann Tice
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
The Reasons

Ding~

The automated bell chimed in the metallic elevator box, and the steel doors opened right after. Keanu dropped the call. He knew well enough to behave while still on the clock. Hopefully, Mrs. Lewis’s number is filed in a throw-away sim if things don’t go according to plan. The phone still on hand, CEO West walked to Sec. Lee’s desk.

A warm empty mug sat beside a cleared desk. The blond woman had word docs open on her screen, typing away her boss’s schedule for the next day. The day would have been longer if she had been alone. Luckily tasks were divided, leaving her to take care of half the paperwork. Ms. Lee had her day sorted out. All that remained was the CEO’s schedule.

The said schedule has almost ready for printing. When Dina glanced up, she found CEO West walking toward her station. He stopped right in front of her. Dina saved the docs before turning to face him. Based on the time on her screen, the meeting didn’t go so well. If it did, Mr. West wouldn’t b
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    Deceitful Indulgence Patrick Sylas loosely jotted something down. He wasn’t sure if it was gibberish or if he was writing what he saw. Whatever he scribbled, it was beyond the purpose of their meeting. Editor Sylas glanced down, his dark brows furrowed. He managed to write something coherent. Annoyed, he ripped the page clean off and folded it twice. Pat stuffed it in between random areas to forget about it. He was lucky. The staff seated in front and on his side were too busy to watch his movements. The mood changed after their meal. Sylas sat cross-legged at the end of the bench. Every staff member was busy brainstorming to the right and in front of the connected bars near him. Each head seemed caught in an individual bubble, all except him. He wasn’t sure if Cameron told them to continue without him, but everyone was engaged. It seemed convenient. No one cocked their heads up to see the three persons inside. Patrick was alone, observing discreetly. A scene played out between Mr

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 15.2

    Suspicious Thoughts The water stopped. “Why was there a receipt in your archives for revealing underwear?” Paul remembered his tone was aggressive. “I wanted to do something special, but I know how tiring managing Spice can get,” Leah whimpered, lips trembling slightly. “I never got to do it -That’s why I’m sorry I hid it from you, dear.” “You could have told me sooner, love. I’ve been dying to free my schedule,” Paul recalled saying. He was analyzing their conversation in the kitchen minutes ago. Leah, her tone was honest but hid her eyes while in his embrace. His manhood wouldn’t allow it. “Tsk, who is she fooling?” Paul closed his eyes, preventing clear water from getting in. Rubbing both eyes with one hand, he wiped his face, letting the trickles fall on the wet tiles. He finished showering, yet he can't move on from yesterday and this morning’s incidents. He opened the shower's glass door and grabbed his towel from the nearby rack. He proceeded to dry himself on the spot.

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 16.1

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  • The Games We Play   Chapter 1

    Prologue Kitty was nervous. She was sitting on one of the long cushioned benches in front of HR. The random sound of keyboards clacking inharmoniously and mouse clicking added to it. Today was her interview at West Enterprises, a relatively new company headed by Alexander West, the owner of a vast five-star hotel and land corporation chain across the country. Kitty didn't know much about him: other than his money, and recently his good looks. Judging from a portrait in HR's waiting area, CEO West is a good-looking late fifty-something-year-old man. Kitty retreated her gawking when she later noticed a CCTV camera refocusing on her. She mused to herself, tucking a black shoulder-length loose strand behind her ear and covering her chest. She thought the older man was there staring back at her behind the lens. A short, forty-something, blond woman poked her head out from behind the open double-door glass frame leading to the work area. "Miss Katherine? Katherine Doe?" "Yes," Kitty sa

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  • The Games We Play   Chapter 19

    It Felt Right Kitty felt anxious. Since returning to the unit from Leah's, the pressure had been eating Kitty. She made it clear, in her head, that she didn't like to be on the receiving end. The idea made her angry, impatient, and itching. Breathing was difficult. "...I need to talk about this, but when and with whom?" The sun sunk. Kitty made it back in time to prepare dinner. Chicken soup, for her confusion, was appealing-so she went to make it. She found some elbows, boiled and strained them by the sink. Seasoned chicken breasts were swimming in tomato paste in the saucepan while Kitty severed the vegetables and individually tossed them in. Slowly her anxiety backed up but was still present in her shaky hands. Trembling hands caress and firmly hold the shaved potatoes- dicing them in fours. The knife kissing the wooden chopping board sounded like a donkey walking on smooth gravel. ~Chop. Chop. Chop. Chop. When Kitty was satisfied with the size, she immediately tossed the

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 18

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  • The Games We Play   Chapter 17

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  • The Games We Play   Chapter 16.2

    Twisting Morals “Last night, Secretary Lewis mailed me his concerns.” West sat behind his desk. His big hands cradled a thick cobalt tri-ring binder, the “Employee Ethics Code” from HR archives. Over the grapevine, Lee heard that the mere sight of said binder meant instant termination. She never imagined the day she'd be in a situation like where she was now—seeing that damn thing now. Let alone being judged. Dina did not recall bringing the folder up from the archives floor. West must have sent Lewis. “Fuck,” Lee thought. “I carried over the request to the utility. As of this morning, your desks are now permanently facing.” Secretary Lee felt confused. CEO West did not look as angry as he expressed on the phone earlier. His relaxed angled brows on his handsome face. However, his emerald eyes scanned, stabbing daggers, not towards Dina but through the folder in his hands. He was reviewing the printed text. West's face was complexly cold and stern, yet Dina swore she could

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 16.1

    Starts and Ending It was thirty minutes before seven, decent. Leah Cameron twisted the key, offing the engine. She was waiting. Even though she stayed a few houses away from Sylas’s apartment, Leah had to ensure no one saw her. Mrs. Cameron’s been to his place before; she's been there before, but not this early. She had to be careful. The apartment where he stayed was in an active community. Who knows if someone she knew lives in the area? It doesn’t hurt to be cautious. The joggers and dog-walkers were already running laps around the streets before returning home to prepare for work. Leah had her car blend in among the others, sleeping. Right after Paul left the house, Leah scrambled upstairs to get ready. Meticulous, she had the outfit planned for another surprise visit. She even packed food for Pat’s fridge. Subsequently reading the note, Leah's thoughts of Patrick Sylas amplified. She was tickled pink. None of her previous hookups made her feel that. She isn’t the type to bea

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 15.2

    Suspicious Thoughts The water stopped. “Why was there a receipt in your archives for revealing underwear?” Paul remembered his tone was aggressive. “I wanted to do something special, but I know how tiring managing Spice can get,” Leah whimpered, lips trembling slightly. “I never got to do it -That’s why I’m sorry I hid it from you, dear.” “You could have told me sooner, love. I’ve been dying to free my schedule,” Paul recalled saying. He was analyzing their conversation in the kitchen minutes ago. Leah, her tone was honest but hid her eyes while in his embrace. His manhood wouldn’t allow it. “Tsk, who is she fooling?” Paul closed his eyes, preventing clear water from getting in. Rubbing both eyes with one hand, he wiped his face, letting the trickles fall on the wet tiles. He finished showering, yet he can't move on from yesterday and this morning’s incidents. He opened the shower's glass door and grabbed his towel from the nearby rack. He proceeded to dry himself on the spot.

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 15.1

    Deceitful Indulgence Patrick Sylas loosely jotted something down. He wasn’t sure if it was gibberish or if he was writing what he saw. Whatever he scribbled, it was beyond the purpose of their meeting. Editor Sylas glanced down, his dark brows furrowed. He managed to write something coherent. Annoyed, he ripped the page clean off and folded it twice. Pat stuffed it in between random areas to forget about it. He was lucky. The staff seated in front and on his side were too busy to watch his movements. The mood changed after their meal. Sylas sat cross-legged at the end of the bench. Every staff member was busy brainstorming to the right and in front of the connected bars near him. Each head seemed caught in an individual bubble, all except him. He wasn’t sure if Cameron told them to continue without him, but everyone was engaged. It seemed convenient. No one cocked their heads up to see the three persons inside. Patrick was alone, observing discreetly. A scene played out between Mr

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 14

    The Reasons Ding~ The automated bell chimed in the metallic elevator box, and the steel doors opened right after. Keanu dropped the call. He knew well enough to behave while still on the clock. Hopefully, Mrs. Lewis’s number is filed in a throw-away sim if things don’t go according to plan. The phone still on hand, CEO West walked to Sec. Lee’s desk. A warm empty mug sat beside a cleared desk. The blond woman had word docs open on her screen, typing away her boss’s schedule for the next day. The day would have been longer if she had been alone. Luckily tasks were divided, leaving her to take care of half the paperwork. Ms. Lee had her day sorted out. All that remained was the CEO’s schedule. The said schedule has almost ready for printing. When Dina glanced up, she found CEO West walking toward her station. He stopped right in front of her. Dina saved the docs before turning to face him. Based on the time on her screen, the meeting didn’t go so well. If it did, Mr. West wouldn’t b

  • The Games We Play   Chapter 13

    Under His Nose "No." "Oh no." "Oh fudge, no!" “You’ve got to be kidding me!” "Think, Kitty, think." Mrs. Lewis stood stiff as a rock. Standing there for a moment, stuck in her internal turmoil, Kitty knew what she needed to do but still figured out the timing. She was also glad John stopped ringing the doorbell. Kitty didn't want to seem rude to Paul; she had just met him and didn't want to make a wrong first impression. If today were only yesterday, Kitty would have barged out the front gate and given John-crazed-stalker-Evans a piece of her mind, but they have people over from Paul's work. Now Kitty was left to think of an excuse to leave abruptly. Kitty was also hoping that Leah would notice too and excuse her, but she was a few feet away in the kitchen. "Kitty, was it?" Kitty jumped after hearing Paul's unexpectedly deep voice. He stood behind her. On instinct, she locked her elbows, turned to face him, and politely smiled. "Yes?" "You enjoying yourself? You look tense.

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