chapter 42

Leigh’s POV

I sat down, trying to steady my breath, but then I saw him. Mikel. He was standing by the coffee machine, acting casual, as if the last few days hadn’t happened, as if the tension in the office wasn’t because of him. The same smug look I had come to know so well was still plastered on his face, and his eyes flicked to me, almost daring me to make a move.

I wasn’t going to let him win. Not today.

The buzz of the office seemed to drown out everything around me, the whispers becoming more audible. It felt like the whole room was waiting for something to happen, and I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

I stood up abruptly, not giving myself time to second-guess. I walked toward him, my steps firm, my mind set. My heart was pounding in my chest as I approached, but I pushed everything down. There was no time for fear. No time for weakness.

When I was just behind him, I stopped. The weight of the tension in the air was palpable, almost suffocating,