All Chapters of BEHIND OFFICE DOORS: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

A deep, firm voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere, commanding attention and halting the brewing conflict between Laura and her coworkers. It was the CEO of the company.“What’s going on here?” He demanded, his voice stern and unyielding, laced with authority.The troublemakers, caught off guard and sensing the power shift, quickly scrambled to distance themselves from the scene. “Nothing, sir!” they answered in unison, their voices dripped with false innocence, their expressions smug. They couldn't help but feel satisfied by the emotional pain they’d just inflicted on Laura.Still boiling with frustration and anger, Laura felt her control slipping. She wept uncontrollably, a mixture of emotions clouded her composure as she looked her boss in the eye. The disgust and anger she had tried so hard to shield her face from, poured out in an uncontrollable flow of tears. Without answering, she took her cleaning supplies and turned away from the scene, bitterly crushing all the h

Having come to terms that her tears and worries could not conjure the funds required for the treatment of her ailing mother; Laura was the first to interrupt the unsettling silence with a desperate appeal.“Sir, I don’t have that kind of money at the moment,” she began her sentence shivering. “Please, can you start the treatment? I promise I’ll pay as soon as I can. I just need some time to arrange it.”The doctor’s expression remained stern as he responded, “I’m sorry, Laura, but we can’t begin treatment without the $1,000 payment upfront. Our policy requires it before we can proceed.” His tone left no room for negotiation and signaled his unwillingness to bend the rules.Puzzled, Laura stared at her mother for a while before switching her attention towards the doctor and racking her brain for something to say. A flicker of determination kindled in Laura’s eyes as she sensed a chord tingling in her mind. I think I know what to do, she whispered, almost gingerly under the context of

The lowering of the fading sun cast a shadowy presence over the towering structures upon the street as Laura scurried on the pavement and her heart thumped and paced.She pressed her palm to her ribs as she gasped and was frantic. Laura reached out with her fingers to grab her handbag, which she knew contained money for a taxi to take her away from Fred and the troubling incident that had her head in confusion.Her hand met nothing but the fabric of her dress, and a sick realization washed over her. She’d left her purse on the counter, right there, right where Fred could still be lingering. Her heart sank like a stone. She couldn’t go back; the idea of facing him again filled her with dread. She looked around, feeling trapped as shadows crept across the sidewalks, swallowing the street in a dim, unsettling haze.In a hurry, she rushed to the sidewalk’s border and settled herself into a battered wooden stool placed outside a shut shop. Clutching the edges of her head, she attempted t

As much as she would like to shake off the persistence of the terrible feeling of fear she felt, Laura assuredly looked calm on the outside. Determined, she gritted her teeth, looked up at Fred, and equally bore the gaze of Fred’s eyes at her, refusing to be intimidated. She would not let him see how scared he made her.Fred broke the silence, his tone casual but his smile unsettling. “At least you could be polite enough to say hi, my lady.” He said as he tilted his head and studied her as though waiting for her to respond with something more than silence.Laura clenched her jaw, pushing down the urge to recoil. She forced herself to respond, her voice tinged with disgust. “What do you want from me, Fred? And how did you even know I was here?”.Fred’s smile deepened a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Walls have ears, darling,” he replied smoothly. “A little bird told me.”His gaze swept over her, lingering as though assessing every detail. “The dress suits you, though,” he added, r

“Is Jack safe?” Laura’s voice was barely a whisper, the question slipped from her lips as if voicing it could ease the tightness in her chest. Her heart beat a frenzied rhythm.She took a deep breath and cast one last glance toward the street as she forced herself to step back into the cozy, softly lit cafe.Her mind raced as she approached the counter, her thoughts tangled and pressed. She needed answers.“Fred took the child away in his vehicle,” she finally said, her voice quivering as she locked eyes with Jerry. “Why would he do that?” The question lingered in the air, carrying an undertone of desperation that she couldn’t hide.Jerry’s brows shot up, his surprise evident as he turned to look at her. “Fred? When?” He asked, blinking away his shock. He glanced at the line of customers but didn’t seem in any hurry to attend to them; something about Laura’s expression held him in place.Laura clenched her hands, willing herself to stay calm, though unease gnawed at her like a rele