Switch Mode

Feared 85

Feared 85

Emily 

I returned to my desk the next morning with the quiet determination of someone trying not to be watched

The halls were as polished and orderly as ever, but something in the air had shifted. Nothing was obvious, something just felt…. 

off

Whispers didn’t carry far, but they didn’t need to. The silence said enough

I moved through the outer ke I always didtablet in hand head highbut the conversations didn’t resume as I passed

Two junior analysts nodded to 

nowhere to be seen

I knew what this was

quickly. Someone in HR gave me smile that was just a little too tight. And Carla, of course, was 

Rumors. Another recycled tabloid headline that blurred the line between speculation and sabotage. Another fresh layer of humiliation for them to peel apart and analyze like I wasn’t still standing right there

In the quiet of my office, I tried to breathe past the heat rising in my chest. The desk was still mine. The titles still mine. The work still mine

But suddenly, I felt like I was performing it all for an audience that had already made up their minds

I set my bag down, powered up my screen, and dove into logistics reports for the next quarter. Freight paths. Supply scheduling Comparative costs across pack borders. All of it neat, predictable, rational

Såfe

A small formatting inconsistency caught my eyerow alignment on an order ledger off by two lines. Carla had signed off on this

I fixed it myself without comment and made another note in my files

The back of my neck prickled. Someone in the hallway laughedhigh, quick, immediately shushed. I didn’t even want to know if it had anything to do with me

That kind of knowing lived rent free in your mind whether you wanted it to or not. And I wasn’t entertaining squatters today

I forced myself to focus. My fingers stilled only once, when I spotted the calendar notification for a crossPack alliance meeting 

two weeks out

If the headlines kept spinning the way they had been, I’d walk into that room with judgment already painted across their expressions

My focusing worked so well that I didn’t hear him arrive. But I felt it. The door to my office was open. Logan’s presence filled a space with heat

I looked up and there he wasshoulder against the doorframe, sleeves rolled up, expression zeroed in on me

He didn’t say anything. Our eyes met for the briefest moment. Then he gave a single, slow nodacknowledgment, maybe. Or a question he wasn’t ready to ask out loud

Theld his gaze until he turned and walked away

It wasn’t much. But it was enough to unravel me a little

stared at the spot where he’d been, my chest tight and stilling. I’d expected distance. Coldness, maybe. But that lookit hadn’t been either of those things

It had been worry. And something else I didn’t dare name

Chapter 85 

*+25 BONUS 

I didn’t low what that made me feel

No. That wasn’t true. I knew exactly what it made me feel. Seen. But also fragile. Like I couldn’t hold all of this together myself forever

I looked down at the screen again. Logistics. Freight. Numbers that didn’t betray you

I could do this. I had to do this

I could ignore the whispers, silence the nerves, and put my focus where it belonged: on keeping my department functional and my head above the press storm

But for the rest of the day, I couldn’t quite shake the memory of Logan’s eyes

I found him in the sunroom just before duskthough I hadn’t meant to 

The golden light poured in at an 

gle, soft and warm, catching on the edges of the tall windows. Logan stood by the far wall, phone to his ear, flipping through a folder, halflistening as someone on the other side rattled on

He nodded once, said something I couldn’t hear, and then cut off the call

But he didn’t move. He didn’t turn around either. Just let the silence settle between us like it had been waiting 

I lingered by the threshold, unsure if I should step back or forward 

You’re not avoiding me, are you?he asked, still facing the windows

I crossed my arms. No. You asked me to take this position seriously.” 

I did.He finally turned. And you are. That’s not what I asked.” 

The light behind him made it harder to read his expression, but I didn’t need to see his eyes to feel the weight of the question

I stepped into the room, the heels of my shoes sharp on the polished wood

There’s talk,I said. About me. About us.” 

There always will be,he replied. We’ve known that since the contract was signed.” 

I didn’t think it would be this cruel.My voice was steadier than felt

He took a step toward me. Then another. I can issue a formal statement,he said. Push back.” 

That’ll only make it worse. They’ll think it hit a nerve.” 

He stopped just shy of where I stood. Then come with me.” 

I blinked. What?” 

There’s a gallery opening tomorrow night. Neutral ground. No politics. No donors. Just Packaffiliated artists and some press. Come with me.” 

The request was simple enough on the surface. But I saw the calculation behind itLogan, weighing angles, framing optics. Trying to shield me from something he couldn’t control

Won’t that just add fuel to it?I asked. Showing up together like it’s a show of unity?” 

He didn’t answer immediately. And when he did, his voice was softer

It’s not a show to me.” 

I inhaled through my nose, exhaled slowly. The air was thick with unspoken things

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to stand beside him without secondguessing what it would cost me

Chapter 85 

But I couldn’t

Not with the press sharpening their knives. Not with every expression analyzed, every breath turned into a headline

Not this time,I said quietly

His jaw tensed, just slightly. But he nodded. Once

I understand,he said

I wasn’t sure if he did. Or if I even wanted him to

The sun shifted behind the windows, casting long shadows across the floor. For a moment, neither of us moved

I appreciate the offer,I added, trying to soften the edge I’d left between us

I don’t offer things I don’t mean,he said

I looked up at him then. And I hated how badly I wanted to believe him

I just need to stay out of the spotlight for a while,I murmured. Until things calm down.” 

And when they don’t?His voice was low

I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t know. I wasn’t used to all this

I turned to leave, my fingers grazing the frame of the sunroom door as I passed

His voice stopped me before I reached the hall

I see you, Emily. Even when they don’t.” 

” 

425 BONUS 

I paused. But I didn’t look back. Because if I did, I might not leave. And right now, leaving felt like the safer choice for my heart

Chapter 86

Feared

Feared

Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type:
Feared

Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Options

not work with dark mode
Reset