Chapter 256

I woke up to a chorus of birds outside my window, their cheerful chirping more irritating than peaceful. The events of yesterday played on an endless loop in my mind as I dragged myself out of bed. A quick glance at the clock confirmed what I dreaded – it was time to face another chaotic day at the firm.

I dressed in autopilot mode, the routine helping to distract my thoughts temporarily. The mirror reflected a facade of composure, but my eyes betrayed the restless night I had spent tossing and turning. I tried to cover it up with come concealer, though it did little to hide my tired eyes.

Arriving at the firm, an eerie hush enveloped the usually bustling office. The sense of unease was present, lingering like an ominous fog. My colleagues exchanged furtive glances and whispered in hushed tones, their apprehension mirroring my own.

I tried to dive into my work, burying myself in spreadsheets and reports, seeking solace in the familiar rhythm of tasks. Yet, with every click of the keyboard, I heard Jasper’s name being whispered in secret. He and his uncle had left quite a presence.

Attempting to shake off the unease, I decided to address everyone in the room, determined to rally their spirits.

"Come on, everyone," I said with forced cheer, "We can't let Jasper throw us off, as that’s exactly what he wants. It was just a scare tactic, nothing more."

The response was a mixture of nervous nods and uneasy smiles.

Emily, usually the epitome of confidence, spoke up hesitantly, her voice tinged with concern. "But Evie, have you seen the news? The firm has been getting a lot of bad publicity since Mr. Erickson's... incident."

My heart sank. I already knew that the scandal with Erickson wouldn’t be contained within these walls, especially since it had been broadcast for all to see. It would always be there to stain our reputation.

"Look," I began, trying to muster courage in my own words, "We can't control what's out there, but we can control how we respond. We need to stay focused, keep doing what we do best, and show the world that we won't be shaken by this."

As I spoke, doubt gnawed at my resolve. I had become the only brave face they had. It was worse considering I was barely holding myself together at the moment, but there was no time for failure.

"Evie, are you alright?" Emily's voice startled me, and I realized that I had been drifting off.

I forced a smile, attempting to mask the turmoil brewing within. "Of course, Emily. Just had a long night, but I’ll be fine after a hug cup of coffee."

But her concerned gaze pierced through my facade. "Hey, we're all in this together. Just let me know where I can pick up the slack, okay?"

"I appreciate it, Emily," I said, mustering a smile.

The front doors swung open and my heart leaped. I feared another encounter with Jasper and Mr. Litchfield, but was quickly taken aback when Timothy walked in. He had a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and take-out bag in the other.

A small gasp escaped my lips. "Timothy, what a surprise! I didn't expect to see you here."

“Hey!” He glanced around, noting the commotion around us. "Is this a bad time?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

I managed a weak smile and took his arm, steering him in the opposite direction. "No, no, come to my office," I replied.

As we settled in my office, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, momentarily distracting me from the tension that still hung thick in the room. I took a long sip of the coffee he’d handed me, relishing in the vanilla flavor.

“Exactly what I needed. Thank you,” I said, opening the bag to see that he’d brought me a donut as well.

"You were gone before I could take you to work this morning," Timothy said, a slight furrow in his brow.

I hesitated, my mind scrambling for a plausible explanation. "I... had to leave early this morning," I replied, avoiding his gaze.

A hint of skepticism flickered in his eyes. "I could've woken up earlier too, you know," he said, his voice gentle but probing.

My pulse quickened. "Timothy, you and the others don't need to do this," I said, my tone edging toward frustration. "Doting on me all the time, it's not necessary."

He leaned back, his expression earnest. "Evie, it's really no problem," he insisted.

I sighed, leaning and leaned back in my chair. "I appreciate it, I do," I said quickly. "But there's so much happening right now, and I don't want you to get caught up in it."

Timothy reached out, his hand resting gently on mine. "Then I’ll get caught up in it. I need…I need to know that you’ll be okay. Lately, I’ve just been on edge whenever I can’t see you.”

I opened my mouth to repsond, to assure him that I was alright, but the sincerity in his gaze silenced me. Timothy's next words struck a chord deep within me, his confession catching me off guard. "I’m scared for you, Evie. I'm scared that I'll lose you if I turn my back, even for a second."

His vulnerability touched me in a way I hadn't expected. The walls I had built around myself, the facade I had clung to, began to crumble. "Timothy, I..." I struggled to find the words, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak.

He reached out, his hand grazing my cheek. "Just…don’t’ face this alone," he said. “I’m here.”

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as a rush of emotions overwhelmed me. "Okay," I whispered, the weight of his words sinking in. "You can continue driving me for a while, but I'll have to be on my own at some point."

He nodded, a smile emerging. "I understand.”

Attempting to shift the weight of the conversation, Timothy changed the subject. "So, what was all the chaos in the office about?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to divulge. "Jasper," I said, and that seemed to explain it all as his expression darkened. "He's causing problems, even after being fired."

Timothy's expression hardened. "So you got rid of him," he said, a note of admiration in his voice.

Before I could respond, Timothy stood up and locked the office door. Then he turned to me, his expression giving nothing away as he approached me with slow, casual steps.

I gasped as he grabbed my waist and pressed me against my desk, his voice low and seductive. "You know, being a boss looks sexy on you," he murmured before drawing me into a kiss.

My heart raced, caught between surprise and an unexpected rush of emotions. His lips on mine felt electrifying, and for a moment, the chaos of the world outside melted away. The desire to lose myself in that moment flickered within.

"Timothy, wait," I managed to say between breaths, "Someone might come in..."

But the intensity of his touch, the urgency in his actions, weakened my resolve. My mind warred between the thrill of the moment and the fear of being caught in such an unprofessional situation.

He started working at the buttons of my blouse, and he planted soft kisses in the crook of my neck. His fingers then slid dangerously along my thigh, hiking up my skirt as they teased the lace of my panties.

Before things could escalate further, a sharp knock at my door shattered the charged atmosphere. We quickly separated, straightening our disheveled appearance in a frantic rush. I ignored Timothy’s wide grin as he went to unlock the door.

"Come in," I called out, my voice strained as I tried to compose myself.

My coworker, Faith, peeked in, her expression anxious. "Evie, there's someone here to see you," she said, her tone urgent.

I nodded, swallowing hard to mask the flutter of nerves within me. "Thank you, I'll be right there," I replied, exchanging a glance with Timothy. Thankfully, Faith didn’t comment on it, but I could see a hint of humor in her eyes.

Something to add to the office gossip, I suppose.

As soon as she left, I turned to Timothy. "Well, I guess I have to go handle business,” I said, biting my lip.

Timothy nodded, his lustful gaze lingering on me. "As expected.”

Straightening my blouse and smoothing down my skirt, I took a deep breath, willing myself to compose before stepping out into the hallway.