Chapter 29 Heat in the Hallway

Chapter 29 Heat in the Hallway
Dante 

“Seriously? You’re not busy?” Louis asked, pointing at the table in front of us. “Does this look like we’re not busy?”

My eyes followed his hand and I sighed.

The table was buried under open case files, confiscated knives, two handguns we were supposed to log an hour ago, and three cups of coffee that had gone cold judging by the film on top.

“We’re definitely busy,” I muttered.

“Exactly. And you’re not even at the office. You’re like an hour away. There’s no way you’re getting there on time unless you plan to throw away our important work… and rush to meet the girl.”

“She’s a young woman. And that’s exactly what I plan to do,” I said, grabbing my jacket.

“That’s not fair,” Louis complained. “I left my work to attend to this on your call. And now you’re going to leave me here?”

“I know,” I said, pausing with my jacket half on. “And I’m not dumping everything on you. Sort the knives and the paperwork. I’ll handle the logging when I get back. You won’t be stuck with it.”

Louis folded his arms. “You better. Because I’m not touching those handguns alone.”

“I’ll take care of them,” I said. “And I’ll bring coffee on my way back—hot ones, not these corpses.”

That finally eased the annoyance on his face.

“Fine,” he sighed. 

Louis finally let me go, and I stepped out into the hallway, already dialing the elevator. My mind should’ve been on the files we left scattered across the table, but all I could think about was Marilyn saying, It’s time for stage two.

The elevator doors opened. I got in, hit the ground floor, and the metal box hummed downward. As soon as I had a signal again, my texts rolled in—three group messages, one reminder from HR, and a missed call I didn’t notice earlier.

Marilyn.

I exhaled once and pushed out of the elevator when it reached the lobby. The air outside was sharp and cold, biting at the back of my neck as I crossed the parking lot. My car beeped open. The moment the engine started, I was already pulling out.

Traffic wasn’t on my side. Too many cars, too many people doing whatever they wanted in the middle of the road. I switched lanes twice, cut through a side street, and ignored one honking taxi. Every minute felt longer than it should’ve been.

By the time I pulled up in front of the company building, her name flashed on my phone again—Marilyn calling.

But when I brought the phone to my ear, I didn’t hear her voice.

I heard yelling.

Not from the phone, from inside the building.

My jaw tightened as I pocketed my phone and headed in.

The front lobby was loud as soon as the doors slid open. People were craning their necks, whispering, pretending not to stare while absolutely staring. A few employees stepped aside including Tom, when they saw me coming; others tried to look busy.

As I got closer to my department hallway, the voice sharpened—female, irritated, too loud for a professional floor.

“You think because of a few photos you can walk in here and talk to people however you want?”

The voice alone told me it was my secretary.

I stopped at the doorway.

She was standing in front of Marilyn who was sitting on a stool, relaxed, legs crossed, phone pressed to her ear.

My phone vibrated again.

I checked the screen.

Incoming call: Marilyn.

So she wasn’t talking to the secretary.

She was talking to me.

I stepped fully into the room. Heads turned. A few people parted like they weren’t sure if they should clear the way or run.

“What’s going on here?” I asked.

And just like that, the room shifted its attention entirely.

MARILYN POV

Turns out… Dante’s ex isn’t the only bitter bitch in his orbit. Heaven knows how many more are hiding in this building.

I made a mental note to force Dante to tell me about his private life later, but for now, my attention stayed on the rude secretary.

“You don’t have an appointment with my boss, so leave,” she said without even looking at me properly.

“You’re right,” I said. “But please call him and tell him I’m here. He’s expecting me.”

She scoffed. Actually scoffed.

“You really think you can show up here with that attitude and expect—”

“I don’t have an attitude,” I cut in. “I have patience. And it’s currently being wasted. So please… call him.”

“No.” She crossed her arms. “And you can’t sit here, either. This isn’t a waiting area for influencers who think the world owes them something. So I suggest you leave before I call security to kick you out.”

I blinked slowly.

She does know who I am, Interesting.

I lowered myself onto the narrow stool anyway, deliberately comfortable.

“I’ll wait.”

Her voice shot up an octave. “You can’t sit there!”

“Sorry,” I said, scrolling through my phone. “I can’t hear you through all the unnecessary noise you’re making.”

That almost made her choke.

People around us pretended to type while very clearly listening. One guy even angled his chair like this was cable TV.

I hate that this was happening in Dante’s company. And I hate it more that Tom is somewhere enjoying me being embarrassed by Dante’s secretary.  But I couldn't afford to leave. That would be embarrassing.

So I rather Dante come here and sort this out.

“So just because you graced Dante’s bed now you think you can come here and boss people around? I said leave you Slut!”

Ah. There it was.

The jealousy and anger all because of the thought of Dante dating someone that isn't her.

I didn’t bother looking up.

“What I think,” I said calmly, “is that you don’t know what you’re talking about. And that you’re wasting your own time more than mine.”

She let out a frustrated breath. “Get. Up.”

“No. I'm calling your boss right now to speak to you.”

She rushed to my front as though trying to snatch my phone away from me, when a voice stopped her right in her steps.

“What’s going on here?”

The secretary spun around like she’d been caught stealing.

I smiled as I looked up to see Dante.