Chapter 44 My Office

Chapter 44 My Office
Zoey

By the time I finally plopped down at my desk, my legs felt like they were made of glass, shaky, fragile, ready to shatter with the slightest nudge. I let the remaining documents fall onto the table and took a shaky breath, pressing my palm against my chest to steady the wild thumping of my heart.

Leo’s voice still rang in my ears. I’d seen him angry before, but today felt different. There was something simmering beneath his fury, something colder and quieter, far more terrifying than mere rage. He was coming apart at the seams. And honestly, that scared me more than I cared to admit.

I was meant to be furious with him for sabotaging my work, no, I should have been livid, but I couldn’t even bring myself to meet his gaze, not with the storm brewing in his eyes.

How could you be such a coward, Zoey? I mentally slapped myself.

It felt like the world was spinning too fast, and I was holding onto nothing, especially since my office felt like a glass house where everyone could see right through me.

I sat there, smoothing my skirt, trying to shake off the feeling that everyone’s eyes were still on me. The office was eerily quiet, as if everyone sensed the tension and had collectively decided to hide away in their cubicles until the storm passed.

Leo Thorne was a hurricane wrapped in human skin. And lately, I felt like I was standing right in the path of his lightning.

I took a deep breath, my fingers brushing the side of my neck where the sweat had cooled. God, I hated how he affected me, not in the romantic way those ridiculous rumor-mongers whispered about, but in that gut-wrenching, your-nervous-system-thinks-you’re-going-to-die kind of way.

He used to be a different person. Or maybe he always was, and I just hadn’t noticed the sharp edges behind that charming smile until now. I pulled a file closer, trying to focus on the words, but they just danced around on the page, refusing to settle. My mind was still back in that office, fixated on him.

Why did he do it?
What was the point of sabotaging me?

Everyone seemed to think he did it to ruin my life. Some whispered it was out of jealousy. Others speculated he had a twisted obsession, a need for power, a way to remind everyone who was really in control.

But then… There were those moments when he looked at me, a mix of anger and protectiveness in his gaze, and it just didn’t add up. I despised things that didn’t make sense.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I flinched instinctively. With everything going on lately, who knew what kind of news a text could bring?

Great. My nerves were still shot.

I glanced down at the screen, reading a message from the HR group chat.

“Office meeting postponed due to ‘internal matters.’”

Internal matters.
That could only mean Leo.

I rubbed my temples, feeling the pressure in my head tighten like a vice. I needed water. Or fresh air. Or maybe a new job, one where my coworkers weren’t secret criminals or men who could devour entire empires for breakfast.

I stood up, grabbed my notebook, and pushed my chair back.
“Just five minutes,” I murmured to myself. “Five minutes to catch my breath.”

As I made my way to the break room, I could feel the whispers following me. I chose to ignore them. I had become quite skilled at that lately. Leo Thorne’s downfall had my name tangled in the headlines, making me feel like a tragic side character in someone else’s drama.

Poor assistant caught in the crossfire.
Was she involved?
Was she sleeping with him?
Did she betray him?

Rumors, rumors, rumors.

I had learned to keep my chin up and pretend they didn’t suffocate me.

The break room was blissfully empty, thank goodness. I poured myself a glass of water, the cold tap sending a jolt through my fingers. Leaning against the counter, I let the chill wash over me.

When he asked if I really thought his father would toss him out over “one employee,” something in his voice changed. It wasn’t arrogance, not quite. It felt like… pain. A bruised ego. A deeper hurt he didn’t want me to see.

Why did he care about my opinion?

And why did I care?

I took a long sip of water, trying to drown my questions in it.

The truth was straightforward: Leo scared me. Not because he was powerful, power didn’t intimidate me.  It was his intentions that unsettled me. The uncertainty that surrounded him.

And Leo… he was a locked vault, and I didn’t have the key.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Just for a moment. Just to—

“Zoey.”

I jumped, nearly spilling my drink.

Ethan.

Just my luck, as if my heart hadn’t taken enough hits today. He stood in the doorway, concern etched across his face. He looked like someone who always bore the weight of everyone else’s troubles, and for some foolish reason, I always wanted to lighten that load for him.

“You okay?” he asked gently.

No. I wasn’t.

“Yes,” I fibbed. “Just needed some water.”

He stepped closer. My heart raced, a different kind of flutter than what Leo caused. “Are you sure?”

“It’s fine. Really.” I replied, avoiding his gaze, which seemed to want to pry the truth right out of me.

“It’s not,” he said softly. “And you don’t have to pretend it is.”

For a moment, my eyes burned. I blinked them clear. Crying wasn’t an option, not here, not ever again.

“You knew him before I did,” I whispered. “Was he always like this?”

Ethan hesitated, and that silence spoke volumes.

“No,” he finally replied. “He used to be… human.”

Used to be. Past tense.

I swallowed hard. “People change.”

“Not like this,” he said softly. “This isn’t change. This is… damage.”

Before I could say anything else, the elevator dinged. Heavy footsteps echoed, and Ethan and I turned in unison to see Leo approaching. His gaze landed on me first, then shifted to Ethan. His expression remained unchanged, and I suddenly felt like a live wire caught between two opposing forces.

“Zoey,” Leo said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “My office. Now.”

Just like that, it was a command, no explanation needed.

I whispered, “I’m on break.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t care.”

Ethan stepped forward slightly. “She said she’s—”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Leo interrupted sharply. “You’re not my secretary.”

The tension between them was palpable, like watching a storm brewing. Ethan’s fists were clenched, while Leo didn’t even flinch.

I set my cup down and cleared my throat. “I’ll come in a moment.”

Leo’s gaze met mine again. And it wasn’t angry; it was… conflicted. Like he wanted to pull me to safety and tear me apart all at once.

He gave a small nod, one I almost missed. “You see that? She’s my secretary. My secretary, not yours.” Then he turned and walked away.

As soon as he was gone, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Ethan gently touched my elbow. “You don’t have to go.”

“I’ll be fine,” I whispered. “I need to know where this is all heading.”

And I wasn’t just talking about work anymore. Just before I walked away, I heard Ethan’s voice again, “be careful.”