Chapter 31: Lines in the Sand

Emma froze, the papers still in her hands. She set them back down slowly.

Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Cole leaned back in his chair. “I said she’ll stay. We’re not finished.”

“You’ve been in here with her for hours!” Chloe’s voice was rising. “You couldn’t even return my call earlier, but you have time to sit here going over spreadsheets with her?”

“I told you,” Cole said, calm but sharp. “She’s working. That’s her job.”

Chloe scoffed. “Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid. I can see what this is.”

Emma’s stomach twisted. “Ms. Blackwood, I really don’t mind leaving. I..”

“Sit down,” Cole ordered, not even looking at her.

Emma sank back into the chair, clutching her pen like a lifeline.

Chloe stepped closer to the desk, her eyes flashing. “You’d rather embarrass me in front of her than come with me when I ask? Is that what you’re saying?”

Cole’s expression didn’t change. “I’m saying I’m busy.”

“With her,” Chloe shot back. “Always with her.”

Emma wished she could disappear. The air felt thick with tension, and every second made it worse. She tried to keep her eyes on the file, pretending to read, but Chloe’s voice made it impossible.

“You expect me to just accept this?” Chloe demanded. “That she gets more of your time than I do?”

Cole stood then, his height towering over both of them. His voice was low but firm. “You will not make a scene in my office.”

Chloe’s lips curled. “Oh, I’m already making a scene. Maybe you’ll finally listen.”

Emma whispered, “I’ll wait outside.”

“No,” Cole said immediately. His eyes flicked to Emma for a second before going back to Chloe. “You’ll stay exactly where you are.”

Emma’s throat went dry. She couldn’t move even if she wanted to.

Chloe’s hands clenched at her sides. “Unbelievable. Do you even hear yourself? You’re choosing her over me right now.”

Cole’s jaw tightened. “I’m not choosing anything, i’m working. If you can’t understand that, then leave.”

The silence that followed was sharp. Chloe’s eyes blazed, and Emma could feel the weight of it even though it wasn’t directed at her.

“You think you can just dismiss me?” Chloe hissed. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Cole’s voice dropped even lower. “Then sit down and wait until I’m finished.”

Chloe let out a bitter laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

Emma wanted to disappear into the floor. Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t even look at either of them. She stared at the paper in front of her, the words blurring together.

Finally, Chloe leaned forward, her voice cutting. “This isn’t over.”

Emma sat back down at her desk, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She kept shuffling the same papers around, pretending to be busy, even though she couldn’t focus. Cole’s door was closed again, and Chloe’s heels had already disappeared down the hall. The silence felt thick, like everyone was waiting for something.

James leaned over from his side. “What was that about? She looked ready to bite someone’s head off.”

Emma forced a shrug. “I don’t know. Work stuff, I guess.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Work stuff? She was yelling your name.”

“I really don’t know,” Emma said, sharper than she meant.

James held his hands up. “Alright, alright. Just asking.” He leaned back in his chair, but his eyes kept flicking toward Cole’s office like he was still curious.

Emma rubbed her temples. The whole confrontation left her drained. She could still see Chloe’s face, tight with anger, and Cole’s calm expression behind his desk. He hadn’t even raised his voice. That almost made it worse.

Maria passed by, carrying a stack of files. She slowed near Emma’s desk. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Emma lied.

Maria gave her a small look, the kind that said she didn’t believe it, but she didn’t push. She kept walking.

Emma stared at her computer screen, but the words blurred. She could feel Cole’s presence even with his door shut. She hated that.

James leaned over again. “You know… if she’s got it out for you, maybe you should talk to HR.”

Emma shook her head. “I’m not going to HR.”

“Why not?” He asked.

“Because it’ll just make things worse.”

James frowned. “Still, you shouldn’t just sit there and take it.”

Emma gave him a look. “Can you drop it?”

“Fine,” he muttered, going back to his own work.

The office settled into a strange quiet. Phones rang, keyboards clicked, but everyone seemed more alert, like Chloe might come storming back any second.

Half an hour later, Cole’s door finally opened. Emma kept her eyes down, pretending to type, but she could see him out of the corner of her eye. He stepped into the main office, scanned the room, and said, “Emma, in my office. Now.”

Her stomach flipped. She stood too quickly, bumping her chair. Everyone looked at her, though they tried not to be obvious about it.

She followed him in. He closed the door behind her, and the sound echoed too loud in the small space.

“Sit,” he said.

She sat.

Cole leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “What happened out there?”

Emma swallowed. “She came in asking for you.”

“And?” He asked.

“And she didn’t like that you told her to wait.”

He studied her face. “She blamed you for that?”

Emma looked down at her hands. “Sort of.”

Cole’s jaw tightened. “That’s not acceptable.”

“It’s fine,” Emma said quickly.

“No,” he said, firm. “It’s not fine. She doesn’t get to come in here and use you as a target because she doesn’t get her way.”

Cole leaned forward a little. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I responded.

“You don’t look fine.” He said, looking at me like he was trying to point out something.

“I said I’m fine,” she repeated, maybe too quickly.

His eyes stayed on her, steady, like he was waiting for her to crack. She stared at the desk instead.

Finally, he said, “You don’t have to let her get to you. I won’t allow it.”

Emma frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, this is my office. I decide who gets my time, not her. You were doing your job. She had no right to walk in here and treat you like that.”

Emma didn’t know what to say. The words sounded nice, but she didn’t trust them.

Cole must have noticed her silence. His tone softened, just a little. “Emma. Did she scare you?”

Her throat felt tight. “No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You hesitated.”

Emma shook her head. “She just caught me off guard. That’s all.”

Cole studied her for a long moment. Then he said, “You’re not alone in this. Remember that.”

Emma blinked at him. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I can see when someone is under pressure and you are. I don’t want you thinking you have to deal with it by yourself.”

Emma gave a small, nervous laugh. “You say that like you’re going to fix everything.”

“Maybe I am,” Cole said simply.

She stared at him, unsure if he was serious. His face didn’t give anything away.

Then his phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the moment. He glanced at it, frowned, and picked it up. “I’ll deal with this later. You can go.”

Emma stood slowly. Her knees felt weak, though she wasn’t sure why. She opened the door and stepped back into the office.