Chapter 241: What Did He Do?

Holly's POV

I shouldn’t feel excited or even moved about what he said…but I do. And that scared the shit out of me.

I started coughing…hard…like I’d inhaled my own spit. He reached over, patting my back gently until I waved him off, face flaming.

We didn’t talk about it again. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward exactly… more like charged. Heavy with possibility I wasn’t ready to unpack at almost 9 in the morning.

"Thank you," I said eventually, softer. "For last night. For the cocoa, the story, the… everything. And for not being a creep."

He smiled, warm and genuine. "My pleasure, Holly."

A minute later, he pulled into the drive-thru of that little diner near my office…the one with the killer breakfast sandwiches. He ordered without asking: egg, cheese, bacon on a croissant for me, black coffee for him, and a latte on the side.

When he handed me the bag, the smell hit me like heaven. "I was starving," I admitted, clutching it gratefully. "Thank you."

"Suspected as much," he said with a grin.

I eyed the sandwich, calculating. If I started eating now, I’d still be chewing when we pulled up, crumbs everywhere, looking like a mess. I don’t eat in a hurry…never have. "I’ll wait till I’m at my desk."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not dig in now?"

"Because David left, like, a dozen missed calls. I’m already late. I don’t want to walk in with sandwich in my mouth and give him more ammo."

Tyler nodded slowly, expression unreadable. "Got it."

We drove the last few blocks in quiet. When he pulled up outside the building, I didn’t wait for him to come around…I bolted out, bag and latte in hand, heels clicking fast on the pavement.

"Holly—wait!" He caught up in seconds, gently grabbing my arm to stop me. "Catch your breath."

I stopped, chest heaving, and he reached up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear with this soft touch that made everything slow down for a second.

"Have a day as beautiful as you are," he said quietly. "What time should I pick you up?"

My brain flashed to the mission…Amber’s desperate confession from yesterday about that douchebag ex boyfriend who wouldn’t stop harassing her. I’d arranged to meet with him by 7pm. I can’t tell Tyler about it and I can’t mess that up again.

So, I used the easiest route. "I’ll let you know later, okay? Might be late."

He nodded, then leaned in and kissed my cheek…soft, lingering just a beat too long. "Text me."

I smiled, flustered, and turned to run into the building, blending into the morning rush of suits and coffee cups. For once, I actually looked like a real office goer…serious outfit, hair neat, on a mission.

The elevator doors were sliding shut when I spotted it…lunged forward and stuck my hand in to stop them.

And that turned out to be a big mistake. Because when they reopened, he was there.

David.

Standing alone in the corner, hands in his pockets, shoulders tense. He looked dangerously hot in that dark suit, hair perfect, jaw sharp…but his eyes? Stormy. Furious. Like he’d spent the night planning someone’s murder and hadn’t decided whose yet.

He stared at me, unblinking.

I gulped, eyes wide, frozen in the doorway as the elevator beeped impatiently.

The elevator doors slid shut behind me with a soft ding, trapping us in this metal box that suddenly felt way too small. David didn’t move from his spot in the corner, hands still buried in his pockets, but his eyes…God, those eyes…pinned me in place like I was prey he’d been waiting to corner.

I clutched my latte tighter, heart hammering against my ribs. Say something. Anything.

He beat me to it.

“I called,” he said, voice low and smooth, but with this dark edge that made my skin prickle. “Eleven times. You didn’t pick up once.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out at first. “I—”

“And now you stroll in at…” He glanced at his watch, slow and deliberate. “Nine forty-five. Late. Very late.” His lips curved…not quite a smile, more like a predator baring teeth. “Tell me, Holly…did you have so much fun last night that you just couldn’t drag yourself out of bed this morning? Even though you’re somebody’s assistant. Mine, specifically.”

The way he said “fun” made my stomach twist. He knew. Or he thought he knew. And the jealousy rolling off him was thick enough to choke on.

I gulped hard. “I can explain. I overslept. I just… woke up late. That’s all.”

He pushed off the wall, taking one slow step closer. The elevator felt smaller with every inch he erased. “Overslept,” he repeated, tasting the word like it was a lie he enjoyed exposing. “Interesting.”

The air between us crackled. I could smell his cologne…same one he’d worn since I flew here to meet him, the one that always made my knees weak. Still do, traitorously. Despite my sudden conflicted feelings.

“You should prepare yourself,” he said, voice dropping even lower. “Because you’ll be working overtime tonight. At my place.”

My brain short-circuited. “What? Why? That’s not even allowed…my closing time is—”

“Your opening time isn’t nine forty-five,” he cut in smoothly, eyes locked on mine. “But here you are.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him this was insane, that HR would have a field day, that I had plans (kind of), but the elevator dinged again…our floor. The doors slid open.

David stepped out first, long legs carrying him fast down the hall. I scrambled after him, heels clicking frantically as I tried to keep up.

“Mr Hunt…David, wait—”

He didn’t. He reached his office, pushed the door open, and just before I could catch up…slam. The door shut right in my face, hard enough that I flinched back, nearly spilling my latte.

I stood there staring at the frosted glass, pulse racing. What the hell just happened?

Panic bubbled up fast. Overtime at his place? Tonight? And I still had to figure out how to help Amber get rid of that freak. But now my whole evening was hijacked?

What should I do?

My stomach grumbled all of a sudden, reminding me that I should have my breakfast.

I hurried to my desk outside his office, dumping my bag and collapsing into my chair. Hands shaking slightly, I pulled out the sandwich Tyler got me and took a massive bite to calm my nerves.

Hold on.

I froze, sandwich halfway to my mouth again.

Did he just say I’ll be spending the night at his place?

A night? With David?

The thought hit like a lightning bolt straight to my belly. Butterflies…stupid, reckless butterflies…exploded into frantic flight. I almost choked on the bite I’d just taken, coughing as I grabbed the latte and gulped it down too fast, nearly choking again.

Heat pooled low in my stomach, sudden and fierce. What if…what if it wasn’t just work? What if we finally crossed that line we’d been dancing around for weeks? Late night, his place, just us…papers forgotten, tension snapping, clothes coming off…

I went full dreamy for a second…imagining his hands on me, finally not holding back, that dark look turning into something hungry and real.

Then I caught myself. Hard.

Wait. What the hell, Holly?

Didn’t I just feel indifferent yesterday? Like the fire for David was finally dying? I’d woken up on Tyler’s couch feeling…free. Lighter. Excited about someone new who didn’t play games, who tucked stray hairs behind my ear and brought me breakfast without being asked.

And now? One possessive slam of a door and a few loaded words from David, and I’m over the moon? Melting? Fantasizing about a steamy overtime session like some lovesick idiot?

I hated how easily he still got under my skin. Hated how part of me…the old part…wanted to run into his office and demand answers, or apologies, or him. And the new part…the one that laughed with Tyler this morning…was screaming that I deserved better than this hot-and-cold torture.

I was a mess. Pulled in two directions so hard it hurt.

A soft knock on my desk snapped me out of it. Amber stood there, clutching a file, sleeves covering her more than usual. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she’d been crying again.

She handed me the file, and as she leaned in, my gaze drifted to her wrists which got exposed when she dropped the files.

Purple marks. Bruises. Like fingerprints. Or worse…like she’d been chained, grabbed too hard.

“Oh, Amber,” I whispered, heart squeezing painfully. “What did he do?”

All the butterflies vanished. This…this was real. And right now, she needed me more than I needed to untangle my stupid heart.