Chapter 59 CHAPTER 59

Chapter 59 CHAPTER 59
I pushed open the front door, the hinges giving a familiar low creak that echoed through the empty hallway. 

Loud silence quickly pressed in, no footsteps upstairs or voices. I dropped my keys onto the side table with a metallic clink, kicked off my shoes, and padded across the floor to the living room.

The couch cushions sighed under my weight as I sank into them, remote already in hand. 

The screen flickered to life. I scrolled through options, the plastic buttons clicking under my thumb, when my phone buzzed on the coffee table. 

It’s an unknown number. I picked it up, the cool glass pressing against my ear.

“Ayla.” Callen’s voice came through sharp, each word clipped like a blade snapping shut. “Have you forgotten you have a fucking job?”

I leaned back, crossing one ankle over the other. My pulse stayed steady. “I’m planning to come in tomorrow. I don’t feel so good today.”

A sharp inhale crackled on the line. “I don’t fucking care if you don’t feel fine, you have a job. You wanted this, you can’t even commit a few months to a job.”

“I can, but I don’t feel like committing to anything at the moment. But if I do feel better you will be the first person I call.” I said remaining calm to agitated him more.

“You get here soon or you will regret it. Don’t test me.” I rolled my eyes, the ceiling fan spinning lazy circles above. 

Nothing would happen, my mom owns the company who does he think he is. Still, I stood, smoothing my palms down my thighs. Let me just go, I will find a plan to come home early.

I walked to my room, the carpet soft under my bare feet, and pulled open the closet. 

I chose the sleek black blouse and tailored trousers. I dressed quickly, the zipper’s teeth catching with a satisfying zip, slipped on heels that clicked sharply on the floor, and grabbed my bag.

The drive passed in a blur of engine hum. At the office building, the glass doors slid open with a pneumatic hiss, releasing a wave of chilled air scented with printer toner and coffee. 

I took the elevator up, the metal walls reflecting my composed posture back at me. My heels struck the tiled floor in steady rhythm down the corridor until I reached Selena’s office.

I didn’t knock, i’m feeling a bit bold today and I think I have ran out of fucks to give.

The door swung inward silently. Selena sat behind her desk, pen scratching across paper. 

She looked up, her face blank as polished stone, eyes flat. Then she dropped her gaze back to the documents.

“You weren’t on your bed this morning.”

I crossed the room and lowered myself into the chair opposite her, crossing my legs at the knee. “I was with Alex.”

The pen continued its steady scrape. I watched her fingers tighten once around it before relaxing. 

“But I should commend you are very strong.” I said after a moment of silence, my voice low.

She lifted her head, eyes meeting mine directly. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged, letting the corners of my mouth curve into a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, the muscles in my cheeks pulling just so. 

“I mean you’ve looked me straight in the eyes and lied to me, after so many years you had the chance to come clean but you didn’t. That should take some courage.”

Selena’s gaze returned to her papers, the pen resuming on the paper. She doesn’t know her ignoring me is pouring chemical
on fire.

The room smelled faintly of her perfume, something sharp and floral. I leaned forward slightly. “So you had a baby with your brother?”

Her hand stilled mid-stroke. The silence stretched, broken only by the low buzz of the air conditioning. 

Without raising her eyes, she said, “Get up from that chair and exit by that door.” My lips parted, ready to serve her.

“Before I slap you across the face,” she finished, voice cold and flat.

I rose slowly, fingers curling around the strap of my bag until the leather bit into my palm. 

My heels planted firmly on the carpet. “For the damage you have done to my life, I hereby demand the manager position of Callen be given to me.”

“You’re just like your father,” she said, eyes fixed on her work, pen moving again. “You speak too much.”

I walked to the door, bag swinging lightly at my side. “Guess you still need to think about it.” The handle turned smooth under my grip, and I stepped out, letting the door click shut behind me.

The hallway stretched ahead. I turned toward Callen’s office, my steps quickening. I didn’t bother knocking, he should be expecting me anyways. I twisted the knob and pushed inside.

The scene hit me at once: Callen’s pants pooled around his ankles, the woman on her knees before him, her head moving. 

The wet sounds, the heavy breathing, the musk of sweat and cologne thick in the air. My stomach clenched. This was the second time. It’s now a different woman, same thing in his workplace.

My hand moved before thought finished. I turned the lock with a soft snick, the metal cool. 

My gaze swept the room and landed on the golf club leaning against the wall. I grabbed it, the grip rough in my palm, weight solid.

I swung.

The club connected with a dull thud against the desk edge first, then arced toward them. 

Callen jerked back, cursing. The woman screamed, a high piercing sound that cut through the room.

I brought the club down again, the whoosh of air preceding each strike, my breath coming faster now, heart pounding against my ribs. Papers scattered, a lamp crashed to the floor with a shatter of glass.

“Don’t you know this is your place of work?” I shouted, voice ringing off the walls. 

Callen stumbled with his hands raised, pants tangled. “Ayla—stop! Wait, just listen—” His words tumbled out, voice cracking, but I didn’t slow, I felt the stick connect with flesh and he groaned in pain.

The woman scrambled away, screams turning to sobs, her shoes scraping across the carpet.

I kept swinging, the impacts vibrating up my arms, anger fueling each motion until my muscles burned.

A loud bang sounded from the door, security forcing it open. The wood splintered. 

The lock gave way with a metallic groan. The door burst open. Selena stood there, face pale, flanked by wide-eyed colleagues peering in. The footsteps thundered closer, everyone rushing to see first the new gossip.

“What are you doing?” Selena’s voice cut sharp through the chaos.

I lowered the club, letting it drop to the floor with a heavy clatter. I ran my fingers through my hair, smoothing the strands back into place, the motion deliberate. 

My bag lay nearby; I bent and retrieved it, the strap settling familiarly over my shoulder.

“I am fixing the world,” I said, voice steady. I stepped past them, heels clicking across the threshold, the stares burning into my back. 

The corridor air felt cooler now. I didn’t look back, just kept walking, the echoes of my steps following me toward the elevators.

The building’s exit doors whispered open. Outside, evening light painted the parking lot in oranges and golds. Car horns blared distantly, tires crunched on gravel, who does he think he is thinking he can just fuck whoever he wants, when he wants?

I climbed into my car, and drove away patting myself on the shoulder for actually doing something for once in my life.