Chapter 74 #74
Chapter 74
~Shailyn~
I didn’t like how quiet the building felt. Not peaceful, quiet. Not work-quiet. The kind of quiet that felt like something had already happened and there's no one to be seen except few people that needed to be here.
I was walking in the hallway towards Tyler's office when I heard muffled voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying but I heard fire.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” Dante's assistant, Zach said as I walked past the reception.
“Hi,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Is… everything okay?”
He hesitated. Just a beat too long.
“Yes. Just the small incident earlier. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“The fire?” I echoed. “Is there something else?” I pressed.
He straightened. “Electrical issue. It’s been handled.”
I nodded slowly, not believing him. “Okay.”
But the way he avoided my eyes told me that wasn’t the full story.
I continued down the hallway, still wondering why he didn't talk.
“Why does it feel like everyone knows something I don’t?” I muttered to myself.
I turned toward Tyler’s office. I needed to get it off my mind and check up on him.
I knocked lightly.
“Come in,” Tyler’s voice called.
I opened the door and smiled. “Hi.”
He looked up immediately, concern flooding his face. “Shailyn? What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you,” I said, stepping inside. “Are you alright?”
He studied me carefully. “I should be asking you that.”
“I’m okay,” I said quickly. “Just… tired.”
“You shouldn’t be walking around alone,” he said. “Dante knows you’re here?”
“Yes, I told him before coming here.” I said.
He sighed. “Sit.”
I did.
“Did something else happen related to the fire?" I asked. “I heard Dante's assistant mention an incident.”
Tyler leaned back in his chair. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
“That’s what everyone keeps saying,” I replied. “And somehow that makes me more concerned.”
He gave me a small smile. “You always were perceptive.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Shailyn,” he said gently, “sometimes protecting yourself means not knowing everything.”
“It's fine. I understand.” To be honest, I didn’t understand why so much has been hidden. “I'll be going back now. Just wanted to check up on you.” I said.
“Thank you for coming,” he said. “It means a lot.”
“I wanted to make sure you were safe,” I replied.
His eyes softened in a fatherly gaze. “You’re kind.”
“I try.” After a few minutes, I stood. “I’ll leave you to work.”
“Be careful,” he said. “And stay close.”
“I will.”
I stepped back into the hallway and almost collided with someone.
Cynthia.
“Oh,” she said sharply. “Shailyn.”
“Hi,” I replied, startled. I didn't expect to see her after what I experienced earlier today. “I didn’t see you there.” I said a bit shakily.
She studied my face, her eyes sharp, and didn't look as unwelcoming as it used to look.
“You should be careful,” she said. Her eyes flickering from the door to my face like someone will jump out.
I frowned. “Careful about what?”
“I won't say more than that.”
I searched her face for something, but there was none. She had a straight face that I couldn't figure out if she was threatening me or warning me. Before I could respond, she walked away.
“What was that about?” I whispered.
I shook my head and turned toward Dante’s office. Some feet away from the office. I saw the door flew open with force.
Dwayne stormed out, his face dark, jaw clenched, fists tight at his sides. He walked towards the elevator, the elevator doors slid open and he stepped inside.
“Dwayne!” I called as the doors closed. He didn't hear me.
“What the hell is happening?”
I turned and walked straight into Dante’s office.
“What was that?” I asked.
Dante looked up from his desk. He looked grumpy and troubled.
“What?” He responded.
“Dwayne,” I said. “He just stormed out like he was about to kill someone. You also look angry.”
“It’s nothing serious,” Dante replied quickly.
“That didn’t look like nothing.”
“He’s overreacting,” Dante said. “It’s handled.”
“Handled how?”
“Shailyn,” he sighed, standing. “Please don’t stress yourself.”
“Okay.” I swallowed what I wanted to say. I figured it's not like I will get anything aside from that.
He changed the subject abruptly. “Are you hungry?”
I blinked. “What?”
“Food,” he said. “We should eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You are,” he insisted. “What do you want?”
I hesitated, then suddenly, my stomach grumbled. Dante gave a small laugh and I responded. “Seafood and I want you to eat it with me.”
He grimaced. “You know I am not a fan of seafood.”
“You won't listen to your wife?” I said, pulling out the puppy dog's face.
He sighed dramatically. “Fine. Seafood.”
I squealed and we sat together. A few minutes later, it was delivered and we started eating quietly.
“This shrimp is trying to kill me,” he muttered.
I smiled despite myself. “You’re dramatic.”
“For you, I’ll suffer,” he replied.
“You’re not convincing.”
He reached for my hand. “I mean it.”
After lunch, he insisted on taking me home.
“You should rest,” he said.
“I’ve been resting,” I replied.
“Rest more. You need all the rest you can get.”
We went home with the driver dropping us off. With fee security following us behind.
When we got home, I barely had the energy to change before crawling into bed.
Dante kissed my forehead. “Sleep. I'm going out for a bit.”
I was too sleepy to question where he was going, I'm sure he's going back to work. I slept. It didn't take time for me to sleep off. Deeply. Too deeply.
The dream came fast and sharp.
Voices overlapping. A needle. A hand holding me down.
“You’ll forget. You must forget.” someone whispered.
“No,” I tried to say. “Please. Let me remember.”
Darkness swallowed me whole.
I woke up gasping.
My heart was pounding, my skin slick with sweat.
“What the fuck?”
I looked at Dante's side of the bed and remembered he said he was going out. I checked the time, it was 8pm.
I think I need to stop pushing myself too much. I hate nightmares. I took water by the bedstand to calm myself.