AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As I approached Jeremy's office, each step I took seemed heavier than the last, as if I was being propelled toward my reckoning. However, before I could speak to him, a sudden commotion from the balcony caught my attention.
Below, voices echoed throughout the building. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized I recognized one voice in particular—it belonged to Cole.
I walked to the balcony railing and looked down, where I saw him in the lobby below. Anger distorted his face as he put on a spectacle, loudly demanding to see me.
Panic surged through me, causing my knees to tremble.
Still, I knew I couldn’t allow him to go on. This was my place of employment. He’d already brought my name into it. I needed to try to minimize damage while I still could.
Trembling like autumn leaves in a gentle breeze, I called out to him from above, my voice shaking as I tried, unsuccessfully, to sound braver than I was. "Cole, I need you to stop this ridiculous fit you’re throwing. Give me a minute. I’ll come down, and we can talk."
His eyes, ablaze with anger, looked up and locked onto mine. He seemed to want to continue his fit, but he knew he was in a public place, surrounded by witnesses. He nodded reluctantly.
As I descended the staircase, a sense of dread settled deep in my stomach. The receptionist—visibly alarmed by this unfolding drama—clutched at her telephone receiver as she looked at me, scanning my face for any sign that I wanted her to call for help.
As I passed her desk, she turned her back to him and silently mouthed, “I called the cops.”
I gave her a gentle nod of acknowledgment as I walked toward Cole, my heart pounding in my chest.
Just before I got to Cole, Jeremy showed up, his brow furrowed with genuine concern. The lights continued, threatening to go dark.
He glanced calmly in my direction, silently signaling he was there to help.
I tried to maintain a semblance of composure as I turned to Cole.
"Cole, let’s go outside," I whispered urgently. "We can’t have this conversation here."
He nodded and gestured for me to follow him, which I did. Behind me, though, I heard the gentle footsteps of Jeremy, who was not going to let me go alone.
Nervously, I drew in a deep breath—preparing myself for the hostile conversation ahead. I needed to find a way to explain to Cole once and for all that our relationship was not fixable.
Meanwhile, Jeremy’s eyes moved apprehensively between Cole and me as he watched our every move, ready to step in if Cole became violent.
As I started talking to Cole, two officers cautiously exited their vehicle, poised to intervene.
A knot of tension coiled tightly in me, the moment's gravity bearing down from all directions.
I glanced at Jeremy, knowing he had become unwittingly entangled in my horrible situation. There was no backing down—my life and the lives of those trapped in this mess needed resolution- once and for all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
JEREMY
Myheartracedwithworry as I watched Jill gracefully walk down the staircase to confront Cole.
He was a haunting figure from her past who had inflicted nothing but anguish and trepidation upon her, even just the day before, when I had foolishly allowed my insecurity to get in the way of my understanding of her situation. The fact that the power was inconsistent was not helping the situation at all, bringing an eerie feeling. It caused us all to be on edge.
The atmosphere in the lobby was tense, leaving me feeling an overwhelming surge of protectiveness towards her, especially all the rest of my employees.
Cole's fury manifested through his tightly clenched fists and furrowed brow, yet for the moment, he seemed willing to engage in conversation rather than resort to violence.
I followed as he and Jill walked outside.
Positioned nearby, I stood ready, prepared to intervene should the situation turn dangerous.
Curiosity-filled gazes from passersby only heightened my sympathy for Jill, who had been unwillingly thrust into this unsettling confrontation.
Cole's anger and frustration were palpable, and his neck veins visibly pulsated as he spoke.
