I was supposed to resume after the weekend, but here I was, another Friday slipping away while I lay in bed, still trying to make sense of everything. Somehow, I'd involuntarily gifted myself an extra week off work without warning, without explanation.
"Wait, Shar… why are you lying here like your life's over?" I asked, startled by my own voice, as if speaking to someone else. I shot upright, my heart thudding, pretending I wasn't paralyzed by the mess of my thoughts.
Life hadn't been fun before, but without Aec, it felt like a hollow echo. I still had Maxie, Zion, and Marcus, even if the latter two were unpredictable in their own ways but a part of me ached in his absence.
My phone beeped twice. It was from work, a text.... Resume next week or kiss my job goodbye. I forced a laugh, shaky and bitter. "Maybe it's for the better," I muttered. But the weight lingered, pressing me down, a reminder of Maxie's advice echoing in my mind.
Why did a man have so much power over me anyway?
Maxie had booked hair and nail appointments for me, insisting it was time to reclaim myself. And maybe she was right. Life wasn't ending over one man, no matter how much he'd consumed my thoughts.
The weekend passed in a blur of pampering and coaching. Maxie hovered, a constant reminder and cheerleader in one: Aec isn't supposed to be in the picture. Aec was the mistake.
By Sunday night, I realized something remarkable, I didn't flinch when I heard his name. I wasn't shaken. I wasn't lost. Somewhere deep inside, I had started to heal.
It was Monday again but this Monday felt brighter and hopeful
I stared at my reflection like I was seeing someone else. Hair fixed, nails done, makeup just enough to look polished without screaming for attention. My outfit? Sharp, professional, but damn it still had a touch of me, the hint of curves I refused to hide. Shoes clicked against the floor as I paced, trying to steady my nerves.
A week of rest hadn't erased the knot in my stomach. Today was different. I was walking back into a world that had shifted without me. New managers, new policies, new colleagues… and him.
I grabbed my bag, double-checked my phone. Nothing. No calls, no messages, no unread notifications. Of course. Why would there be?
The cab ride was a blur of traffic and anxiety. My hands clutched the strap of my bag like a lifeline. When the building came into view, my stomach flipped. My heart thumped not from excitement, but from the tight coil of fear and anticipation but I reminded myself again... Aec was the mistake
Inside, I was led to my new department and I met four new colleagues; David, Tia, Gabriel, and Angel. They greeted me politely, smiles easy and conversations light. I nodded, responded, tried to act normal and atleast the office wasn't as tensed as I thought
Normal.
I was still getting used to things around the office when the air shifted. Whispers skittered around the office, subtle but sharp, everyone turning their heads and conversations stopped mid-sentence, the mood gave office gossip and I didn't care less. Then I heard a name that made my heart race more than normal
Diana.
She was walking, carrying a lunch bag, looking effortless, radiant and untouchable. My chest tightened, the whispers sounding clear in my ear.
"Wow… they're envious of Diana and the boss," Tia muttered quietly, glancing at me.
I just grinned low... Envious of her. Of all people!
I just kept on arranging my table, so unfortunate that my office was very close to the CEO's but I didn't care
I arranged my desk with deliberate calm, my fingers moving over files and pens as if nothing beyond the office walls existed. Outside, the whispers circled like vultures subtle, yet piercing but I didn't flinch. Didn't even glance. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of knowing I felt anything.
"You'll get used to it," Tia's voice floated behind me, low and cautionary. "She brings food for the boss every day."
I just smiled, no sarcasm, no fear. A polite, knowing smile that said I saw through her warning and didn't care. I adjusted the stapler, lined up my folders, and focused on my little corner of normal. My desk, my rules. My day.
After a few minutes of arranging things, I realized I needed a file from the storage room outside the office. "Gabriel," I called. "Mind giving me a hand?"
"Of course," he replied, and we stepped out together. The corridor was quiet, just our footsteps echoing lightly.
"So… you didn't kill anyone over the weekend, right?" he teased, flashing a grin.
I laughed, the sound lighter than I expected. "Not yet. But don't tempt me."
His chuckle was infectious, and for a moment, I forgot the tension lurking just outside. We returned a few steps into the office, files in hand, and that's when I saw them, this time clear enough and close up.
Diana, she was radiant, flawless, walking like she owned every inch of space, holding a lunch bag in one hand and a coffee in the other. And beside her, naturally, was Aec. His presence sharp, cold,and untouchable as always, his hands brushing hers, silent communication in a world only they could read.
I froze for half a second, enough to feel the shift then continued walking with Gabriel, unbothered. My heels clicked with intention, my back straight, and my head high.
"Sharon!" Diana's voice cut through the office air, sugary-sweet but laced with something sharper. She stopped, tilting her head slightly as if studying a painting she wasn't sure she liked. "You're… here. I wasn't expecting to see you."
I raised my chin, meeting her gaze evenly, boldly. "Yes, I'm here. Didn't realize attendance was optional." I tried to make it sound like a joke by laughing and Gabriel laughed awkwardly alongside
Her eyes flickered slightly maybe surprise, perhaps irritation but she masked it with that polished smile. "I hope you're feeling… well. The accident… that must have been scary, lying there… in your nightwear. Quite the scene, I imagine." Her words dripped with faux concern, and every syllable was designed to make me shrink, make me doubt.
But I didn't. Not even for a second. I expected nothing less
"I am fine, thank you," I replied, calm, and precise. My tone polite but firm. I let my gaze linger, not aggressively, just enough to let her know she couldn't intimidate me. "Accidents happen. I learned from it, and I moved on."
She blinked and I could see the tiniest twitch of frustration at the corner of her jaw. Her hand still rested in Aec's, and I acknowledged the sight without batting an eyelash.
"Glad to hear that," she said, voice tight now. "I just… wanted to make sure you were… alright."
I allowed a faint, measured smile. "Your concern is noted."
Without waiting for another round of her backhanded politeness, I turned back to Gabriel, holding the file in one hand. "Let's go back," I said lightly, guiding him toward the office. My pace didn't falter, and my shoulders stayed square. I wasn't walking away from fear; I was walking away from irrelevance.
Diana's expression darkened, anger simmering behind her composed exterior. I felt the heat of her stare, but I didn't turn. I didn't need to because her silence spoke louder than her words ever could.
Aec's hand withdrew from hers as he straightened, his usual cold mask sliding back into place. He gave no glance toward me, no sign that my presence had affected him and maybe that was exactly what I needed.
Inside the office, I dropped my file neatly on my desk, letting the office hum resume its natural rhythm. Gabriel glanced at me, amused. "You're going to give her a headache."
I shrugged, still smiling. "She's not my concern. Let her stew."
And just like that, I felt it a surge of clarity, of strength. I wasn't intimidated by whispers, stares, or a man who once held my world hostage. I was bold, unapologetic, and ready to reclaim my life.