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Lycus’s voice cuts through the haze of my thoughts, pleading, begging for a chance to explain. But his words fall on deaf ears, drowned out by the roar of blood rushing in my ears, by the deafening echo of my shattered trust.
Without a word, without a backward glance, I turn and flee, the sting of tears blurring my vision as I stumble blindly towards the exit. Each step is a struggle, a battle against the invisible chains that bind me to this place, to this moment of humiliation and despair.
“Angelica, wait!” His voice rings out behind me, a desperate plea for understanding, for forgiveness. But I can’t – no, Iwon’t– listen. Not now, not when the wounds are still raw, the pain still so fresh in my heart.
I burst through the doors of the conference room, the cool air of the corridor hitting me like a physical blow. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my chest heaving with the effort of holding back the tide of emotions threatening to consume me whole.
The sound of footsteps echoes behind me, growing louder with each passing second. But I don’t dare to look back, don’t dare to face the man who has shattered my trust, my confidence, my very sense of self.
“Angelica, please.” Lycus’s voice is closer now, his footsteps mere inches from mine. But still, I refuse to stop, to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
I round the corner, my vision blurred by tears, my heart heavy with sorrow. How could I have been so blind, so foolish? To let myself fall for the lies, the deceit, the empty promises of a man who never had any intention of keeping them.
And as I reach the elevator, my sanctuary from the chaos of the world outside, I know that I can’t stay here any longer. Not in this place, not in this city, not in this life that has been torn asunder by the actions of one man.
With trembling hands, I press the button for the ground floor, the weight of my decision settling like a stone in the pit of my stomach. But I know it’s the right choice – the only choice – if I’m ever to find peace, to find solace, to find myself again.
The doors slide open with a soft chime, the glass walls of the elevator revealing the bustling lobby below. Without hesitation, without looking back, I step inside and let the doors close, leaving behind the shattered remnants of my heart.
The elevator’s descent feels like an eternity, each passing floor a reminder of the distance that now separates me from the life I once knew. My hands tremble as I clutch the railing, the rhythmic hum of the machinery offering little comfort against the storm raging within me.
By the time the doors slide open on the ground floor, I’m a wreck – a shell of the confident, capable woman I once believed myself to be.
Stepping out into the lobby, I’m greeted by the familiar hustle and bustle of office life – a stark contrast to the turmoil that rages within me.
Colleagues bustle past, their voices a distant murmur against the backdrop of my thoughts.
I ignore their curious glances, their whispered inquiries, their attempts at sympathy. There’s no comfort to be found in their words, no solace in their well-meaning gestures.
The only thing that matters now is escape – escape from this place, from this pain, from this shattered illusion.
Steeling myself to keep it together for a moment longer, I make my way to the exit, determined not to completely fall apart and embarrass myself even further.
The cool breeze of the outside world greets me like an old friend, offering a brief respite from the suffocating confines of the office.
But even as I step out into the sunlight, the weight of my decision bears down on me. Where do I go from here? I can’t go home. Lycus lives in the same block. He’ll come looking for me right away. Where does that leave me?
The questions swirl around me like a whirlwind, threatening to pull me under with their relentless force.
I need to move. I can’t stand on the pavement in front of my place of work, having a breakdown.
My place of work.
How can I ever return there? How can I face them?
Oh my god my boss, and my client, have seen me naked. Have watched me having sex with a colleague. Have listened to me beg…
I jump in front of a passing taxi, hailing it down and giving the driver no choice but to stop or risk running me over. I dive into the back and screech at him to drive as Lycus exits the office and searches the street for me. I slide down in my seat, out of sight, my heart racing.
“Where to love?” the cabbie asks, completely oblivious to the urgency of the situation.
“Just start driving, I’ll give you the address in a minute.”
“Right-o.”
Once we pull out into the heavy morning traffic, I finally feel like I can breathe. My skin still burns with humiliation, and there’s a tight ache in my chest that pisses me off more than anything, but I refuse to think about that.
Gathering my thoughts, I consider my options. I don’t have any friends I can turn to, and I’d rather die than go home, which leaves me only one choice.
