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Her hopeful expression crumbles into one of disappointment. “But Ethan, I’ve changed. I can be better, I promise,” she insists, reaching out as if to touch my arm.
I step back, out of her reach. “I appreciate that you want to improve, but it’s too late for us. I’ve made up my mind.”
Tears well up in her eyes, and my heart softens despite myself. Emotional confrontations have never been my strong suit, especially when they involve someone I once cared about.
“Lysa, please understand,” I continue, my voice gentler now. “We had our chance, but it’s time for both of us to move forward separately.”
She nods slowly, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand. “I...I understand,” she murmurs, her voice choked with emotion. “I just...I’ll miss what we had.”
As Lysa stands there, her words hanging in the air, memories flood back to me. I remember the moment I walked in on her, caught in the act of cheating, the betrayal etched into my mind like a scar.
“Please leave,” I say, the words coming out colder than I intended. With a heavy heart, I shut the door firmly, cutting off any further conversation.
Leaning against the closed door, I take a deep breath, trying to push away the hurt and anger that resurfaces whenever I think of our past. It’s a wound that has fully healed but is also a reminder of the trust that was broken and the love that turned sour.
I walk briskly through the hallway, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Jessy. Ever since she returned from her trip, she’s been avoiding me, and I can’t help but wonder why.
As I approach the elevator, I notice a crowd gathered around it, murmuring anxiously. My heart skips a beat as I realize something must be wrong.
“What’s going on?” I ask one of the maintenance guys, and my tone is urgent.
“It’s the elevator,” he replies, gesturing towards the closed doors. “It’s stuck again, and there’s someone inside.”
My stomach tightens with worry, and without hesitation, I press the call button for assistance. As I wait for a response, I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.
Finally, the doors slide open, revealing Jessy standing inside, her expression a mixture of frustration and fear. Relief floods through me at the sight of her, but it’s quickly replaced by anger as I realize what must have happened.
Turning to the maintenance guys, I demand answers, “Why is the elevator malfunctioning again? And why wasn’t it fixed?”
One of them shrugs, avoiding my gaze. “We didn’t have the materials we needed for a full maintenance check—Lysa didn’t provide them.”
My jaw clenches at the mention of her name. It’s clear she’s been neglecting her responsibilities once again, putting the safety of our employees at risk.
Without another word, I march toward Lysa’s office, my frustration boiling over. She needs to be held accountable for her actions, and I won’t let her get away with it this time.
26
Jessica
My hands are still trembling as I step into Ethan’s office, my heart pounding in my chest. Being trapped alone in that elevator triggered my claustrophobia like never before.
And even though I’m out, I still can’t shake off the feeling of suffocation and darkness that casts a shadow over me that I can’t seem to shake.
Last time, it wasn’t this bad because Ethan was there with me, but this time it felt like the air in my lungs was being snuffed out, and it was hard to breathe.
My whole body is shaking, and the blanket draped around my shoulders is not doing any good at keeping me warm.
I glance around the office, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. Ethan isn’t here yet, and I can’t help but wonder why he asked for me to be brought in here.
“Would you like some water?” one of the maintenance crew members who accompanied me to Ethan’s office asks, holding out a bottle of water.
“Thanks,” I manage to say, taking the bottle of water from her.
A few minutes later, the door swings open, and Ethan strides in, his expression unreadable.
“Could you excuse us, please?” he says to the two maintenance crew members who were in his office with me. Even though his voice is firm and composed, I sense his anger.
They nod and file out of the room, leaving me alone with Ethan. My nerves spike at the sight of him.
