Chapter 693
On my way to the breakroom, I casually asked a few coworkers, “Mr. Shane didn’t come in today?”
They exchanged looks, barely holding back laughter. It only made me more curious. “What’s the deal? Something happen to him?”
“He got scratched up!” one finally blurted.
“His girlfriend probably did it,” someone else chimed in.
“Who knew she had claws like that?”
“Yeah, well, he was at a nightclub. Honestly, if I were her, I’d scratch him up too.”
The chatter snowballed from there, painting a pretty clear picture: Ron wasn’t in because he had a visible scratch on his face and was too embarrassed to show up.
When I got back to my desk, I couldn’t resist giving him a call. Not to poke fun–just, you know, check in. After all, he’d always been nice to me.
The moment he picked up, Ron didn’t even give me a chance to say hi. “Don’t listen to the nonsense those gossiping hens at the office are saying. None of it’s true.”
His denial was chef’s kiss classic–the guilty dog barks first. I played dumb. “Huh? What are you even talking about? Who said anything?‘
11
There was a pause. “Wait, didn’t you go to the office today? You didn’t hear?”
I played it cool. “Been slammed with work. Haven’t had time for small talk. Why? Something happen?” “Ugh, don’t even get me started…” And just like that, he launched into a dramatic retelling of the exact story the office had already spilled. By the end, he dropped the ultimate punchline: “You know what I regret most? Falling for women in the first place.”
That line instantly cleared the storm cloud hanging over my mood. I couldn’t resist poking him. “Oh? Thinking about switching teams?”
“Maybe,” Ron shot back, laughing. “But only for someone like Hayden.”
The mention of Hayden hit like a small jolt, but Ron didn’t mean anything by it–it was just the guy’s charm setting unreal standards.
I stayed quiet, and it must’ve clicked for him what he’d just said. “Oh, shoot. Sorry, I didn’t mean-”
“Which club did you go to?” I cut him.
“DracoLux!” he said without hesitation. Then he stopped, like he’d said too much.
I guessed he’d realized something.
I smirked. “DracoLux? That’s basically a networking spot for rich people. Isn’t it where the Seavora crowd goes to close deals over champagne?”
“Exactly!” Ron huffed. “But nope, she still flipped out. Maybe because I came home late? I don’t know. You women -always overthinking. Something totally innocent gets turned into a full–blown scandal.”
Oof. He really just offended every woman on the planet with that one.
“Has she calmed down after… you know, scratching you?” I asked, trying to keep the laugh out of my voice.
“wall“frequttered, costing tomentt. “is sold on erin bad mad?ch, do gon’s Laughing at me now, fon?”
That was it Doet it, laughing so hund my sides whed from round Wap it up, and I’m dorking half your berus the mouth”
Considering he’d been carrying the wildoad all month, I sn’t planning to argue even if he didn’t give me a
bonus.
As I laughed uncontrollably, a soft knock on my office doof cut through my giggles. Twisting in my chair, I turned toward the sound to find Wayne standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Ron, completely oblivious to the situation on my end, kept talking. “Stop laughing. Seriously, let’s switch topics, think I saw someone you know at the club last night. Not totally sure, but they looked familiar. I’m positive I’ve seen them before.”
“Was it a man?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral while sneaking a glance at Wayne, who was still waiting patiently by the door.
“No, a woman. She kind of had this cheerful vibe. I think she used to work at your company,” Ron said.
Demi. His description screamed Demi. But that didn’t add up–she was supposed to be in Lindale, lying low. She wouldn’t dare come back to Seavora, let alone show up at DracoLux.
I wanted to ask if he was sure, but with Wayne standing there, I swallowed the question.
