Suddenly, the office door opened. Samantha limped in, her steps slow and dramatic. Her eyes were red as she walked up to Rachel. Her voice was soft and muffled, like she was trying not to cry.
Rachel glanced at William, then back at Samantha. Her throat felt dry.
William quickly stepped forward and moved Samantha out from between them.
“Rachel didn’t mean it like that. We were just talking about something else. It got a little loud, that’s all,” he said.
But Samantha didn’t budge and stood stubbornly in front of Rachel. Her body trembled as she signed with her hands, as if she were desperately trying to convey her meaning. The sight was both comical and heartbreakingly earnest.
“Rachel, I really didn’t mean anything bad,” Samantha said. “If I made you uncomfortable, I’ll explain everything to the team right now.”
She reached for the door, ready to go out.
“There’s no need for that, Ms. Judd,” Rachel said calmly.
Samantha paused, hand still on the door.
“So… you’re really not mad at me?” she asked in that soft, fragile voice, like one wrong word would shatter her completely. The kind of voice that made everyone feel bad for her… even if she was the one stirring the pot.
Rachel’s voice stayed steady and quiet as she replied, “This has nothing to do with you.”
The truth was, the real problem wasn’t Samantha at all.
It was William, who couldn’t even stay loyal with his heart, let alone his actions.
William opened a drawer and took out a small, red velvet box. He gently placed it in Rachel’s hand.
“Come on,” he said softly. “Don’t be upset. You’re older than her, and now you’re her supervisor too. Just give her a little grace. She’s still young and doesn’t know much yet.”
He smiled and added, “I saw this bracelet at the mall the other day. Thought it would look good on you, so I got it.”
Rachel watched as he opened the box and took out a gold bracelet. It was elegant… and completely meaningless now. Her eyes landed on the little engraving–two tiny letters, her initial and his. She should’ve been touched, but all she felt was bitter irony, and her stomach churned with nausea.
Last night, when she needed him the most, he was with someone else.
If it hadn’t been for Tyler reserving that private room by chance, she didn’t even dare imagine what might’ve happened to her. William seemed to think that as long as nothing really bad happened, he could pretend the whole thing never took place.
Throw a bracelet at her, say a few soft words, and everything would magically be fine.
Since there was no love left between them, then money would have to do. And it just so happened Rachel still hadn’t figured out how to cover the 20,000 she gave Tyler.
Rachel took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and smile. “Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get going.”
William stared at her for a moment, then cautiously said, “By the way, I saw you get in the taxi last night. Why did you come back?”
Rachel met his gaze calmly and replied, “I left my phone in the private room. I had to go back and get it. Didn’t expect to run into Howard.”
William’s expression tightened. His jaw clenched as he stared at her face like he was trying to read between the lines.
Chapter 18
+25 BONUS
“Where exactly did you run into him?” he asked.
“Right outside your room,” she replied without emotion.
He paused, his breath catching for a second. A small frown formed between his brows.
“Why didn’t you come in, then?”
Rachel looked down for a moment, her lashes casting soft shadows over her eyes. “Howard stopped me before I could.”
If William had just looked outside once–just once–he might’ve seen her there. He might’ve stopped it all from happening.
But no. His attention had been on Samantha the entire time.
William didn’t seem to catch the coldness in her voice. In fact, he almost looked relieved.
Rachel stayed quiet for a few seconds, then spoke again, asking, “Tomorrow’s Mom’s death anniversary. Are you coming to visit her grave with me?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, regret set in. She quickly changed her mind.
Chapter 19