?


    On my way to the breakroom, I casually asked a few coworkers, “Mr. Shane didn''te in today?"


    They exchanged looks, barely holding backughter. 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 ws 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.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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 ssic-the guilty dog barks first. I yed 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 yed it cool. "Been mmed with work. Haven''t had time for small talk. Why? Something happen?" "Ugh, don''t even get me started..." And just like that, heunched 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 ce."


    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,ughing. "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 aworking 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 homete? 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 pl with that one.


    "Has she calmed down after... you know, scratching you?" I asked, trying to keep theugh 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,ughing 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 nning to argue even if he didn''t give me a


    bonus.


    As Iughed uncontrobly, 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,pletely oblivious to the situation on my end, kept talking. "Stopughing. Seriously, let''s switch topics, think I saw someone you know at the clubst 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 nce 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 yourpany," 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 daree 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.