Page 44 of His Dark Pull

“My pleasure,”he says and scrutinizes me as I get out of his car.

I don’t have time for his games.

The silence of the main hall, usually buzzing with activity, is unsettling. I hurry towards my office, my steps quickening. It’s as if the building itself holds its breath, anticipating something sinister, something that lurks just out of sight.

Reaching my office, I lock the door behind me and sink to the floor, my back pressed against the cool wall. The sterile environment, usually a source of inspiration and focus, now feels foreign, the bland walls and empty desks amplifying my loneliness.

Kovacs’s threats echo in my mind.Who is his boss?What will they do to me, kill me? The thought of being at their mercy, of facing their wrath, makes me chilled to the bone.

A sudden ringing startles me, the sound of a phone echoing through the empty office. It’s an anomaly, a disruption in the Saturday morning quiet, and after a few unanswered rings, it falls silent, leaving behind an eerie stillness.

I’m alone, I think, and the realization is a bitter pill to swallow—just like I’ve always been.

But even in the depths of my despair, a flicker of defiance remains. I’m a survivor, and I won’t give up without a fight. I’ll find a way to protect myself.Right?

And so, I lay there on the cold, hard floor, clinging to that sliver of hope.

Chapter 14

The Betrayal

Days have passed since Kovacs’s message, and the silence has been soothing. No more lurking shadows, no further threats. Just the comforting rhythm of normalcy. I can breathe again within the walls of my own apartment.

Maybe I’m not that important.

This Friday morning, the city center hums with life, and the sun’s warmth on my skin feels like a long-forgotten friend’s embrace.

As I turn a corner, my gaze falls upon a narrow alleyway, its entrance shadowed. A familiar figure emerges, and for a fleeting moment, my heart lurches, fearing it’s Kovacs, his presence returning to haunt me. But as the figure steps into the sunlight, I recognize Tyler, his hair slightly disheveled, his expression serious.

He’s not alone. Beside him stands Sarah, a vibrant splash of color in her crimson dress and signature red lipstick.

My steps falter, my gaze fixated on the sight of them - Tyler’s hand resting on Sarah’s back, his head bent close to hers as if sharing a secret. The casual intimacy of their posture sends a shard of jealousy piercing through me.

I duck behind a parked car, my heart hammering against my ribs. The urge to confront them, to demand answers, warred with a sudden wave of nausea.

What are they doing? The alleyway is near Tyler’s law office, not Sarah’s usual haunts. I hesitate momentarily, unsure whether to interrupt their conversation or continue on my way.

Before I can decide, they shift, their gaze meeting mine.Or so I think. I quickly avert my eyes and hurry along the pavement, hoping they haven’t noticed me.

I shiver for a moment. It’s the feeling of being watched again, the same sensation that haunted me after my encounter with Kovacs. I glance over my shoulder, but there’s no one there. Just the usual Friday afternoon crowds, their faces a blur of indifference. I tell myself it’s paranoia, the aftermath of stress. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching me, their gaze a cold shadow that follows my every move.

As I quicken my pace, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s the office, but I ignore the call, needing a few more moments to gather my thoughts and process the unexpected scene I’ve just witnessed.Why are they there and together?

By the time I reach my office, I’m filled with a disquiet I can’t shake. I settle at my desk, the familiar routine of opening files and emails a grounding ritual that offers a momentary respite. Just as I start to lose myself in the work, a knock on the door startles me. I look up to see Dexter peeking in, his usual shy demeanor replaced by a look of concern.

“H-hey, Ava,” he says. “Mind if I come in?”

“Of course not, Dexter,”I reply, offering a reassuring smile though my nerves are still on edge. “What’s up?”

He enters, taking a seat opposite me, his eyes searching mine. “Just wanted to check in on you,”he says. “H-how are you doing? You seem a little on edge.”

I shrug, attempting to downplay my anxieties. “Just a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

He nods in understanding, then hesitates for a moment before continuing, “So, I heard you and Tyler— w-well, that you two—”

“Broke up?”I finish his sentence, my gaze dropping to my hands, the memory of our conversation still fresh.

“Yeah,”he replies, his eyes meeting mine briefly before looking away. “Good. H-he deserves someone who— who loves him.”

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