Page 42 of Grumpy Orc CEO

I sit up in bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The quiet of the apartment is deafening, amplifying my internal conflict. Every time I think I've made peace with my decision to leave, a wave of regret washes over me. What if I'm making a mistake? What if staying and facing Jarvin was the braver choice? The questions swirl in my mind like a storm, refusing to settle.

The resignation is out of my hands now. But as much as I try to focus on moving forward, my heart remains tethered to what I'm leaving behind. The memories of working late nights on projects with my team or celebrating small victories together flood back, filling me with a deep sense of loss.

I miss the work—the challenge and fulfillment it brought me. I miss my colleagues—their support and camaraderie were like a second family. And despite everything, I miss Jarvin—his confidence, his kindness, and even our intense moments of connection.

The internal conflict is relentless, an unending battle between heart and mind. As dawn begins to break outside my window, I know another sleepless night has passed without resolution. The ache in my chest persists, reminding me that some decisions leave scars that take time to heal.

I find myself pacing the living room, my thoughts a tangled mess. The silence of my apartment amplifies every emotion, every doubt, every fear, the decision to run away from everything I built at Thraknar Financial Group. The weight of it presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.

I stop in front of the window, looking out at the city. A wave of frustration washes over me. What am I doing?

Running away hasn't solved anything. It's just made me feel more lost and alone. The fear of facing Jarvin and dealing with my emotions has kept me paralyzed but avoiding him hasn't brought me any peace.

I lay on my couch wallowing in my pity, letting the hours pass. My phone buzzes on the coffee table, breaking the silence. I glance at it and see a message from my friend Jenna. She's always been my rock, the one person who knows me better than anyone else.

"Hey, how are things going?" her message reads.

Without thinking, I dial her number. She answers on the second ring, her voice warm and concerned.

"Hey." I pause, not knowing what to say.

"Lucy, what's going on? You sound stressed."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. "Jenna, I don't know what to do. I handed in my resignation letter today, but now I'm second-guessing everything."

She listens patiently as I pour out my heart—the confusion, the regret, the overwhelming fear of getting hurt again. When I finish, there's a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

"Lucy," she says gently but firmly, "running away isn't going to solve anything. You know that deep down. If you want to find peace and move forward, you need to confront your fears head-on."

Her words hit me hard. She's right. And I know it because all I've been doing is avoiding my problems instead of facing them. The thought of dealing with Jarvin and my feelings terrifies me, but maybe that's exactly what I need to do.

"Jenna," I say softly, "You're right. It's time for me to stop running and start confronting what's really bothering me."

"Good," she replies with a hint of a smile in her voice. "You deserve to find happiness and closure. Just remember—you've got this."

As we say our goodbyes and hang up, a sense of clarity washes over me. It's time to face Jarvin and deal with these emotions once and for all. Only then can I truly move forward and find peace within myself. But where do I start, and will he even listen to me after the way I left so abruptly?

I sit on the edge of my bed, the conversation with Jenna still echoing in my mind. Her words, gentle yet firm, have stirred something deep within me. Jarvin's accusation keeps replaying, like a relentless drumbeat. "You're too scared to recognize a good thing when it's right in front of you." It stings because there's truth in it.

I glance at the resignation letter again, feeling its weight in my chest. Running away felt like the only option, but now it seems more like a surrender. I’ve let my fears dictate my choices, allowing past wounds to control my present. The realization is painful, a stark acknowledgment of my vulnerability and the walls I've built around myself.

I rise and walk to the window, looking out at the city bathed in afternoon light. The familiar skyline offers no answers, but it reflects the life I left behind—a life I worked so hard to rebuild after my breakup. My heart aches at the thought of leaving the job I loved and everything I’ve achieved there. The fear of facing Jarvin and the emotions he stirs within me had clouded my judgment.

Taking a deep breath, I turn away from the window and face the mess in my living room, half-packed boxes, and scattered belongings. This chaotic scene mirrors the turmoil inside me. Running away isn’t solving anything; it's just postponing the inevitable confrontation with my fears.

I sit back down on the couch, hugging a pillow to my chest. The truth is, I'm not ready to face Jarvin or my emotions head-on just yet. The thought of seeing him again, of confronting the intensity between us, my feelings for him, makes my heart race with both longing and fear. But acknowledging that running isn’t the answer is a step forward.

Jarvin’s words have forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth about myself. I've been hiding behind my past pain, using it as a shield against potential new hurt. It's easier to push people away than to risk getting close again and possibly being betrayed once more.

I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. I don’t know how I'll find the courage to face Jarvin and everything he represents. But for now, recognizing this truth within myself is a start.

It’s a small step towards reclaiming control over my life and breaking free from the chains of fear that have bound me for so long.

CHAPTER 25

Jarvin

Istand outside Lucy’s apartment building, my heart pounding with determination. Pinecrest Apartments. Hours of tracking her down have led me here, driven by the need to confront her and make things right. My nature demands action, and I won’t leave without speaking to her.

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