Page 129 of My Ruthless Neighbor

She shakes her head slowly.

There’s a terrible gnawing feeling in my gut.

Why do you always run away from happiness, Archer?

He spends his nights working late here and comes home only to sleep. Whenever we encountered one another, I either saw him leaving for work or getting back from work.

The other day when I assumed that he might have gone on a date? He was meeting Hannah for dinner. She told me, that’s when he decided to hire me.

I shouldn’t be, but I am worried for him. I don’t like the way he is living his life.

It’s like he is just existing. Not reallyliving.

“Do yourself a favor and stay away from him if you can. He can be dismissive.” She hints at what happened a few moments ago.

“Hmm,” I murmur noncommittally as I get to my feet and leave for my meeting, knowing that the sinking feeling would haunt me throughout the day.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Icrush the cigarette in the ashtray and retrieve the pack for another as I review one of the contracts of a client.

It’s 9:30 p.m. Two and a half hours more until the day ends. I should go over the new marketing strategies I was working on.

My phone rings. I pause with the unlit cigarette hanging from my lips and lean forward to read the name of the caller.

Eomma.

I let it ring as I search for my zippo lighter around my messy desk.

Why can’t she understand one simple text? I told her that I am not going to come to the “birthday party” she was throwing.

The ringing finally stops. But only for a minute before it starts again.

With a growl, I stand and shove my hands in my pockets to search for the damn lighter.

“Thank fuck.” I murmur as my fingers pull it out. Bringing it to the cigarette, I light it.

My eyes shut as I take a drag, releasing the white smoke through my nostrils and mouth.

I could’ve switched off my phone but I have promised her I wouldn’t do that. She panics when she can’t reach me. And that dangerously lowers her blood pressure. Which results a visit to the ER.

So instead of switching it off, I put it on silent mode.

Feeling restless, I decide to head to the seventh floor. I need a stiff drink.

That floor was designed for my employees but I have a secret room made specifically for me. It’s where I stash my alcohol. I don’t drink often ever since… I shake my head. I don’t want to think about my past.

I avoid drinking heavily and indulge in alcohol occasionally but tonight I seriously need it.

There’s no way I am going home tonight. There’s nothing to do there except live the nightmare I had last night over and over.

I still have that lingering dread I felt when I woke up covered in sweat. Then I remembered it’s my birthday today.

I always get those kinds of vivid dreams around my birthday. Because birthdays serve as a reminder. A reminder that I am still alive and she isn’t.

I take another urgent drag and fill my lungs with nicotine.

Stabbing the remaining cigarette in the ashtray, I stride out of the office.

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