The next day I went to the office, everybody was staring at me as I walked up to the elevator.

Last night I had received an official mail from Devon asking me to retrieve my promotion papers and get started on the job. And so here I was, ready to become his puppet once more.

My lips twitched into a sour smirk at the thought as I stepped into the crowded elevator.

I was indeed a puppet for him. He saved me from charges and somehow convinced other shareholders to not press any against me. He saved me from getting arrested, losing my job, dragging Yuvan through the mud with me, and ultimately ruining our lives. Officer Davis Had been right. Devon Harlington saved me.

But did I want him to?

The elevator pinged before I could think of an answer.

I stepped into the familiar top floor, as silent as ever. My heels clicked softly, echoing through the grand corridor. My eyes dropped on a young man with shaggy hair and a suit across from the glass cabin beside Devon's door. Once upon a time, that used to be my place to sit through the day.

I walked up to the cabin and knocked on the glass door. The man looked up from his laptop and raised his brows—recognition of some kind flitted through his eyes.

I pushed the door and moved to his white desk.

"Appointment with Devon Harlington," I said, eyeing the nameplate on his desk.

'Gregory Martins,
Executive Assistant'

He nodded. "Let me check."

He dialed on the office phone.

Devon picked up and they talked for a while. After that, the assistant, Gregory, nodded at me. "You can go."

"Thanks," I spoke in the bleakest of voice that I could muster and left to get a certain CEO.

I knocked on his door and stepped inside after hearing his approval. The door clicked shut behind me as I met his dark gaze, proud like a victor of a war.

"Welcome, Miss Hayes."

I still couldn't believe there was a time when I used to admire those eyes, that smooth deep voice so much. I was a blind fool.

A shuddering breath escaped my lips as I stepped forward.

"Good morning, sir. My joining letter." I handed him the file in my hand.

Devon scoffed, tossing it aside. "I'll see it later. Sit down. Don't hurt those pretty legs."

I sat down like a well-cogged doll, or was it a well-cogged doll with broken wings?

Devon hummed, leaning forward with his arms on the table. "Now, tell me. How does it feel to be back?"

"Good," I responded in a calm voice, my eyes cast down at the blue paperweight on the table.

"I bet Sawyer was making you bend your back with work, both at the office and..." The way his lips stretched into a smirk had my skin crawl.

My fists clenched my skirt underneath the table. "When are you going to get him out?"

"Who again?"

Such baby innocence...

I met his gaze with a firm determination. "Sawyer Ronnes."

His smirk widened. "You want him out?"

"You have everything under control. Why fear a snake with broken teeth?"

His smirk wiped faster than a blink. "That snake still tried to hiss at me. With the help of his little friend at that. This is just a necessary precaution."

Yeah, just like it was a necessary precaution to keep me close, right within your fisted grasp.

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"And he is where he belongs. Everything is right in place. Don't see any need to disrupt things."

"Put him out of jail."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because he's no longer a threat to you. A snake without his teeth. Useless."

"But you got your fangs, little one."

My lips stretched a little. "Dull fangs. No danger, really. Thanks to your uncle."

His eyes glinted for a second. Our gaze held for much longer than needed, unblinking, unyielding.

He hummed. "Okay. I hear you. But what will I get in return?"

My spine stilled. My palms felt clammy.

This was my chance. I couldn't break now.

"Information on all the shareholders."

He froze as my numb lips moved on their own.

"Right down to their dirty little secrets. All at your disposal."

Morality was truly a dead horse in this world.

***

Weeks blurred as I worked for Devon. Although, on paper, I was an Additional Assistant, in reality, I was an errand girl for him.

My job entailed making him coffee, getting him lunch, cleaning after his table every day before he came, booking reservations for official and personal purposes, arranging and rearranging his shelves at his whim as well as occasionally sending flowers and cards at Cara Rachels' address.

Apparently, he was now officially dating Cara. There were whispers in the wind that he was soon planning to propose the oil tycoon's heiress. But that didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. Rather, I'm more concerned about Sawyer.

Devon kept his word and bailed him out of the jail pulling some strings. But that was it. I heard nothing about him after that.

He wouldn't pick up my calls, my texts remained unseen. that one time I dared to go to his place, he wasn't home. It was as if he just vanished off the face of the earth.

And so, I did not try to physically reach out again. Devon had eyes and ears everywhere. Once was a risk enough.

However, I couldn't rest easy either without knowing how was he doing. Was he okay after such horrible humiliation? Who was I kidding? Of course, he must have been furious and devastated and...

I sighed, resting my head against the tiled white wall of the hospital. The gray metal chair creaked under my ever-shifting weight. My knees bounced beneath my sweaty palms.

Footsteps rushed around me, a robotic girly voice at the counter was calling out the serial numbers of the patients. The sickly sweet smell of disinfectant and frosty air of the air conditioner had me almost throw up. I couldn't sit still, I needed to get out. Just for a little bit.

I breathed out and stood up, turning to my right where a floor-to-ceiling glass door was waiting for me to walk out of this widely narrow corridor.

Did I sound claustrophobic? I must be developing the phobia.

With a dry gulp, I took a step forward.

"Miss Hayes?"

I turned back to see a middle-aged man with gray hair and a white apron rushing toward me.

"How is he, Dr. Jones?" I asked when he stopped before.

"Minor injury. Just a few scratches and swelling. Good thing you pulled the break just in time and brought him here."

I shrugged. "Well, it's technically my fault. I didn't see him crossing the road and almost hit him. The least I could do was to take him to the hospital after he fell down before my car."

Doctor hummed. "You did give the old man quite a scare back there, though. By the way, did you manage to get his family?"

"Dead phone." I looked down at the cracked black phone in my hand, brushing away a stray dirt on the screen. "Can I see him?"

"Sure. We're done checking his vitals so you're good to go. Be careful, though, he's resting."

I nodded. "Thank you, Doctor."

He smiled and walked away, brushing past me.

I wiped my clammy palms against my pale jeans and smoothed a crease on my white floral top before walking toward the cabin housing my patient.

My cream sneakers made soft noises as I entered the sparsely furnished hospital room. I guess, this was because it was not an emergency unit. Good. I didn't want that man to face the emergency, at least not yet.

I put on my best customer care smile and sat on the chair beside the bed.

"Good afternoon, Professor Harlington. It's been a long while."

❤ What our Mirasol is up to now? Isn't she being kinda sneaky? What do you think? Do let me know!

Till then, see you in the next week! Don't forget to take care of your mind, body, and soul.

Love,
Sabrina ❤