C102 Fractures In The Office

The next morning, I woke up feeling unusually drained. I had no appetite at all, but I still forced myself to eat something small. I only managed a few bites of breakfast and an apple before I left the house. My mind was not fully present, as if part of me was still stuck in yesterday’s tension.

When I arrived at work, I was surprised to find that I was actually the last one to get there. Chris and Alicia were already waiting near the entrance. The moment they saw me, their expressions changed instantly into concern.

Chris stepped forward first. “Brother… are you okay? You don’t look fine. What are you planning to do now?” Alicia nodded quickly beside him, her eyes scanning my face carefully. “Mike, did you sleep at all? You look exhausted. And what about Team Manager Josh?”

I tried to force a calm expression. “I’m fine. I’m not going to let Josh make decisions about my life. Laura also agreed that we should continue, so that’s what we’re going to do.” Chris sighed, but nodded slowly. “Then at least you’re not backing down.” Alicia didn’t look fully convinced, but she didn’t push further. “Just… be careful. This is not a small matter.”

We stood there for a few more minutes, talking quietly about what might come next. None of us had a real solution yet, but having them there made things feel slightly lighter. Eventually, we all walked inside together.

When I reached my office, I barely had time to sit down before the atmosphere changed again. A sharp knock came at the door.

Before I could respond, Josh entered.

He didn’t wait for permission. His expression was hard, his eyes sharp, and his presence immediately filled the room. “Mike,” he said coldly, closing the door behind him. “What did you decide?” I stood up slowly, trying to stay respectful despite the tension. “I’ve made my decision. I love Laura. I spoke to her, and she also said she doesn’t want to break up. So we will continue our relationship.”

For a moment, everything went silent.

Josh stared at me as if trying to process what I had just said. His jaw tightened. “So you chose her… over your position here?” he asked quietly, but his voice carried anger. “It’s not about choosing one over the other,” I replied carefully. “I didn’t enter this relationship with bad intentions. I respect you as my team manager, but I can’t end something just because I was told to.”

That was the moment his calm finally broke. His hand slammed onto the desk. “You are very bold,” he said sharply. “Do you understand what you are doing? You are interfering with my family. I warned you, Mike.” I held my ground, even though my hands were slightly trembling. “With respect, sir, I didn’t interfere in anything. I met Laura without knowing her identity. What we have is real.”

Josh scoffed, shaking his head. “Real feelings? Or convenience?” That question hit harder than I expected. But before I could respond, he turned away. “This is not over,” he said coldly. “Remember that.” And with that, he left my office, slamming the door behind him. I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door. My chest felt tight, and for a second I wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.

Josh did not return to his office. Instead, he walked straight down the corridor toward the Vice Director’s office. Ben had just sat down when his assistant entered with him. The assistant looked nervous but stepped aside as Josh arrived at the door, clearly angry. A knock came. Ben looked up. “Who is it?” His assistant opened the door slightly and froze. “Vice Director… it’s Team Manager Tryon.” Ben raised a brow. “Let him in.”

Josh entered, and the door closed behind him. Ben observed him carefully. “Josh… what brings you here like this?” For a moment, Josh’s anger softened, replaced by frustration. He exhaled sharply. “I think you were right,” Josh said. Ben tilted his head slightly. “Right about what?” “About Mike,” Josh replied. “That kid… he is becoming a problem. He is disrespecting me. He’s involving himself with my daughter despite my warning. Someone needs to teach him a lesson.”

Ben leaned back slowly, a faint smile forming on his face. “Oh?” he said calmly. “And what kind of lesson do you think he needs?” Josh hesitated. “I don’t know exactly… but he can’t just ignore me like this. I am his superior. I am his team manager.” Ben nodded slowly, as if thinking deeply. “I see.” A short silence followed. Then Ben stood up. “I will think about what you’ve said,” he replied. “Wait for my instructions.”

Josh nodded quickly, relieved that his anger had found some support. “Thank you.” He turned and left the office. As soon as the door closed, Ben’s expression changed completely. A quiet, satisfied smile formed on his face. “Well… my first piece is in place,” he murmured to himself. “This fool will be useful.” He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly as he thought further. From outside, everything looked normal. But inside, something dangerous had just started moving.

Ben turned to his assistant, Natalie, who was still standing nearby. He stretched slightly, suddenly in a better mood than before. “Today is a good day,” he said casually. “Don’t stress too much with work. If you get bored… you can even come massage my shoulders.” Natalie froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. Then her cheeks turned slightly pink. “Y-yes, Vice Director…” She quickly walked back to her desk, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Ben chuckled lightly as he watched her leave, still wearing that quiet, calculating smile. And somewhere in the same building, I had no idea that the real storm was only beginning to form.