Chapter 19: The conspiracy behind the shadows

Words : 1168 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 19: The conspiracy behind the shadows "Surprised?" Anne let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You thought I’d always be there following you like a shadow, taking care of you, obeying every order without question." She sneered, shaking her head. "To you, I was nothing more than a convenient companion. Someone to warm your bed at night and work tirelessly at the office during the day. But you never once stopped to think that I had feelings, that I felt every wound you inflicted." Her voice trembled with raw emotion. "It hurts, Denis. It hurts when the man I loved so much never truly cared about me. It kills me that you chose someone else over me—that you cheated on me like I was nothing. And now you expect me to forget all of it and stay by your side?" Her eyes blazed with fury as she spat, "That’s never going to happen." Her defiance caught Denis off guard. For a moment, something inside him twisted. He had hurt her—betrayed her. But pride, stubborn and unyielding, kept him from admitting his mistakes. Instead, he grew irritated and desperate. He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t let her go. With a swift motion, he grabbed her shoulders and shoved her against the wall, his grip firm, possessive. His lips crashed onto hers, rough and demanding. Anne stiffened, her body going rigid with shock. Then, fury surged through her veins. She squirmed, fighting against his hold, but he only pressed harder, refusing to let go. Desperate, she raised her knee, aiming straight for his crotch. Denis caught the movement just in time, jerking away and dodging the blow. His breath came fast, his eyes dark with frustration. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair to regain his composure. "If you want to resign, you’ll serve your notice period," he commanded. "Work diligently, follow my orders—no questions asked. Then I’ll accept your resignation." Anne’s chest rose and fell sharply as she locked eyes with Denis, searching his face. She didn’t trust him—not one bit. But for now, she would play along. "Fine," she said at last. "I’ll serve the notice period. But you have to promise to let me go after that." Denis gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "Don’t forget it," she warned. Without another glance, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the office. Denis watched her go, his jaw tightening. "I won’t let you go. No matter what. You’ll come back to me willingly—you’ll surrender to me." Meanwhile, in the quiet of her own space, Anne exhaled deeply and forced herself to focus. She flipped open the file, scanning through pages of data, jotting down notes with meticulous precision. Minutes melted into hours. The office around her slowly emptied, employees leaving for the day. The once-bustling office had dimmed into a hushed emptiness, but Anne remained oblivious. She was lost in her work, her mind set on one goal—finishing the report. She never lifted her head. Anne finished taking notes and swiftly moved on to compiling the report. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, her focus razor-sharp—until the sudden ring of her phone shattered the silence. She glanced at the screen. Augustine. Without hesitating, she picked up. "Hello?" "Are you still at the office?" His voice was calm but carried a trace of concern. "Yes," she replied, barely pausing as she continued typing. "It’s almost ten," Augustine pointed out. "And you’re still working. Is Denis giving you a tough time? Should I come down there?" Anne’s hands stilled for a second. "No, no... don’t come," she said quickly. "I can manage here. I’m just working on a report. It’ll be done soon. Now put the phone down and let me focus." Augustine sighed on the other end. "Alright, I’m hanging up. But I’ll come to pick you up—" Before he could finish, the call was abruptly disconnected. He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen with a deep sigh. "It’s our wedding night, Anne. Don’t you remember?" He had booked a table at an elegant restaurant. He had planned everything down to the smallest detail, imagining how the night would unfold. But it seemed she had completely forgotten. He was a bit disappointed but not disheartened. "It’s okay. I’ll remind you." His lips curled into a small, knowing smile. Anne, unaware of what Augustine was planning, quickly pushed aside the distraction and refocused on her work. A soft voice interrupted her concentration. "Are you not going home?" Anne looked up to see Becca standing beside her desk, a warm but curious expression on her face. Becca—the only person in the office she could truly call a friend. Anne offered a small, polite smile. "I have to finish this first," she replied, gesturing toward her laptop screen. Becca’s gaze flickered over the document, quickly realizing it was a report. She gave a small nod of understanding. "I see." Adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, Becca took a step back. "Alright then, I’ll leave now." "Goodnight," Anne waved at her. "Goodnight," Becca echoed, but before turning away, she paused and gave Anne a pointed look. "Don’t stay too late, okay? Your health matters too." "Thank you, Becca. See you tomorrow." With a final wave, Becca walked off, leaving Anne alone. Becca’s cheerful expression faded as she stepped into the lobby. The once-bustling office was now eerily quiet. She reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, she dialed a number. "Hello, Miss Tania," she murmured, keeping her voice low. "Anne is working on a project report. This project is crucial to the company, and Mr. Beaumont is personally overseeing its progress." "Hello, Miss Tania," she said in a hushed tone. "Anne is working on a project report. This project is important for the company, and Mr. Beaumont is personally assessing its progress." "Oh, is it?" Tania, on the other end, smirked, a malicious glint in her eyes. ’It Denis is taking such interest in this project, it must be quite important to him,’ she mused. A wicked thought began to take shape in her mind. "Thank you for the information, Becca," Tania drawled. "Now, listen to me carefully. Delete the report from Anne’s laptop. Denis will be furious enough to fire her. And once she is gone, you’ll get your chance to be his secretary. I’ll personally make sure of it." A slow smile spread across Becca’s face. "I’ll do it. Don’t worry. By tomorrow, she’ll be out of this office for good." She ended the call, determination settling in her chest. ’Sorry, Anne,’ she thought coldly. ’You shouldn’t have seduced the boss and interfered with his real girlfriend. You don’t deserve to be here.’ Instead of leaving, Becca slipped into the shadows, hiding herself in the darkened corners of the office. She would wait for the perfect moment to delete the file.

Chapter 19: The conspiracy behind the shadows

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