Chapter 84

MANNIE’S POV

“Great, it's almost time to get off work.”

I muttered under my breath as I packed my things, sliding the last file into the drawer and pushing my chair back a little. My shoulders dropped in relief. The office lights hummed softly above me, and the gray evening light streamed weakly through the blinds.

I didn’t have to work overnight.

I slipped my water bottle into my bag and zipped it shut.

Just when I reached for my bag strap—

“Ms. Mannie. Please come for a minute.”

My supervisor’s voice floated out of his office.

My hand froze mid-air.

I bit my lip, jaw tightening. My fingers squeezed around my water bottle until the plastic crinkled.

What now?

I took my phone quickly and swiped down to the recording option. My thumb pressed the red circle.

“These people always had a way of trying and testing my patience,” I whispered to myself. “And if I don’t have something on them, I’ll always be on the losing end.”

I inhaled and held that breath for one second, letting it steady my chest. Then I exhaled slowly and walked toward his office.

Knock.

I opened the door slightly and peeked inside.

A female colleague stood in front of his desk, smoothing her blouse, tugging it into place as she flashed me a shy smile.

My eyes rolled before I could stop them.

I already knew what this was about. I already knew what would happen next.

Same script.

Different days.

“Sir, you called for me.”

“Yes… yes.” He cleared his throat loudly and tugged at his collar. The collar still had lipstick smeared along the edge — loud red, not even trying to hide itself.

My eyes flickered briefly with silent schadenfreude.

I wonder what his wife will think when she sees that.

He shuffled papers, pretending to be serious.

“Um, Ms. Tanya has an emergency at home and can’t finish up her work. So…” he lifted a stack of documents and pushed them to the edge of his desk, “you will have to do it and submit it tomorrow. No delays.”

My fingers twitched.

A wave of anger flickered behind my ribs. I already guessed something like this would happen, but it still stung. It still annoyed me. Still made me want to throw the papers at his face.

But instead, I smiled.

“Sir, you will have to write to HR that I am doing overtime today, and also inform security, so they don’t lock up everywhere like last time.”

The man froze.

The other woman blinked at me with disbelief.

He coughed into his fist. “O-Okay… just… take the documents first and begin—”

I didn’t move toward the documents.

I didn’t touch them.

I looked right at him, still smiling. “Sir, please do that first while I call home to inform my kids that I’ll be delayed because I’m doing my colleague’s work.”

My smile stayed bright. Pleasant. Too bright.

It made both of them shift uncomfortably.

The woman scoffed loudly. “Can’t you just obey? Your audacity is really something else.” She folded her arms, eyes full of jealousy and annoyance. “You think you’re important because you have the president’s backing?”

I didn’t look at her.

She didn’t deserve a reaction. Not even a blink.

“Mr. Supervisor,” I said calmly, still smiling, “please do the needful. The more you waste time, the later I leave. I’m sure you both have somewhere to catch up to.”

The man stiffened. His face turned red. His fingers fumbled against the telephone as he dialed HR and then security.

“Done,” he muttered awkwardly. “Now take it and leave.”

I snorted softly and picked up the documents.

The moment I stepped out, I stopped the recording and leaned against the hallway wall for a second, closing my eyes.

ANN-OY-ING.

All of them.

I pulled out my phone and called my mom.

The phone rang once before she picked up.

“Mom,” I said the moment the call connected. My voice came out tired. “Mom, I’ll be working overtime today. Please help me with the kids.”

“I knew that’s what you were going to say,” she replied immediately. “If you were working in David’s company, would he let you work overtime? No! He would—”

Here she went.

Round one of her David-praising championship.

“Mom, please—just help me with the kids. Thank you.” I cut the call quickly before she added another lecture.

I didn’t have the patience for talks like,

‘When will you marry David?’

or

‘David would treat you better.’

or

‘Why don’t you beg David to employ you?’

My forehead throbbed lightly. I rubbed it with my fingers and sighed.

“I pray this misunderstanding is cleared soon.”

I dragged myself back to my desk and switched on my computer.

The soft glow of the screen filled the empty office space. Chairs were empty. Desks were cold. The quiet was heavy, almost echoing.

Everyone had gone home except me.

I pulled my chair closer and started working.

The irritation at doing someone else’s work burned inside me, but the thought of the overtime pay made it easier to swallow.

I worked steadily. I tried to be fast while staying focused.

The clock ticked loudly in the silence.

My eyes drifted to the time on my phone.

“Remaining small and I’ll be done,” I muttered.

7 PM.

Only my keyboard sounds filled the air —

click, click, click —

sharp, rapid sounds.

Ping!

My phone lit up.

A message notification.

I almost ignored it until the contact name flashed on the screen:

Beth.

I blinked.

“Isn’t it too early on her side of the world?”

I opened the message quickly.

It read: Free by 8? Wanna meet up. I just landed back in the country.

A grin broke across my face before I could stop it.

I hit the voice note option.

“B*tch, you’re back in the country for real?” I exclaimed, the excitement bursting out of me.

Beth was one of my besties — the loud one, the wild one, the trouble magnet.

And I missed her.

Her reply came fast.

Yup sweetie… let’s meet up. Kyla said she has to be at the bar and can’t come.

I eyed the documents in front of me, then the time.

“I can meet up. It’s just remaining a few things left,” I muttered under my breath.

I typed fast: "Sure, address?"

Her typing dots appeared.

My heart warmed with anticipation.

Then:

"8 PM. Our old spot."

I smiled.

Cool, I typed and dropped my phone aside.

I attacked the keyboard again.

Click.

Click.

Clickclickclick—

Just when the keyboard was ready to die from overuse, my phone buzzed again.

I frowned and looked at the caller ID.

My heart jolted.

Dominic.

My mind spun in a rush.

“Did David tell him about the paternity test?”

Questions flooded in so quickly they tripped over each other.

I took a breath and picked up the call.

“Hello?” I said softly.

His cold voice rolled through the empty office.

“I sent something to your email.”

I blinked.

I opened my email with cautious fingers.

One new mail.

It was… a hair growth serum product.

Plus instructions.

Plus usage steps.

Plus warnings.

“Tch… who needs this?” I said with a laugh, my shoulders relaxing a little.

The knot in my chest loosened.

“You said you were losing hair because ypu miss me,” he said calmly. “I couldn’t let you become bald. I provided you with a solution.”

His voice was steady, low, almost flat, but the meaning behind the words warmed me.

My eyes softened.

“You’re talking like this at…” I checked the time zone difference in my head. “At 3 AM over there.”

A smile spread on my lips.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

There was a small pause, then:

“Good. You can miss me but don’t go bald. You will look ugly.”

My jaw dropped.

Then I laughed so hard I had to hold my stomach.

“Sure, boss.”

He hummed in respone and cut the call.​