Chapter 21

Helena’s POV

I kept typing.

I didn’t even remember when my fingers started hurting, or when my back began to ache.

Or when the numbers on the screen started to blur just slightly at the edges.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop.

His words still echoed in my head, burning down every ounce of hope I had left.

There is always time for what one values.

My jaw tightened as I stared at the screen with my fingers pressing harder against the keyboard.

“I do value this,” I muttered under my breath in a way that was barely audible even to myself.

The keys clicked faster, growing louder and almost aggressive.

I didn’t stay away cause I didn’t care. I didn’t walk out cause I was irresponsible.

I didn’t just decide to step back, but he didn’t want to hear it.

He didn’t even try to let me speak 

A bitter breath slipped past my lips as I leaned forward slightly, scanning the data in front of me with my eyes.

I wasn't even fully sure of what I was doing, I couldn't bank on these details being true.

But whatever. If this is what he wants from me… then this is exactly what he would get.

“I’ll finish it,” I whispered under my breath as my voice steadied now. “I’ll finish everything.”

My fingers didn’t slow down for a second, if anything, they moved faster.

Years of experience coming to play as I typed as fast as I could and still keeping it accurate, only slight mistakes here and there.

Time passed before I could grab a hold of it, and I still didn’t know how much of it had passed.

Minutes blurred fast, then hours followed faster. It wasn't long before the buzz around the office faded.

Voices quickly vanished, the footsteps that once filled the office now barely reached my ears.

Doors stopped opening and closing now and silence slowly crept in. That's when I realized the working day was over.

But I didn’t still stop. In fact, I barely even noticed the effect of sitting in one spot for so long.

After another couple of minutes, a voice called out from the door.

“Helena?”

It was careful, pretty reserved, like it didn’t want to interrupt too much.

I didn’t look up but I knew exactly who it was.

“Helena,” Tessy called again with the sound coming from a slightly closer distance.

“I’m working,” I replied in a flat tone with my eyes still glued to the screen.

There was a long pause before I heard the faint sound of her heels. But they only kept getting louder.

“It’s past closing time,” she said gently. “You should go home, we should go home.”

“I said I’m working,” I replied, and this time, my voice came out sharper than I intended.

But I didn’t take it back. I couldn’t, I wouldn’t.

Another pause followed, this one longer than the last.

“He was too harsh, right?” Tessy asked quietly, and I noted the apologetic tone behind her voice.

My fingers calmed for half a second, then… resumed like before.

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered.

“You don’t have to prove anything—”

“I’m not proving anything,” I cut in, finally glancing at her briefly before returning to my screen. “I’m finishing my assignment.”

There must have been something different in my tone this time cause she didn't argue.

I could feel the subtle shift, it was as though she had finally realized this wasn’t something she could talk me out of.

“…You’re serious,” she murmured.

And I didn’t respond, simply cause I was.

Silence settled again between us before she sighed softly.

“Don’t stay too late,okay?” She stated softly and I didn’t answer again.

Then a few seconds later, I heard her footsteps retreating, before the door clicked shut.

And I kept working, not flinching for a second even when my fingers began to crank up.

I glanced down at the time and about an hour had passed, then another, and by now, the building had gone completely quiet.

Everything around me screamed louder now, pressing down more on me.

But I didn’t care enough to stop. Not when my eyes burned slightly, or my shoulders ached, or my neck went stiff.

I just cracked them into place and resumed.

Not long afterwards, I heard the door opening again.

I didn’t look up immediately and was about to blow off at Tessy when his scent hit me.

My fingers slowed down a bit as the scent flooded my nostrils, but I shook it off and resumed.

He's the reason I'm doing this anyway.

“Helena?” He called out after the door pushed open further.

His voice was different now, not as cold as the one he used to dress me down earlier.

Something about it made my fingers pause again, but just for a second before I resumed typing again.

“Yes, sir,” I muttered without looking up.

There was a brief silence, then I heard his heavy footsteps drawing closer.

His steps were measured, slow, approaching me at a second per step.

“I thought you had left,” he muttered again.

“I was asked to finish my work,” I replied calmly with my eyes still fixed on the screen.

There was a longer pause before he finally spoke.

“You’ve been here this whole time?” He asked.

“Yes, sir,” I replied without looking up and I could feel his heavy gaze on me now, like he was checking out my posture.

Or maybe trying to understand why I was doing this, like he didn't know.

“You didn’t go home,” he said, still staring at me.

“No, sir,” I replied.

“…Why?”

That made my fingers stop for a split second. Then I exhaled softly before going back to typing.

“I have an assignment to complete, sir,” I replied after a second or two.

I maintained the most polite, professional, and tamed tone I could possibly muster.

“Helena,” he called out again, his voice quieter now, less like him. “It’s late.”

“I’m aware, sir,” I replied.

“You can finish it tomorrow,” he said softly.

“I’d prefer to complete it now, sir,” I retorted calmly.

There was another pause. Then—

“That’s not a request,” he said firmly, bringing back a hint of that his tone from earlier.

But that didn't make things any better, if anything, it actually made it sting more.

My fingers slowed, but not from the ache in them or the tiredness, they slowed from his words.

I leaned back slightly, turning my chair just enough to face him properly.

“I understand that, sir,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But I would like to finish what I started.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly at me. “You’re exhausted,” he said firmly.

“I’m fine,” I shot back.

“You don’t look fine,” he replied.

“I’ll manage,” I retorted.

There was another moment where neither of us said a word. The tension crept in, filling the space between us.

Then, out of nowhere, he stepped closer. And before I could react—

His hand reached out in the direction of my table and pulled it back with force.

My eyes shot to him and I raised my both hands in the air as my breath hung instantly.

“What are you doing?” I asked as the calm in my voice cracked ever so slightly.

“You’re done for today,” he said firmly.

“No, I’m not,” I replied and pulled my chair back towards the desk, resuming my typing.

He chuckled darkly before reaching out again, but not to my desk this time.

I caught a glimpse of it this time around and my hand moved on instinct purely.

I grabbed Barron Hale’s wrist before I could think twice.