All Chapters of The Night Before I Knew Him: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

June{Soundtrack: Mozart/Requiem – “Lacrimosa”My fingers brush the steel bar of the office door.I pause, breathing in. The weight of what I’m about to do sits heavy in my chest. I push the handle down, slowly.The door gives way with a soft, dragging sigh, and a shaft of pale light slices across the floor.I step in.My lashes flicker once, slowly dropping a blink, then it flick twice.I feel the air inside, thick with her perfume, his cologne, and something else. Then I see them.Mr. Grande stretched along the couch, one arm behind his head, His shoes are still on, but his posture is careless, and carefree.And across from him — “Lottie”Her heels dangle off the edge of the couch,One leg crossed over the other, and her body reclined, easy, and intimate.They’re mirroring each other like a painting. As though they’ve done this ten thousand times before.My breath catches on the inaudible rise of the violins.My hand tightens around my skirt, my fingers crushing it's fabric. What

~Hermes~ "I'm sorry," she whispers, eyes dropping like a curtain falling.My breath drags in—too loud, and sharp. I turn away, straight to Charlotte, who’s wearing that goddamn disappointed look.This isn’t what it looks like.I just need June out of the office, out of my airspace, and most especially out of my reach.But how do I explain that? That her perfume makes my chest tight? And that I’m ten seconds away from doing something regrettable every time she's in my space.I can’t. So instead—"Instead of cleaning that," I say, tone overly polite to cover the static in my head,"Why don’t you take the box of discarded documents from the storeroom and shred them for me, please."Charlotte shakes her head, unreadable now.Perfect. Now I’m not just a bastard—I'm a micromanaging, heartless one too.She’ll never understand.I shut my eyes as June slips out of the room, breathing in the trail she leaves behind like an addict chasing a ghost.Then—smack.A soft slap across my shoulder jolt

JuneAs I watch Mr. Grande talk to the department heads in his now deep, annoyingly smooth voice, I force myself to focus on the slides, not him.And now I’m regretting fixing my earlier typos. I should’ve left them in to mess with him.But my anger is still burning, replaying his words over and over in my head:"Besides, what would an intern wear to a gala like that?"I thought he was just a snobby boss, but it turns out, he’s a proud, arrogant, double-dipped snobby boss who looks down on anyone not on his level.Ugh. I can’t believe I was attracted to him for days—…Wait. What?Did I just think “attracted”?I am attracted to Mr. Grande? I—I thought I wasn’t—"But you’ve been drooling over him," my brain whispers smugly.I drop my gaze, blinking fast. That’s different. Right?No, focus. The point is, I don’t feel that way anymore, because Mr. Grande? He’s a complete douchebag.Suddenly, the room erupts in applause. I jerk upright so fast I almost smash my head against the round desk.

June"Mr. Grande?" I blurt, stepping back as his hand slips gracefully from my shoulder.His gaze drops, and mine follows — straight to my drink in his other hand.How long has he been standing here?"Mr. Grande, what… what are you doing here?" My brow shoots up.Seriously. What is he doing in my space?He told me to fuck off not ten minutes ago, and now he’s here."What are you doing here?" he counters, scanning the place like it’s a museum exhibit.Well, yeah. It’s called the Forgotten Garden for a reason — no one ever comes here, not to check on these poor, neglected plants, anyway.Shit, June. Focus. He’s waiting for you to answer."Uhm— is there a company rule that says I can’t be here?"Oh no. That slipped out loud.I swallow hard.Wonderful, Girl — now you’re dragging our earlier fight from the conference room right back into this.His brows lift slightly, and without a word, he sets my iced Americano on the bench beside the swing, then he steps closer, his hands settling on hi

June"Haaa..."I sigh wearily, dragging my palm down my face. A stubborn strand of hair falls into my vision, and I blow it away without much care, eyes fixed on the ceiling. I’m not counting the tiles this time — I usually do — because today my mind is elsewhere.Which, of course, has been my default mood ever since I found out I slept with my boss, but today is different.Because I’m no longer confused about what I feel for Mr. Grande anymore. I’m finally facing the truth.Despite everything he’s done. Despite how arrogant and proud he is.I actually wanted to hug him today.That's after my conversation with Lia.She had asked where I was, and I told her — the garden — adding that Mr. Grande had met me there, then stormed off in an unusual dramatic way. I’d been craving clarity, but Lia’s reaction wasn’t what I expected.Her eyes flew wide. "You went to the forbidden garden?"I frowned. "Why? Why shouldn’t I be there?""Duh," she rolled her eyes and flared her hands. "I just call it