Lahat ng Kabanata ng His office my rules : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Eli.I hadn't slept much during the night. I lay on my side, staring at the wall listening to the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. My small apartment made it easy to hear the faint sounds.Maya’s plan replayed in my head over and over again.It sounded simple, but I don't think it was.When morning came, my chest was tight. But it had nothing to do with panic, but rather, exhaustion. I showered longer than usual, letting the water run hot against my shoulders, grounding myself in the sensation.In front of the mirror, I placed my palm over my scars and let out a deep breath.You're still here, I told myself.School was normal, not like I was expecting anything unusual. I know school wouldn't change for everyone just because I had my own problems.I walked passed the coffee stand that Liam had spilled coffee on me and instantly hated the new set of faces I saw there. I decided to take a different route.Maya had texted me too “You good”“I’m here” I replied.The first class

EliThe past few days had been boring but I had been keeping myself on my toes.In class, I even sat by the window and watched the clouds instead of taking notes. And every time the door opened, my chest tightened.When class ended, I walked with Maya to the law library. She wanted to read and I was just there to tag along. I found a spot at the back and opened my notebook. I didn't write, instead, I traced the edge of the paper and inhaled the woodlike scent of the library, allowing my thoughts to wander about.A vibration in my pocket startled me. My phone. It was a message from my sister, Lizzy.How are you holding up?I stared at the screen for a long moment before typing back.I’m okay.It wasn’t true, but it wasn’t a lie either. I existed in the space between.After, the library, I felt like I was walking without direction, except, I was just following Maya’s lead.When we got to Maya’s apartment, I went towards the fridge to get myself something to eat.A few hours later, we we

EliI sat cross-legged on Maya’s bed with my laptop balanced on my knees, the soft glow of the screen reflecting off tired eyes. Outside, rain tapped lightly against the window.“So,” Maya said, spinning slowly in her chair, “if someone tipped off the ethics board, they had to know what they were doing.I nodded. “Or at least know enough to sound convincing.We started off by searching for Carter on the internet, whatever we could find, his school days, the opening of his firm, and when he started working at the university. Just anything we could find.“The year he opened his firm too” Maya typed while I talked.“Son of respected Billionaire lawyer, Carter Vale, launches his very own law firm today” Maya read aloud. “Big law firm, Old family, Good reputation. Our very own Professor Vale has zero scandals on the internet. Well, yet. But seriously, no lawsuits, or messy fights, or even divorces”“That‘s what makes it so weird” I said quietly. “People don’t just wake up and decide to rui

ELIBy lunchtime, Maya and I had turned a quiet corner in the garden into our unofficial headquarters.Her notebook was open between us, pages filled with names, arrows, and question marks. Mine looked just as chaotic, though I liked to pretend it was organized. We weren’t exactly investigators, but we were getting there.We went over some points again like the fact that Carter never had any feud with anyone.She glanced at me. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”“I wouldn’t say enjoying,” I replied. “More like… bothered enough to not drop it.”“Good”“What about Dante Hue?” he seems close to Professor Vale.“No no, trust me, they're tight. That's Carter’s best man there”“Hmm” Maya sighed.That was when footsteps stopped near our table.V F Maya reacted instantly, snapping her notebook shut. I followed, sliding mine beneath a textbook just as Liam’s presence registered fully. I didn’t need to look up to know it was him, there was something unmistakably confident about the way

ELI“The one time I decide to skip school, this happens” Igroans into the phone“Relax” Maya says “It's not like anything significant happened. I only recognized them from the other day”“You saw them?” I asked“Yes, I did. They were more today” Maya said and my heart skipped a beat, “Just one more” but it didn't make it any better.“Ugggghhhh” I groaned again into the phone“Are you okay?” Maya asked“Do I sound okay?”She didn't answer.“I need air,” I said, getting up from my bed and walking towards the window.“What if they call me in next?” I asked suddenly. “Well I'm not even on the premises but what if they do?”“Relax, they won't”“Huh? How are you so sure.?”“They just left Eli”“Oh. But that doesn't mean anything you know. They could call for me or come back”“Yes, they might”I breathed, “I don't think I can do that. Not after surviving Holloway”“If they do, don't go alone then. Or don’t say shit when they ask”“Yeah, yeah I know that”“I’m coming over” she blurted.“What