All Chapters of ONE NIGHT, ONE ROOM, AND A BOSS : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

A week had passed, and all Avery could do was watch Chloe cling to Nathaniel as though her life depended on it. She was everywhere: at Nathaniel’s side, in his office, and in work that had never been hers to begin with. Chloe had resorted to her own tactics just to secure time working with him, inserting herself into every moment of his workday.Throughout the week, Avery had tried to mind her business, immersing herself in work and keeping her mind busy. Even when Chloe tried to get under her skin, she kept her cool, refusing to give her the reaction she wanted.With her mother slowly regaining her strength, Avery finally had the space to focus on herself, and she wasn’t about to let Chloe take that peace from her. She reminded herself of that every morning as she walked into the office.Whatever game Chloe was playing, Avery refused to be dragged into it.She showed up, did her work, and kept her head down, even when it meant watching Chloe hover too close to Nathaniel or laugh a l

The next morning, Avery woke up a little tired, a slight headache lingering from last night’s champagne. They’d gone a bit overboard with drinks last night.She stretched quietly, careful not to wake Olivia, who was still fast asleep beside her. They had spent the night talking, drinking and laughing—sharing stories about work, Nathaniel, and, of course, Chloe. Olivia had spent the night lecturing her on how to put Chloe in her place.Avery smiled at the memory, shaking her head as she slipped out of bed. She grabbed her phone, checked the time, and exhaled. It was late enough to rush, but early enough to manage.She dressed quietly, swung her bag on her shoulder, and took a last glance at Olivia, who was sprawled across the bed."Such a sleeping beauty." Avery murmured to herself before heading out, a soft smile lingering on her lips.By the time she had stepped outside, she was fully awake and alert. Avery flagged down a cab, sliding into the back seat. She took a deep breath, alrea

By the time lunch break was over, Avery felt mentally drained, like she’d been trapped in a room with someone who knew exactly how to prod her nerves without leaving a mark.“Thank you all for coming. Truly. Let’s do this again sometime.” Chloe dabbed her lips with a napkin and glanced around the table.A few colleagues nodded and murmured appreciatively.“Definitely, that was really generous of you,” One of their colleagues said, smiling warmly. “It was a nice change to have everyone together like this.”The table slowly thinned as colleagues drifted back upstairs in pairs and trios, their conversations flowing into easier topics: weekend plans, who still owed who coffee, and the upcoming dinner night.Chloe lingered a moment longer than the rest, giving Avery a bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” Chloe said lightly, adjusting her bag. “Dinner night in two days—you'll be there, won't you?”Avery forced a small nod, her stomach tightening. “I’ll be t

Avery made her way down the corridor toward the event hall, each step in her heels sounding clearly against the hallway floor. She had expected the clatter of equipment and the voices of workers drifting in and out of the hall, but right now, the space felt quiet, almost too empty.The large double doors to the event hall were partially open. She slowed her steps at the entrance, her hand brushing the cool metal of the doorframe. Pushing it gently, she stepped inside. She stood in the center of the magnificent hall, her mouth falling open in awe. For a moment, she simply stilled, taking it all in.She glanced around, scanning the room to see if anyone was in, but saw no one.The polished marble floor gleamed under the lighting, illuminating the beauty.A series of round tables had been arranged across the floor, draped in white linen.At the far end of the room was the stage, the company crest mounted against a deep navy backdrop.Avery could smell the faint scent of polished wood an

Nathaniel stepped into the office, shutting the door with a soft click. The chair protested with a screech as he slid it out and sat, his expression unreadable. Avery shifted slightly in her chair, trying not to draw attention to her ankle. “Are… are we checking the footage?” she asked softly, eyes lifting to meet his.“Yes,” he said. “I need to see exactly what happened.”She nodded, glancing at the screen. The monitors flickered to life, showing the stage. The hall was empty; the chandelier swayed slightly in the air. Nothing unusual appeared on the feed.“So… no one was near it?” Avery asked cautiously.“Correct,” he replied, eyes never leaving the screen. “No interference. No one approached the rigging after clearance. The collapse was an unexpected structural failure.” “I see…”Nathaniel pressed a few buttons, zooming in on the footage. “Inspection has already been ordered. Protocol will be tightened. That’s all that matters.”She shifted again, unsure where to look. “Right.”H