Page 63 of Unfaithful

I watched as Sara walked toward her, still so calm and controlled, while Elsa, for the first time, looked truly uncertain.

Sara extended her hand. "Return your ID card." She didn't ask—she demanded. "You are no longer my employee, and you are not welcome here."

Then, without sparing Elsa another glance, she turned to the guards. "Put her on the watchlist. She is not allowed to step foot in this building again."

Elsa's face was crimson as if she'd been scalded with boiling water. She yanked her lanyard from her purse and flung it to the floor before storming out the door without another word.

Sara walked back to me, and just like that, my emotions were in turmoil again. My gaze softened, and my expression faltered. I couldn't help it.

"You should go too, Cole," she murmured. "I'm sure you have plenty of work waiting for you."

"Can we talk? Please?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice quieter than I intended.

Sara shook her head. "Maybe some other time. I'm busy."

My shoulders slumped as I forced a small smile. "Alright. Some other time, then." I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "I'm sorry about this... I didn't know she'd show up here."

She didn't reply, just nodded at me before turning around and heading back to her office.

I walked out with my head hanging between my shoulders, no longer able to mask my emotions in front of everyone.

As I reached the lobby, I headed straight to the café and found Nancy sitting alone while Elena was sleeping in her stroller.

Elsa was nowhere in sight.

I knew she had bolted the moment she stepped outside.

I asked Nancy to come up to my office with Elena so I could finish some work before heading back with them.

When I arrived, Bobby practically jumped on me. "Everything okay? What happened?"

Her eyes flicked to Elena in the stroller, and she immediately cooed, "Hey, pretty girl, I miss—"

"She's asleep," Nancy cut in, her tone sharp and authoritative. "Don't bother her."

Bobby narrowed her eyes at Nancy but didn't press the issue. Instead, she turned back to me, matching my pace. "The meeting I took over for you went well. I'll update you later. Also, just a reminder, your guest is still waiting."

"My guest?" I frowned, confused.

"Yes, Leo Young. He's been waiting in meeting room two. The small one."

I stopped dead in my tracks. "I don't know him."

But the look on Bobby's face made something uneasy settle in my gut.

"I think you'll want to hear what he has to say."

I studied Bobby's face. She was being deliberately cryptic—something that wasn't like her.

Turning on my heel, I made my way toward reception, heading straight for meeting room two. Bobby trailed behind me.

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked.

"No," I replied without hesitation.

"Thank fuck," she muttered under her breath.

I pushed open the door and found a man, maybe a couple of years younger than me, dressed in black jeans and a dark blue button-up. A baseball cap sat low on his head. He was clean-shaven, but a long scar ran from beneath his left eye to his ear, giving him a rough, almost intimidating appearance. Yet, his eyes were calm. Steady.

---