The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 12

Elara

“Who was it, Elara?”

I turned quickly when I heard Nora’s voice, I had told her to stay in her room while I talked to Harrison.

I exhaled sharply, forcing a smile to calm my anger before walking over to her. “It’s just someone from work.” I told her and her brows furrowed slightly.

“You told us you were fired, why would someone from work come to find you?” Nora tilted her head slightly.

Nora had always been observant and that was the reason I always kept some things hidden from her, I didn’t want her getting involved with adult matters, at least not now.

“Well, they came to beg me to work for them.” I said with a smile. “The literary missed me at work, the company can’t operate well without me, so they regret their decision and wants me back.” I said softly.

Nora stared at me for a long moment, her brows creased slightly, it was obvious she had her doubts.

“I’m serious, Nora.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “I think everything will be fine now.” I thought back at Harrison’s word, he was going to handle my mother’s bill if I returned to work the next day.

“Mom is still at the hospital, there is nothing fine.” Nora muttered as she walked toward her room.

“I told you not to worry.” I called out.

“I’m going to bed.” She responded without looking back.

“What about dinner?” I asked.

“Not hungry.” She shut the door before I could protest.

I ran my hand through my hair as I stared at her door. “What do I do about her?” I muttered, making it to the kitchen, I opened the fridge, but there was barely anything edible there.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “Did Nora check? Is that the reason she said she wasn’t hungry?” I bit down the sob and raised my eyes to suppress the tears that clustered in my eyes.

“Let’s stay positive, Elara, at least I got my job back.” I sniffled and closed the fridge.

The next day, I stood outside the tall building of Hayes corporation, my stomach twisted into knots and I could barely breath. Memories of few days ago flood back into my memory, the fact that I might run into Jacob when I go in there, the part of seeing the same people who had cause me pain.

I scoffed at how funny life was, I had been escorted out of here like a thief, now, thanks to Harrison Hayes and that soul-crushing contract, I was walking back in.

“Well, f**k it.” I muttered, mustering up my courage, I walked in with my head held high. Heads turned immediately and I could hear the staffs practically whispering. My former colleagues stared at me in shock.

No one, absolutely no one knew I was going to return. My inner goddess chuckled as I kept my chin high, but bit down my lips when I recalled how they had all watched me kiss Harrison.

What if they all think I’m back because I slept with the new boss? I hated how that bitter thought spread through my mind making my cheek burn.

I took the elevator to the top floor, when the doors opened, I stepped out into the luxurious space and was marveled. I have worked her for five years, but I have never been sent up here, never seen such wide beautiful view before.

Mrs. Clara, Harrison’s assistant stepped forward. “Mr. Hayes has arranged for you to use office 313. It’s right next to his. He wants you to start immediately on the Orion project files.”

I closed my eyes momentarily, of all place to site my office, it was next to his. I had truly signed my life over to save my mother, but being here felt like selling pieces of my soul.

The new office was larger than my old shared one, the large window overlooked the city and it felt surreal that I was even at a space like this. I set my things down and tried to settle in, but before I could sit, the door open.

Harrison stepped in without knocking and I froze. He looked every bit the ruthless CEO in his well-tailored black suit, his dark hair was perfectly style and his expression unreadable, seeing him here made him look intimidating that I lowered my head unable to hold his gaze.

“Miss Brooks,” his said in his deep voice. “The full project files have been uploaded to your secure drive. Focus on the structural calculations first. I’ll be monitoring progress closely.”

I slowly raised my eyes to meet his. There was no pleasantries in those grey eyes. I nodded stiffly. “I understand.”

He turned without sparing me a second glance and closed the door behind him, that was when I realized I had been holding my breath.

I exhaled shakily and sank into the chair. The files loaded on my screen. Hundreds of pages of corrupted data, and altered numbers. I clenched my jaw. These were the same documents I had poured my heart into for months, only to have them used against me.

Pushing my anger aside, I started working on the numbers. For the first three hours, the work consumed me. These errors were made by someone who had deliberately tweaked load-bearing calculations knowing full well the risks.

“Aish!” I ran my hand through my hair as I stared at the screen with furrowed brows. My original warnings were buried deep in version histories, erased from the final reports, fixing this would take days, maybe weeks if I focus intensely on it.

I clenched my fist so hard that they turned white, if I could, I would burst into Jacob’s office and smack his face multiple times just to get back on him for messing things up this far.

Just then, I heard a knock on the office door and I glanced up, before I could respond, the door was swung open and Jacob walked in.

Speak of the devil and he appears! I groaned inwardly as I glared at him, my blood turned into ice.