BOUND BY ONE NIGHT

Chapter 11

Lavender’s POV

By Monday morning, the weight in my chest had solidified into something sharp, something I couldn’t ignore anymore. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the resignation letter I had rewritten five times. My hands trembled every time I picked it up, because the words felt too final… but also like the only thing left holding me together.

I couldn’t keep working for him, not after what happened, not after waking up in his arms, then slipping away before dawn like someone fleeing a crime scene. And, God, it felt like, a mistake, a failure, a betrayal of who I believed myself to be.

By 8:30 a.m., I was walking into the building with the letter in my bag, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the elevator music. Every corridor felt heavier than usual ,like the walls themselves already knew I didn’t belong here anymore. Sophie from accounting waved at me as I passed.

“You okay? You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just didn’t sleep.” If only she knew. When I reached the executive floor, I paused, gripping the handle of the glass door. My reflection stared back at me, tired eyes, stiff posture, lips pressed together so hard they’d gone white.

I wasn’t ready, but I couldn’t stay. I stepped inside. Everything looked the same, the polished marble floors, the sleek black décor, the view of the skyline stretching across Alex Robinson’s office. The familiarity almost crushed me.

I walked to my desk, shutting off my computer before I could even settle my bag down. Clean break, I reminded myself. No lingering. No second thoughts. Jenna, the HR liaison, came walking out of the elevator and smiled.

“Morning, Lavender. We still on for the training review?”

I swallowed. “Actually… could we talk privately?” Her brows pinched with concern, but she nodded. “Of course.” We stepped into a small meeting room. My pulse hammered in my ears as I handed her the envelope.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“My resignation.”

The shock on her face almost broke me, but I stayed still, hands folded tightly in front of me.

“Lavender,” she said slowly, “you’ve been with the company almost four years. This is… sudden.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“Is this about your workload? Did something happen? You can speak freely with me.”

I nearly laughed ,a humourless, shaky sound.

If only I could tell her, If only I could say, I slept with the man whose name is on this building. The man who doesn’t look at women the way he looked at me that night. And I don’t know how to breathe around him now.

Instead, I said, “I just… need a fresh start.”

Jenna exhaled softly. “Is he”

She caught herself before saying Alex’s name.

“Is management the reason?”

“No,” I said too quickly, then softened. “Not directly. I promise.”

She studied me for a long moment.

“I’ll process this by noon. Are you sure you don’t want to serve your notice period?”

“Yes. Please submit it as immediate.”

“All right,” she said gently. “I’ll take care of it.”

When I walked out of that room, everything felt heavier ,like the moment after slamming a door too hard. I sat at my desk one last time. Collected the few personal things I had: my mug, my pen set, the small potted fern I managed to keep alive. I placed them carefully into a paper bag.

Then I froze, Alex’s door was closed. He was inside. If I wanted closure, this was the moment. But what would I even say?

I’m sorry?

It shouldn’t have happened?

I can’t work here anymore because being near you hurts?

No. No words would survive that conversation.

Footsteps approached, Michael from legal.

“You heading out early?”

“Something like that,” I whispered.

“You should say bye to the boss,” he said. “You know how he gets about disappearing staff.”

I forced a smile. “He’s in a meeting. I don’t want to interrupt.”

Michael shrugged and walked away. My palms were sweating. My heartbeat was ridiculous. I could feel him on the other side of that door , cold, composed, unreadable.

Don’t look, don’t even think about going in there.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and stepped toward the elevator, each step feeling like a betrayal and a liberation at the same time.

Just as the elevator chimed open, Jenna rushed toward me.

“Lavender.....wait!”

My breath caught.

“Mr. Robinson was looking for you.”

My stomach dropped. “When?”

“Just now. He opened his door and, well, your desk was empty. He asked where you were.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“Oh.”

“He said to send you in when you returned. Should I tell him you’ll ?”

“No,” I cut in, too quickly.

“No. Please just… tell him I’ve left for the day.”

Jenna searched my face, something like worry flickering in her eyes.

“All right. If that’s what you want.”

It was the only thing I could survive.

I stepped into the elevator before I lost my nerve. The doors closed, sealing me away from the only man who had ever made me feel something I had no right to feel. When I stepped outside, the city air hit me, cool and bright. The cab horns, the chatter, the distant rumble of traffic, it all sounded louder now, like the world didn’t care in the slightest that my life had just slammed into a wall.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

1 new email, from HR

‘’Your resignation has been processed.’’

I inhaled sharply. That was it, done, final. But then… then I felt something I hadn’t expected: relief.

Yes, the guilt still gnawed at me, the shame still burned hot beneath my ribs.

Yes, I felt like I’d disappointed everyone, most of all myself. But walking away from Alex was the first decision in days that didn’t feel like drowning. I turned toward the street, hugging my bag to my chest. I didn’t look back.

Not at the building, not at the glass windows on the top floor, not at the door that would eventually open, and discover I was gone.