Chapter 5
1302 Words
Natalie didn’t move.
She stood in the middle of the apartment, phone pressed to her ear, eyes locked on the door like it might suddenly explode. Her heart beat so loud she was sure whoever was watching could hear it.
“Kevin?” she whispered.
“I’m on my way,” he said. His voice was calm, but she knew him well enough to hear what sat under it. Anger. Focus. Control. “Don’t open the door for anyone. Not even security.”
“I didn’t,” she said quickly. “I swear.”
“Good. Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
A pause. Then, “Did you touch the box?”
Her throat tightened. “Yes.”
Another pause. Longer this time.
“Okay,” Kevin said slowly. “Listen to me. I need you to go into the bedroom. Lock the door. Sit somewhere low. Away from windows.”
Her chest tightened. “Kevin, you’re scaring me.”
“I know,” he said. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”
She did as he said. Locked the bedroom door. Sat on the floor beside the bed. Her whole body shook now.
“How long?” she asked.
“Ten minutes.”
It felt like ten hours.
She stared at the door, replaying the day in her head. The looks. The whispers. Olivia’s eyes. Cynthia’s smile in the mirror. The way people had suddenly started acting like she didn’t belong.
Because she didn’t.
Not in that world.
A knock sounded.
Natalie’s breath stopped.
Three soft knocks.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
KEVIN: Don’t answer.
The knocks came again.
“Ms. Moore,” a man’s voice called. “Building security.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She didn’t move.
The handle rattled slightly.
“Ms. Moore?”
She pressed her hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound.
After a long moment, the footsteps moved away.
She didn’t breathe until her phone buzzed again.
KEVIN: I’m downstairs.
Relief crashed over her so hard she almost cried.
Minutes later, the front door opened.
Kevin walked in like a storm.
His eyes went straight to her.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know.”
He knelt in front of her. Not touching. Just close enough that she could feel him.
“Let me see the photo.”
She handed it to him.
His jaw tightened as he studied it.
“They followed you,” he said quietly.
“Yes.”
“From work.”
“Yes.”
He stood and paced the room once. “This isn’t random jealousy anymore.”
“What is it then?” Natalie asked.
“It’s control,” Kevin said. “Someone is threatened.”
“By me?” she scoffed weakly. “I’m nobody.”
Kevin stopped pacing. Looked at her.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
She looked away.
“I don’t want this,” she said. “I didn’t ask for it.”
“I know,” he replied. “But you walked into a place full of power, money, and ego. And you’re connected to me.”
“I didn’t use that,” she snapped. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
“You didn’t have to,” he said. “They saw you with me.”
That truth settled heavy in her chest.
“So what now?” she asked.
Kevin’s voice hardened. “Now I stop playing nice.”
The next day, the office felt like a battlefield.
Natalie felt it the moment she stepped inside.
The whispers were louder. The looks sharper.
She stayed quiet. Focused. Did her work.
Olivia didn’t say a word to her all morning.
That scared her more than the insults.
By noon, Cynthia appeared at her desk.
“Kevin wants to see you,” Cynthia said flatly.
Natalie’s stomach dropped.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
She stood and followed.
The executive floor felt colder than usual.
Kevin’s office door was open.
Olivia stood inside.
So did two other executives Natalie had never seen before.
She stopped just inside the doorway.
“Sit,” Kevin said.
She sat.
Olivia crossed her arms. “This is unnecessary.”
Kevin didn’t look at her. “What’s unnecessary is threatening my employee.”
Natalie’s heart skipped.
Olivia laughed lightly. “Threatening? Don’t be dramatic.”
Kevin finally looked at her. “A box was left at Natalie’s apartment last night.”
The room went quiet.
Olivia’s smile didn’t move. But her eyes did.
Just a flicker.
Natalie saw it.
Kevin saw it too.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Olivia said.
“Security footage says otherwise,” Kevin replied calmly.
One of the executives shifted uncomfortably.
“You had her followed,” Kevin continued. “You used company resources. And now you’re trying to scare her into quitting.”
Olivia’s face hardened. “You’re choosing her over me?”
Kevin didn’t hesitate. “I’m choosing what’s right.”
Something ugly crossed Olivia’s face.
“You think she’s worth this?” Olivia asked, pointing at Natalie. “She’s temporary. She’ll break. They always do.”
Natalie’s chest burned.
Kevin stood. “This meeting is over.”
Olivia laughed. Sharp and Bitter. “You’ll regret this.”
She walked out without another word.
Natalie sat frozen.
Kevin turned to her. “You’re taking paid leave.”
“No,” she said immediately. “I can’t”
“That’s not a suggestion.”
“I need to work.”
“You need to breathe,” he said. “And you need to stay alive.”
She swallowed. “You’re firing me.”
“No,” he said firmly. “I’m protecting you.”
She stood. “I don’t want to be protected like this.”
Kevin stepped closer. “You don’t get to decide alone anymore.”
Her eyes flashed. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“You don’t own me.”
“I never said I did.”
“But you’re acting like it.”
Silence stretched between them.
“You don’t trust me,” Kevin said quietly.
Natalie laughed. “You hid your whole life from me.”
“I didn’t hide,” he replied. “You ran.”
That one hurt.
“I ran because I was scared,” she said. “And now I’m scared again.”
His voice softened. “Of me?”
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
That evening, Natalie packed a small bag.
Kevin stood by the door, watching.
“You’re not staying here?” he asked.
“No.”
“Where will you go?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
He shook his head. “You can’t just disappear again.”
“Watch me.”
She brushed past him.
Downstairs, the street felt colder.
She pulled her coat tighter and walked fast.
She didn’t notice the car until it slowed beside her.
Window rolled down.
“Need a ride?” a woman’s voice asked.
Natalie stopped.
Her blood turned cold.
Cynthia smiled at her from the driver’s seat.
“You look tired,” Cynthia said. “Let me help you.”
Natalie took a step back.
Cynthia’s smile widened. “Kevin won’t always be there.”
Natalie’s phone buzzed in her pocket.
She didn’t look.
Cynthia leaned closer. “Get in. Or we can do this the hard way.”
Natalie’s heart pounded.
Behind her, footsteps sounded.
Kevin’s voice cut through the air.
“Natalie.”
She turned.
Kevin stood across the street.
Cynthia followed her gaze, smile still in place.
“Well,” Cynthia said softly. “Looks like we have an audience.”
Natalie stood between them, breath shaking.
Trapped.
And the streetlight above flickered
then went out.
- Writer
