Resignation
1477 Words
Morning light spilled weakly through the thin motel curtains, brushing over Autumn’s face. Something warm… solid… strong… was wrapped around her.
Where am I? The bed doesn’t feel familiar! She barely opened her eyes, as she found the unfamiliar wall. Right! I am in the motel.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
Before she realised her cheek was pressed against something unnatural.
A bare chest. Autumn gasped at her thought.
A very firm, very warm, very male chest.
My legs were tangled with someone’s. An arm—thick, muscular, possessive—lay over my waist. And my hand… dear god… my hand was resting just above—
Autumn’s eyes flew open.
Caleb.
Caleb was in my bed.
Caleb was holding me.
Caleb— the shirtless Calen with perfect abs— is wrapped around me like we had been lovers for years.
A strangled squeak escaped her throat.
Caleb’s eyes snapped open instantly, pupils dilating the moment he realized she was awake.
“Autumn?” His voice was low, rough from sleep—too intimate, too addictive.
Autumn jerked back, nearly tumbling off the bed as she scrambled upright.
“Wh-what— why— WHY ARE YOU IN MY BED?” her voice came out high, breathless, mortified. Her cheeks burned so hard they hurt. “You—y-you were supposed to sleep on the f-floor!”
Caleb sat up slowly, brows knitting together in confusion and something else—hurt, maybe?
“You… don’t remember?” He spoke slowly.
Autumn blinked rapidly, mind racing. Remember what?
Caleb’s jaw flexed.
“You called my name,” he said quietly. “You were crying in your sleep. You begged me to stay.”
Her breath froze in her lungs.
“I… I what?” Autumn whispered. Memories rushed back to her.
Autumn sucked in a shaky breath as flickers of memory returned—the nightmare, the panic, the warmth I reached for without thinking. It was him who comforted me!
She became crimson again.
Caleb looked down for a moment, as if he could read through her mind. Next he spoke, voice softer. “You held my hand so tight I thought you’d break it.”
She whispered, hiding her face into her palms. “I didn’t mean to. I mean—I didn’t know. I wasn’t—I wasn’t trying to—”
“Trying to do what? Seduce me?” Caleb teased.
“I… what? No!” Autumn’s breath hitched.
“Relax, I am just teasing.” He cut in, voice firm but gentle. “You were scared. I wasn’t going to leave you alone anyway. Even if you hadn't asked me, I would have stayed.”
Autumn peeked through her fingers. He looked… almost genuine and gentle. And insanely handsome.
“But you’re blushing,” Caleb murmured, eyes trailing to her cheeks. “Were you… having any dirty thoughts?”
“I—no— of course not!” Autumn stammered. “It’s just—waking up on your chest is—”
Her words died as she realized something else.
He was still shirtless.
And her face had apparently been nuzzled against his skin all night.
Autumn groaned internally. “This is so embarrassing…”
Caleb’s lips twitched, the faintest smile appearing. “I didn’t mind.”
Of course he didn’t. His voice was way too smug for someone trying to hide it.
Autumn buried her face in the pillow, wishing it would swallow her whole. “This is a disaster…”
Caleb leaned closer—just a little—voice dropping.
“If it’s any consolation…” His eyes softened in a way that made her heartbeat spike. “It was the best sleep I’ve had in years.”
Her blush exploded.
“Stop talking,” she mumbled.
Caleb only chuckled, low and deep. “as you wish, fiancée.”
Autumn’s blush climbed up to her ears. She snapped her gaze away and cleared her throat in a panic, searching desperately for a safer topic.
“Ahem… s-so… I better get going.”
Caleb’s teasing smile faded instantly. “Going? Where?”
“I’m… uh, going to resign from Blackwood Corporation,” Autumn muttered, twisting her fingers. “And then I need to get my stuff from my apartment.”
Caleb went still. “You are resigning?”
His heart gave a sharp, unfamiliar twist.
“Yes,” Autumn said weakly. “My ex works there, and he handles the finances. I can’t… I don’t want to deal with him.” Her shoulders slumped, sadness weighing down her voice, remembering Jade. Besides, he is entangled with our CFO! I don't even know what type of nightmare is waiting for me out there!
Inside Caleb’s head, Maximus reacted instantly.
‘Why is she leaving? Don’t let her. Keep her in the company.’ His growl vibrated through his mind.
‘Stay calm.’ Caleb warned in his head.
‘Calm? She’s talking about leaving us. Blackwood is our pack— our empire. She can’t just walk away.’ Max growled. ‘Make her stop! Claim her now.’
Caleb’s jaw clenched.
‘She won’t. It’s Christmas Eve— nothing will process until after the holidays. We’ll have time. Enough time to make her stay,’ he replied.
Max grumbled but settled, still unhappy.
“You’re sure you want to quit?” Caleb asked carefully. “Blackwood is supposed to be a really good opportunity.”
“Maybe for others,” Autumn whispered. “Not for me. I just… want to spend time with my grandma in Maplewood. At least for a while.”
Something eased in Caleb’s chest—relief, protectiveness, maybe a little joy.
“Alright,” he said softly. “Then let’s get going.”
Autumn nodded and hurried into the bathroom. Caleb exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
The moment she closed the door, his eyes hardened. Her ex… what was his name again? Julian.
Autumn stepped back out a minute later, her hair smoothed, her dress adjusted, still adorably flustered from waking up in his arms. Caleb’s gaze softened instantly.
“Ready?” Caleb asked, eyes softening the moment he looked at her.
She always looks perfect… Even bundled in winter layers, cheeks pink from the cold, she looked like morning sunshine wrapped in snow.
Autumn nodded with a little smile.
They stepped out of the motel, and Christmas jingles drifted through the crisp air. Snowflakes sparkled under the pale morning sun, turning the whole street into a scene straight out of a holiday postcard. Buildings were draped in garlands and lights, store windows glowing with ornaments and red ribbons.
On their way toward her workplace, Autumn glanced at Caleb’s clothes—baggy, worn, still damp from yesterday’s snow.
“We also need to buy you something to wear later,” she said suddenly.
“For me?” Caleb blinked, genuinely surprised.
“Of course,” she replied. “I want you to look presentable before my grandma.”
Presentable? He nearly scoffed. Can she even afford the kind of clothes I normally wear?
Maximus growled in his head, ‘Don’t be an ass. Wear whatever our mate picks.’
Caleb exhaled. ‘Fine.’
When they stopped in front of the Blackwood restaurant entrance, Caleb touched her arm gently.
“I’ll wait out here. You go do what you need to do.”
As they reached the restaurant, Caleb said to Autumn, “I am gonna stay here. You go ahead and do your thing.”
“Sounds good,” Autumn nodded.
“Okay,” Autumn nodded. But the moment she stepped away from him, a strange hollowness cut through her chest.
The heated lobby should have felt warm. Instead, she shivered.
Why does everything feel colder when he isn’t beside me?
It was ridiculous—he is a stranger. A stranger I barely know. A stranger I hired.
And yet… her heart felt strangely empty without his presence.
When he was beside me, I felt this weird warmth even in this snowy morning. But now I am feeling cold even inside this heated building.
Autumn squared her shoulders and walked deeper inside. She headed straight to the HR office, resignation letter in hand. She expected questions, drama, maybe a confrontation— but the woman simply took the letter, stamped it, and said:
“Alright. It will be processed after the holidays.”
That was it. No questions. No hesitation.
Autumn blinked.
That was… too easy. I worked here for years.
A sigh slipped past her lips. Maybe I really am just that replaceable.
But luck wasn’t on her side—she ran straight into Julian. Autumn froze when she noticed the small plaster across the bridge of his nose.
Did someone actually break his nose?
“How dare you show your face here after what you did, you bi.tch!” Julian hissed, his voice sharp and venomous.
- Writer
