Page 108 of Lumi

It was stupid how many times I checked my phone to see if he had texted me. I had asked for some time alone. Damian was honoring that wish, and yet three or four times, I picked up my phone, tempted to call him.

“How does it feel to be yourself again?” Margot, one of our most senior employees, popped her head in as I was going over emails. I’d lost count of how many times people had asked me that question today, but I still smiled.

“It feels very freeing.”

“Do you need to do it again, or was it a one-time thing?”

I laughed. “It was most certainly a one-time thing.”

Margot tilted her head. “It suits you to laugh. I can’t remember seeing you this happy. Maybe I should experiment myself some time.”

I gave her a warm smile. “Maybe you should.”

“Excuse me.”

I looked up to see John White stand behind Margot. A glance at the time on my computer showed that it was past noon, which meant Charles would have delivered the bad news to John by now.

Margot moved out of the way, and it allowed John to walk right into my office and close the door behind him.

“John.” I stood up, feeling my heart pump faster.

He smelled like he’d bathed in some heavy men’s cologne, his face was red, and his forehead was dripping with sweat like he’d taken the stairs instead of the lift.

“Why are you doing this to me?” he asked in an accusatory tone of voice.

“Me?” My hand went to my chest, and my brow shot up. “I’m not doing anything to you.”

John’s lips were trembling with suppressed anger when he leaned forward and planted his fingertips on my desk. “Talk to Charles. I know that you never liked me, but these accusations are fabricated and completely false. If you talked to Charles, he would listen to you. He always does!”

I kept my voice calm and stoic. “If the accusations are false, then there’s no need for you to worry. The investigation will clear your name. Until then, all we can do is wait.”

“Bullshit!” John banged his fist on my desk, making my screen and papers move.

His angry outburst was unexpected, and I flinched back, staring at him in shock.

Taking a step back, John held up one of his palms. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but you don’t understand how much this means to me. It’s my entire career and reputation. My life!”

My hands were shaking from the adrenaline rushing through my body, so I tucked them in my pockets, putting on a brave face of calmness when I addressed the desperate man in front of me.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, but coming here and raising your voice at me isn’t making it better. I think you should go now.”

“Lumi, please. I’m sorry for raising my voice, but this whole day is shit. I had to take a last-minute plane ticket and sit in economy. The hotel messed up my reservation when I arrived last night. I’m fucking jet-lagged and on my tenth cup of coffee to keep my eyes open, and then Charles puts me on a fucking leave because of some wild rumors without a grain of truth to them.”

“You have my sympathy, but there’s nothing I can do for you.” I looked to my door, signaling without words that I wanted him to leave.

“Okay.” John took another step back. “I see now that it was a mistake to ask for your help. I shouldn’t have come here.”

I didn’t comment on that but stayed behind my desk, grateful for the buffer it created between us.

“Hopefully, this gets cleared up soon,” John said with a hand on the door handle.

I gave a curt nod. “That would be nice.”

John’s smile was stiff and forced. “Then, we can laugh about it.”

When I didn’t reply, he sucked in his lips and opened the door with a last look back at me. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell Charles that I stopped by.”

“Goodbye, John.”