Chapter 5

Laura

"Hey, Laura," Kate greeted as she strolled in, her voice deceptively light.

I responded with a nod, already sensing trouble.

"You look different," Andrew added, his voice dripping with amusement. Then, with a scoff, he smirked. "I'd say you look... bright."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Conversations with them never ended well. For the first time, I wished Peter was around.

"I..." I forced an awkward smile before shaking my head. "I look the same."

I peeled off my gloves and tossed them into the trash. When I turned back, Kate had moved closer—too close. I barely managed to stop myself from colliding into her.

Her eyes locked onto mine, dark and searching, her breath fanning against my face.

I held still.

She trailed a single finger across my cheek, the touch slow, deliberate.

"Why are your cheeks flushed?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

I swallowed, nearly choking on my own spit. "That's just... that's just how my cheeks are," I managed, coughing slightly.

Kate tilted her head, watching me like a predator sizing up prey.

"Come on, Kate," Andrew cut in, laughing under his breath. "Let the poor girl be. Her shift's almost over. She probably needs to go hang out with that deadbeat, Peter."

Kate turned, chuckling at his words, but I saw the flicker of something cruel in her eyes.

My jaw tightened. "He's not deadbeat."

Kate stilled.

"You said what?" she asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

Andrew snickered. "I doubt she said anything."

I lifted my chin. "I said Peter is not deadbeat."

Silence.

Kate turned back to me, her expression unreadable. Then, the edges of her lips curled up into something sharp. Wrong move.

"You said what again?" she murmured, her voice dropping into something low and taunting.

I hated myself for it, but I could already feel the sting of tears at the corners of my eyes. Damn it, Laura, stop crying so much.

Before I could respond, the door swung open.

"What's going on here?"

Rick.

Kate immediately stepped back, her expression smoothing into practiced innocence.

"Just a little discussion, boss," she said sweetly, before turning on her heel and heading toward the changing room. Andrew followed without a word.

Rick's gaze flicked to me. "George. My office. Now!"

I exhaled shakily, blinking back my tears. "Okay, sir."

Wiping at my eyes, I straightened my uniform and walked to his office.

I knocked twice.

"Come in."

When I entered, he was hunched over his laptop, his chin resting against his palm. He didn't acknowledge me right away. I stood there, waiting, my pulse ticking faster by the second.

Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze.

"Ah." He exhaled as if confirming something. "I was just wondering. I might be mistaken, of course, but this... looks like you."

He turned his laptop screen toward me.

My stomach dropped.

The blood drained from my face as I stared at the screen. No. No, no, no.

"You seem as shocked as I am," Rick mused, his tone deceptively casual. "So, let me guess... that's not you?"

My hands trembled as I covered my mouth.

"I...I'm sorry," I stammered, barely able to find my voice.

Rick leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping idly against his desk. "Tell me something, George. Would you knowingly do something against the diner's policy? Or did you just not care?"

I forced myself to swallow past the lump in my throat. "I...I read the employee guide. I did."

"And yet, here we are."

My heartbeat pounded in my ears, my palms slick with sweat.

"You know what happens when an employee takes on another job while working here?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Good."

He leaned forward, his expression unmoving. "I'll need your vest and your ID before you leave."

"Please," I whispered.

He raised a hand, stopping me before I could say more.

The conversation was over.

I walked out in a daze.

Kate and Andrew were waiting.

Their smirks cut through me like knives, the silent confirmation that they had done this. They blew my cover.

I blinked away my tears and headed toward the changing room. I set my ID and vest down carefully, almost mechanically, before walking out of the diner.

I barely registered Peter's voice as I nearly collided with him at the doorway.

"Laura, are you..."

I didn't stop.

I just kept walking.

As I got home, I immediately walked up to my room, curled up on my bed, drowning in my own tears.

If I had no power over anything else, at least I had the power over this.

At least I could cry.

*****

The loud buzzing of my phone jolted me awake.

I groaned, rolling over. A sharp migraine pulsed behind my eyes.

"Ugh..." I squeezed my temples.

Night had already fallen. The room was pitch black.

Squinting at my phone, I saw the name flashing on the screen.

Adlan.

I shut my eyes, exhaling before I answered.

"Hey," I murmured.

"Can you step outside for a moment?"

My brows furrowed. "What?"

"I'm outside your place."

My eyes snapped open.

Throwing off the blanket, I rushed to the window on the other side of my room. Shit.

His car was parked outside.

I hung up and bolted down the stairs instead of using the elevator.

The cool night air hit my skin as I stepped out. He was leaning against the hood of his car, watching me.

"Hey," he greeted.

I crossed my arms. "You always show up unannounced."

He arched a brow. "I called you. Multiple times. And I sent a text. I told you I was on my way."

"You did?" I frowned, checking my phone. Shit. Missed calls. Texts. I hadn't seen a single one.

"I must've knocked out," I admitted.

He studied me, his gaze scanning my face. "What did you do today?"

I hesitated.

"I... nothing," I lied. "What about you?"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing, really. Just a slow, unproductive day. Board meetings drained the life out of me. I needed an escape, but I still had to check product samples."

A small, tired smile tugged at my lips. Guess I wasn't the only one who had a shitty day but then, he did something unexpected.

He took my hands in his.

I blinked up at him, startled. "What's wrong?"

His eyes locked onto mine and then he spoke.

"Marry me."

Silence.

The words slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs.

My mind spun. My heart stuttered.

I stared at him, my lips parting in shock. "What...?"

His grip on my hands tightened, his expression unreadable.

"Marry me, Laura."