All by Chance {Brollins}

/ Chapter 28 \

When Colby walked out of his meeting, he thought it was odd that he couldn't find Rebecca anywhere.

He figured she may have gone to a site visit or on a supply check, but eventually, something just seemed off. Normally she left him a note or a text, and she definitely would've informed someone about her whereabouts.

"Did Rebecca have any out-of-office work to do today?" Colby walked into his father's office just behind his mother.

"I know she does at the end of the week, but I don't think there's anything today." Ron straightened his glasses as he looked at the work schedule.

Holly made her way behind her husband, placing a hand on his shoulder as she scanned the computer screen as well. "Why is something wrong?"

"I don't know." Colby stood there trying to recall the past few days, not being able to come up with an answer. "She normally asks me how things went right after a meeting."

He looked out at the office through his father's mostly glass wall. When Colby caught a flash of orange hair leaving the washroom he smiled. "There's my girl."

When he caught a glimpse of her face, however, his grin faded quickly. He saw her scramble to grab her things, not even putting on her jacket. Colby rushed out and intercepted her direct path towards the elevator.

"Hey... hey." He grabbed her elbows and stopped her in her tracks. "Are you okay?"

Rebecca's head was moving around as her eyes darted all over the place. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"What's wrong?" He persisted, seeing her breathing heavily and feeling her arms shaking.

"I can't talk right now." Colby heard her voice crack and knew something had happened. "I gotta go. I've got to get out of here."

Colby tilted her chin up and saw her tear-filled eyes. The instant she made eye contact with him, Rebecca lost all control she thought she had, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her words were barely a whisper. "Please Colby."

He didn't know what was wrong, but he hugged her, feeling her stiff movements remain. Colby slowly guided her back to his mother's office, where he knew it'd be less visible for others to see in. It was the last office in the hall, so he was hoping the privacy would be inviting.

"Miss Quin, are you free to sign these papers?" Colby heard someone call out from behind to see an intern named Kimberly.

"She can't right now, Kim." Colby answered for her as they got closer to the office.

"But they're due at five." Kimberly called back, "They're on the high priority list."

"I'll make sure they're signed." Colby didn't want to come off as harsh, but Kimberly's lack of intuition was frustrating. "Put them on my desk."

He closed the door behind them before she muttered on his chest. "Colby, I just wanna go home."

He wasn't going to keep her there if she really didn't want to, but he didn't feel Rebecca make a move to remove his hands from her. Colby moved them to her hips as he moved back a bit, feeling her flinch at the touch.

"Talk to me." Colby moved his thumbs up and down slowly. Her lips were pressed in a thin line as she shook her head.

"Okay." He nodded, not wanting to push her. "I love you."

"I love you too."  She replied quietly, trying to hide the shake in her voice.

When Colby leaned in to try and give her a kiss, Rebecca couldn't keep it in anymore. She backed away before he had the chance, and Colby stared on, confused.

"I should've listened to you." Rebecca ran her hands through her hair viciously as she broke down crying again and pacing around. "I should've listened."

"What are you talking about?" Colby tried to step towards her, but she moved away.

"I'm sorry." She looked him in the eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, being unable to stand still.

Colby's gut continued to twist, and her vagueness wasn't helping. "Rebecca-"

"I'm so sorry." The feeling of hidden danger swept over her, and she rushed over to Colby in desperation, almost knocking the wind out of him as she clung to him.

"I couldn't stop it." She sobbed, "I didn't know what to do."

"Stop what, love? What?" He rubbed her back trying, to remain patient, kissing the top of her head.

"I was just trying to get coffee." Rebecca hyperventilated, "And- and then he- my lip..."

Her sentences were all jumbled together, but when he caught her last few words, he backed away immediately. Colby scanned her face for any injuries, looking at her bottom lip and pulling it down slightly with his thumb. Just like she partially mentioned, her lip had a gash in it.

His once warm stare hardened, and Colby cupped her jaw. His touch was gentle, but his stare alone could make the wrong person hide away in fear.

"Who?" There was little infliction of question in the word, but Rebecca was still too frazzled to catch on either way.

Her eyes darted between the two of his, "What?"

"Take a deep breath." He told her calmly, slowly kissing her forehead. She saw a flash of reassurance in his eyes before they turned cold again. "Who did this?"

"He- he gave me no choice." The more Rebecca spoke, the more she shook and looking over her shoulder was quickly becoming a habit.

"Okay... what did he do?" Colby switched up the question knowing her brain was on a one-way road, and they'd circle back eventually.

"He forced himself on me." She held onto him tighter, "He... groped me, Colby."

Colby swallowed hard and clenched his teeth together, trying to hold any form of composure he could. "Who did this to you, Rebecca?"

"Jeff." It was a strangled whisper, but Rebecca managed to force it out. "Jeff did it."