The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 19 - Sick

I rushed into work and immediately sought out Jake and Sarah, dragging them outside urgently. My mind was still reeling from the blowout fight with Hayes and his unhinged behavior.

"Girl, your love life is insane," Sarah remarked with a shake of her head.

"Says the one who gave head at the office party," I shot back, causing Jake to shift uncomfortably beside her. 

I needed some levity to distract from my spiraling thoughts.

Sarah rolled her eyes. 

"Alright, so what's the big deal now?"

I took a deep breath, bracing myself. 

"I think he's trying to get engaged with me. He's got his dad involved in some crazy scheme."

Jake's eyes widened. 

"His dad? I thought that dude was somewhere in a retirement home?"

I nodded grimly. "Yeah, but that's not all. Hayes had a fiancée before me." The words felt surreal leaving my lips.

Sarah's brows knit together as she processed this. "And? I'm sorry but I think all this has given you actual brain damage."

A hollow laugh escaped me. 

"Yeah, you're right, it feels like...I don't know, just exhausting keeping up with the drama." And questioning my own sanity. "I can hardly believe any of this is real."

She gave my arm a sympathetic squeeze. "Don't worry, we're here for you."

"Yeah, stuck with you," Jake added with a lopsided grin, trying to lighten the mood.

A small, grateful smile tugged at my lips before fading as reality set in again. "Whatever. Anyways, have you thought about confronting him or trying to talk it out?" I asked, desperately hoping for a solution.

Sarah scoffed. 

"You don't talk it out with crazy. This guy is clearly unbalanced if even half of what you're saying is true."

I winced, knowing she was right but not wanting to accept it. How had things spiraled so rapidly? Just weeks ago, Hayes seemed to want to get better. Now I could barely recognize the man I thought I knew.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered despite the warm summer air. 

"I don't know what to do," I admitted in a small voice. "I'm just...I'm scared."

I took a shuddering breath, trying to collect my jumbled thoughts. Jake and Sarah watched me with concerned expressions, waiting for me to continue.

"That's not even the worst part," I finally said, my voice trembling. "My mom...she's here. After all these years of being away."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Your mom? The one who practically drinks herself to death?"

I nodded jerkily. 

"Yeah. She just showed up out of nowhere at Hayes' place. Drinking, and talking about marriage was all so weird..." I trailed off, the memories causing a lump to form in my throat.

Jake put a comforting hand on my arm. "Hey, I'm so sorry. That must have been really difficult."

"Difficult doesn't even begin to cover it," I replied bitterly.

Sarah frowned. "Well...is there any truth to what she said? About marriage?"

I shook my head vehemently. "No, of course not! She's just...she's messed up, okay? Always has been. Why should I believe a word from the woman who practically abandoned me?"

But even as I said it, a nagging doubt crept in.

The way Hayes had acted when my mom showed up, his intensity, his insistence that she leave...

Jake seemed to read my conflicted expression. "Are you sure, Y/N? Because this is sounding pretty messed up, even for your usual drama."

Tears pricked my eyes as I met his concerned gaze. "I don't know what to think anymore," I admitted in a small voice. "Everything's just...spiraling. And now with my mom involved..."

I broke off, swiping angrily at the tears that spilled over. Sarah pulled me into a tight hug, rubbing soothing circles on my back.

"Hey, it's okay," she murmured. "We're here for you, no matter what. We'll figure this out together."

I clung to her, trying to draw strength from my friends' support. But inwardly, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse before they got better.