The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 21 - Love it

The next day at work, I felt lighter, more at ease than I had in weeks. The shopping trip with Hayes had been just what I needed to reset and get out of my negative headspace.

As I settled in at my desk, catching up on emails, I couldn't help stealing glances at Hayes working diligently a few feet away. He seemed so focused, so normal.

Maybe I really had been overreacting to everything.

By the time my lunch break rolled around, I was almost eager to catch up with Sarah and Jake, to reassure them that the storm had passed.

I found them already in the break room, Sarah dramatically fanning herself with a paper plate.

"Oh my god, you'll never believe what just happened!" she stage-whispered when she spotted me.

Jake was grinning from ear-to-ear. "Go on, tell her!"

I raised an eyebrow, setting down my tupperware container. "Okay, I'll bite. What's going on?"

"We just got surprise pay raises!" Sarah blurted out. "Like, huge ones! I'm talking an extra $20k a year at least."

My jaw dropped.

"What? Are you serious?" I knew our company did well, but that seemed almost too generous.

Jake nodded excitedly. "Yeah, they said it was from some anonymous benefactor who wanted to reward the hard workers." He shot Sarah a sly look. "So much for hardly working, huh?"

She swatted his arm, laughing. "Oh shut up. This is incredible!"

I couldn't help but get caught up in their giddy excitement, laughing along with them. It was such a welcome change from the stress and drama of the past few weeks.

"I'm so happy for you guys," I said sincerely. "You both definitely deserve it."

"Thanks, girl!" Sarah looped an arm around my shoulders, giving me an affectionate squeeze. "Now we can finally go on that beach vacation we've been dreaming about."

Something flickered in the back of my mind - a vague sense of unease. But I quickly shrugged it off, basking in the joyful moment with my friends. Things were finally looking up.

Little did I know, the pay raises were far from the generous gesture they appeared to be. But for now, I remained blissfully unaware of the darker motivations at play.

After my lunch break, I made my way back to Hayes' office space, the earlier euphoria fading as unease crept back in. I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the generous pay raises weren't as innocent as they seemed.

"How was your break?" Hayes asked as I entered, not bothering to look up from his computer screen.

I hesitated, studying him carefully. "Are you trying to bribe my friends?"

That made him glance over at me, an amused smile playing on his lips. "Is it working?"

My mouth went dry at his casual admission. "Maybe," I hedged.

He let out a chuckle, turning in his chair to face me fully. "Darling, you wound me. I simply wanted to reward your hard-working friends. Is that so wrong?"

"But why?" I pressed, feeling off-balance. "You barely even know Sarah and Jake."

Hayes rose gracefully and crossed the room toward me. I had to resist the urge to take a step back as he reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Because they're important to you," he murmured, holding my gaze intently. "And making you happy makes me happy."

The words should have been reassuring, but combined with his intensity, they felt vaguely threatening instead.

Like a promise and a warning all wrapped up together.

I searched his expression but found nothing but bland affection. "I...I don't know what to say," I stammered out.

Hayes' smile widened and he trailed his fingers down my cheek in a gentle caress. "You don't need to say anything, my love. Just accept this gift, for me."

The endearment on his lips should have been sweet, but it made something in me recoil. His touch, once so loving, now felt more like possession.

Seeming to sense my discomfort, Hayes stepped back, folding his hands behind his back. "Well? Don't you have something to say to your generous boyfriend?"

I felt trapped, like I was suddenly playing a game where I didn't know the rules. Mutely, I nodded. "Thank you..."

"You're very welcome, darling." His expression was one of paternal indulgence, like he was praising a child. "Now, I believe we have some work to get back to, don't we?"

With that, he turned on his heel and strode back to his desk, effectively dismissing me. I stood there for a long moment, my head spinning.

What was happening?

Slowly, I made my way woodenly to my own workspace, feeling more unsettled than ever.

As I stared sightlessly at my computer screen, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just made a deal with the devil himself. And there would be a price to pay.