The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 32 - Money Funny

The uneasy truce between Hayes and me continued, but the tension was palpable. He was trying, I could see that, but the weight of his actions still hung heavy over us. I found myself jumping at small noises, constantly looking over my shoulder, and barely sleeping.

One evening, after another strained dinner, Hayes approached me with an envelope in hand.

"What's this?" I asked, eyeing the envelope warily.

"Open it," he said softly, his expression hopeful.

I took the envelope and opened it, revealing a stack of bills inside. My stomach churned as I looked up at him, anger flaring.

"What's this supposed to be?" I demanded, my voice rising. "You think you can buy my forgiveness?"

Hayes looked taken aback. "No, I just thought... maybe it could help ease some of the stress. You could take a trip, do something for yourself."

Does he really think this will make things better?

"Hayes, throwing money at the problem isn't going to fix anything," I snapped, shoving the envelope back at him. "What I need is time and space, not a bribe."

He looked defeated as he took the envelope back, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry. I just want to make things right."

I didn't respond, instead turning away and heading to the bedroom, leaving him standing there alone.

The next day at work, I found myself avoiding Hayes as much as possible. During lunch, I spotted Jake and Sarah in the break room and decided to join them. Maybe talking to them would help clear my head.

"Hey, guys," I greeted, trying to sound casual.

Jake looked up and smiled. "Hey! Haven't seen much of you lately. Everything okay?"

Should I tell them? Can I trust them?

"Just been dealing with a lot," I said, sitting down. "I need to talk to you both about something."

Sarah leaned in, concern etched on her face. "What's going on?"

I took a deep breath, ready to spill everything, when I noticed Hayes standing at the doorway, his face a mask of fury.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice tense.

Oh no, this isn't good.

I nodded, standing up reluctantly. "I'll be right back," I told Jake and Sarah, who exchanged worried glances.

Hayes led me into an empty conference room, closing the door behind us. "What were you about to tell them?" he demanded, his eyes blazing.

"I was just... talking," I said, my voice wavering. "I needed someone to confide in."

His expression darkened. "You can't tell anyone about what happened. Do you understand?"

Why is he so scared?

"Hayes, I need to talk to someone," I insisted, my own fear rising. "I can't keep this bottled up."

He stepped closer, his presence menacing. "If you tell anyone, it could ruin everything. For both of us."

Is he threatening me?

"Are you threatening me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

His expression softened slightly, but his eyes remained hard. "No, I just... I don't want things to get worse. Please, just trust me."

How can I trust him after everything?

"Fine," I said, backing away. "I won't say anything. But this isn't over, Hayes. We need to figure this out."

He nodded, relief washing over his face. "Thank you."

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Jake and Sarah kept shooting me concerned looks, but I avoided their questions, not wanting to provoke Hayes further. As the workday ended, I gathered my things and headed home, dreading the confrontation that awaited me.

When I arrived, Hayes was waiting, a glass of wine in hand. He handed it to me, his demeanor surprisingly calm.

"Let's sit down and talk," he said, his voice gentle.

I took the glass, hesitating before sitting down. "What do you want to talk about?"

He sighed, sitting across from me. "I know I've made things difficult. But I want to make it right. Please, just tell me what I can do."

What can he do?

"Stop trying to control everything," I said, my voice cracking. "I need space to figure things out. And you need to stop trying to fix everything with money or threats."

He nodded, looking remorseful. "I understand. I'll give you the space you need."

Is it really that simple?

"Thank you," I said, taking a sip of the wine. "Let's just take this one step at a time."

As the evening wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered. Hayes was trying, but the damage had been done. Trust would take time to rebuild, and I wasn't sure if we had that time.