14. Where He Was & What He Did

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Noah

I take a seat at my usual chair in the office, only mildly curious as to what Emily has called me in for. All of me just wants to go back to Heath and sort out whatever just happened.

"So, Noah..." Emily grabs my attention as it almost glances out the windows. "...I know that Nick is working for me, not you, but I thought you should be here for this too."

Only then does it actually clock in that I'm in a room with...him again. My posture goes stiff and I sit up fully. His eyes lock onto mine and they have that same friendly appearance to them that Heath shared with me just a moment ago. Knowing what I know now though, how did I not notice how fake it looks?

No, I can't...I can't be here! Just let me go back to Heath. Let me go back to Heath. Let me go back to Heath. Heath. Heath. Heath!

"Noah! Are you listening?!" Emily snaps her fingers in front of my face. I'm not sure I can even focus on her right now.

Every time I so much as am aware he's in my presence, that disgusting feeling of him touching my body comes back.

I just nod at Emily, so she continues.

"Okay, I wanted to ask you when the last time you saw Nick come in was?" She crosses her arms and I can't tell if she's mad at me or not. I hope not, cause I don't know what I did.

What I want to say is: "I try to stay away from him as much as possible in case he tries to rape me again."

What comes out though:

"I'm not sure, maybe a week or two? Sorry, I've been trying to focus on the new team more than anything." It's not a complete lie.

"Exactly, and I've been doing the same. It seems we've been thinking the alike. Since, if we weren't, one of us would have noticed that I've been paying Nicholas, but he hasn't showed up to work for over 2 weeks!"

She bounds back over to him as she speaks, and he practically leaps back. Okay, good, it's not me she's pissed at. And, this is actually a very pleasing target of her's.

"Where the fuck have you been, Nicholas?! I would've been fine if you took the time off if you were sick or gone on holiday, but you hadn't given me any heads up or excuse for why you'd be out. So, answer me, now!"

I fold my arms and watch in satisfaction as she tears into him. Emily may have gotten a bit soft since dating Michelle, but if someone screws over her work, oh, prepare to suffer!

His hideous face scrunches up in fear each time her voice gets higher and his lips start to quiver. What a pathetic excuse of a person.

But, the next second tells me that it's not entirely because of Emily. As, his mouth opens and he begins to cry the fakest tears I've ever seen in my life! Sheesh, please Nick, never become an actor.

Emily clearly doesn't believe it either, as she rolls her eyes and asks:

"Why the fuck are you crying?! If this is over me shouting at you then you have no one to blame but yourself."

"No, it's not...it's not that." He pulls a tissue out of his pocket and blows into in. Both of us grimace at the wet noise. Stuffing it back in, he continues. "I'm just, dealing with a bit of heartbreak at the moment."

Emily blinks at him. "Heartbreak? That's it? Okay, I know breakups, or whatever happened to you, are difficult Nicholas. Trust me, I've had my fair share. But, you at-least have to call in so I know you'll be out for a bit."

"I'm sorry, I know. I just...wasn't sure if it would get back to him or not."

At this last sentence, he points in my direction and I feel all that brief confidence completely chatter. Teeth chatter in my mouth and I feel my hands shake as he looks at me.

Stop it. Stop! Stop looking at me!

"Noah? Care to explain what he's talking about?" I think that is what Emily asks, but everything is muffled.

"I don't...I don't-"

"You broke my heart! You made me think you actually liked me by flirting with me all those times! But, as soon as I actually ask you out, you called me pathetic and said you would never me interested in me!"

"Huh, Noah said that? Sorry Nicholas, but I find that hard to believe. And if you are telling me you were out this long because of someone you weren't even dating then-"

The pens and papers bounce around the table as my hands shake on it. Blacks spots dance around my vision, and any bits of colour look like blobs. A yellow one comes towards me for a few seconds, but then stops.

The only word I can get out is:

"Assault. Assault. Assault. Assault. Assault. Assault. Assault. Assau...as..."

Then, a loud bang bring my all of me back to the this moment.

"Get the fuck out of my office and never ducking dare to come back! Or else I will rip out your spine! If you even have one!"

I catch a brief look of Nick. He has a hand pressed to the side of his head, which looks like it's stained in crimson. Emily's chest is pushing in and out and she shuts the door.

Only then, do I feel the tears that have been running down my face for what must be several minutes. I can't stop them. They just keep coming. But, maybe I need them.

So, I let them go as they soak into Emily's cardigan. Who doesn't say a word about them as she embraces me.

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