Dorothy reached out and grasped his warm hand, silently cursing herself for not being able to help him. The recent tension with his mother only added to her worry that her presence might be making things harder for him.
She didn't hold any grudge against Everett for the harsh tone he had used with her before. If the roles were reversed, she feared she might have said something even harsher.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhen people are in pain, their emotions can becunpredictable and hard to control.
All Dorothy wanted was to see Everett with her own eyes, to see his face and know he was okay. That was the only way she could find speace.
After watching him silently for a while, she decided to leave before he woke up.
But just as she reached the office door, Everett suddenly grunted, stirring in his sleep.
Instinctively, Dorothy turned to look at him, their eyes locking in an unexpected gaze, both caught off guard and falling into silence.
Finally, Everett sat up from the couch, his voice still laced with an edge. "What are you doing here?" "I just wanted to see you." "...Then leave," he said, with no indication of wanting her to stay.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDorothy was prepared for his coldness, but his words still stung. She lowered her gaze, fighting back the tears. "Okay, just make sure to rest. And if work gets too much, Kevin can handle it." Without hearing a response from Everett, Dorothy opened the door and stepped out. Once she was safely back in her own office, she allowed her tears to fall. She closed the door behind her to cry in privacy, wary of curious eyes.
Back in his office, Everett watched Dorothy leave. It wasn't until the door clicked shut that he allowed himself to rub his temples, feeling a headache brewing.
Soon after, Kevin knocked on the door. "Mr. Lopez, are you awake?" "Cin." Kevin entered, bringing in sel et documents that required Everett's signature. "These need your immediate attention, Mr. Lopez. I've taken care of the rest." S "Alright, leave them there," Everett nodded.
As Kevin was about to leave, Everett stopped him. "Did you tell Dorothy I was in my office?" Caught off guard, Kevin hesitated but knew he couldn't lie to Mr. Lopez. "Yes..." "From now on, if she asks about me, tell her you don't know." Though Kevin was puzzled by the tension between them, he respected Mr. Lopez's request, despite having many unasked questions.
"Understood, Mr. Lopez." Just as Kevin thought he was dismissed, Everett spoke again, his voice heavy. "Actually, use work as an excuse to check on her. If she's... if she's not feeling well, let her go home." He knew Dorothy well enough to guess how his words might have hurt her.
"I'll go right now!" "Alright." Once Kevin left, Everett tried to focus on the documents in front of him, but the words blurred together, unreadable. He regretted not installing a camera in Dorothel.ne office sooner; it would have saved him from guessing now.