My words had barely left my mouth when the door swung open and Darrel walked in. His expression was cold, an unspoken accusation glinting in his eyes. “What judgment? Are you two picking something out?” he asked, his hand reflexively reaching toward the phone in my lap. I slipped it back into my mom’s bag before he could grab it.
Sensing the tension, Mom quickly left, giving me a brief nod as she shut the door behind her. The moment she was gone, Darrel sat down in the chair by my bed, pulling out his phone. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the soft, syrupy voice that floated through the speaker on his phone. It was her—Natalie, the intern.
“Sir, you’re not in the office today,” she cooed, her voice tinged with mock innocence. “Some people keep bothering me... I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do. You know I’m just a helpless girl…”
Darrel’s expression darkened. He shot up from his chair, his face twisted with concern, his voice rough. “Don’t worry, Natalie. Just go to my office. Nobody will touch you there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”