I froze, the words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. At that moment, my supervisor sent a message, urging me to return to the office to address some urgent matters. Erik’s expression darkened, revealing his displeasure. “Can’t you put your work aside for me?”
I shook my head, feeling the familiar ache of disappointment. How many times had I reached out for support, only to have him brush me off with excuses about working late?
I had gone out of my way to bring him meals, yet when one of his colleagues admired my outfit and asked for my contact information, he turned it into a reason to accuse me of monitoring his every move.
He claimed to be suffocated by my perceived control, insisting that I should no longer interrupt his work. Yet now, he expected me to abandon my job for a celebration party that had nothing to do with me.
I watched as Erik paced back and forth, his irritation palpable. “Alyce, you’re the one who doesn’t trust me and Polly. That’s why I brought you to this celebration. But now that you want to leave, don’t let jealousy take over.”