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*Love No More*
*Chapter 6*: Monday Morning + The Jacket*
Monday. 8:02 AM.
I stood outside Daniel Carter’s office holding his jacket like it was evidence in a crime.
Black. Tailored. Still smelled like cedar and rain and him.
I’d dry-cleaned it. Ironed it. Slept with it folded on my chair because the smell made me feel... safe.
Stupid.
"Miss Adams."
His voice. Behind me.
I spun around.
He was in a navy suit today. No tie. Two top buttons undone. Like he’d been up all night.
"Good morning, sir."
I held out the jacket. "Thank you for—for Saturday. Here’s your jacket."
He didn’t take it.
He just looked at it. Then at me.
"You washed it."
"Yes, sir. I hope that was—"
"You didn’t have to."
He stepped closer. Took the jacket from me. His fingers brushed mine again.
Static. Again.
He draped it over the back of his chair.
"Sit."
"Sir?"
"Sit, Abigail."
I sat. In the chair across from his desk. The chair no one ever sits in.
He stayed standing. Pacing.
"The board wants Hale fired," he said suddenly.
I blinked. "What?"
"After what he said to you. HR got 4 complaints from other staff. They’re using you as the reason."
He stopped. Looked at me. "I told them no."
My stomach dropped. "Why?"
"Because I don’t let other people decide what happens to..."
He cut himself off. Jaw ticking.
"Because it would look like retaliation. And we’re better than that."
Right. HR policy.
"Thank you, sir," I said quietly.
He walked to the window. Hands in pockets.
"The rain stopped on Saturday."
"Yes, sir."
"You didn’t call to say you got home safe."
The room went silent.
"I— I didn’t think I was supposed to, sir."
He turned. Slow.
"And what did you think you were supposed to do, Abigail?"
"Work. Be on time. Don’t be a distraction."
The last word tasted bitter.
Daniel laughed. Once. No humor in it.
"A distraction."
He came around the desk. Stopped right in front of me. Too close.
"You have no idea what you did on Saturday."
I stared at my hands. "Sir?"
"You got into my car. Wearing my jacket. Smelling like my shampoo because you used the guest bathroom in my car."
His voice dropped. "And you didn’t ask for anything. Not money. Not a promotion. Not even a thank you."
"I was just—"
"Being you."
He crouched down. Eye level with me.
This was dangerous.
"That’s the problem, Abigail. You’re just being you. And it’s making me forget every rule I have."
My heart was in my throat.
"Sir, I should get back to work—"
"One more thing."
He reached into his drawer. Pulled out a small black umbrella.
"For you. Since you don’t carry one."
He put it on my lap.
"Return it when you quit. Or when I fire you. Whichever comes first."
I stood up fast. "Yes, sir."
I made it to the door before he spoke again.
"Abigail."
"Yes, sir?"
He was already back at his desk. Mask on. Cold again.
"Next time it rains, you’re riding with me. That’s an order."
I nodded and closed the door behind me.
In the hallway, I pressed the umbrella to my chest.
_That’s an order._
Not a question.
Not HR policy.
Him.
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THE UMBRELLA??? THE "RIDING WITH ME THAT'S AN ORDER"???
Daniel is spiraling and he doesn’t even know it 😭
Ready for*Chapter 7: The Late Night + Takeout* next?👀😏 That’s where he keeps her late and orders food for both of them 👀
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