Tangled in Silence

ed how she took her coffee-black

her hands like armor. Her eyes scanned t

them

hem j

She'd gotten this job on merit, earned Cal's trust by being irre

d to see what a "

ind out it wasn't he

aste time-but today, he'd checked his wa

e about the way his company pulsed with gossip outside the glass

em mention

they were

of his couch, eyes puffy but silent, clutching her phone like a lifeline. Sh

d staye

entually," one board member grumble

k, jaw tight.

sions. The press loves a scandal. Especially

"I wasn't compromise

't business strat

t neither is undermining your

ust as he

ted. He could feel it-something heavy and bitter in the air. Like p

the break roo

s. Turns out she just wanted

by, too. Can you imag

The two women looked up

Presc

ion, try having some of your own," he said, voice

ered. He w

gh the frosted glass of her office-on the phone, posture

sn't h

sn't b

as fi

it, she w

, shielded her from the world. But this Nora? She didn't need a savior. She needed space t

document, and began editing like she hadn't j

gged at the corn

them

hem w

Nora H

t just surviv

as a

soft chime, but Nora's entr

steel on the walls, she walked along the executive

t

olden ticket" with a baby in her womb and a last name that wasn't hers yet.

d handle

ld not tole

rom behind his desk as she

le between them. This is the Harper account. Finali

and blinked. It was f

you s

ng, apparently. Because someone had the time to

aw fl

d out who

rms. "Don't bothe

rows

om Finance. Guess she couldn't stomach th

as si

he continued. I'm asking for the

fury, the way she trembled,

he no

you nee

to leave,

" I earned this job before there was a ring, a bump, or a last nam

e desk, stopping ju

y. "I don't doubt you

is eyes for a

for the first time in days,

lked out-an

otte had been

veryone for their support during a "difficult but empower

looks, one anonymous apology card, and a

all unfold wi

n't just

a Halstead's

d a front

ice was

ion or murmurs behind closed doors. This

ement, and everyone he

-hours after most had packed up and gone home-the

ed at her reflection in the dark window,

whispered to herself.

e

didn't back down.

he still fee

ged behind her.

ld go home," Cal's

ce was hoarse. "Just want

eyes. Her workspace was neat-almost too neat. Her notepad, her planner, the mat

ot okay,"

half the company rethink bullying a p

e exha

u're ob

or

ade he

ing in his tone-

on the small swell beneath her blouse. The baby. The constan

baby. Not the marriage conversations. And definitely not the rum

," he said

ad. "You don't h

ed closer. "I'm tel

ause. He didn't mo

ery meeting. Every comment I didn't answer. And now... now they look a

're w

"But knowing doesn't

a reply to that

alked to her side, reached o

cally. Not

.. su

ure that sai

dn't pu

ent, it w