LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 32: Chapter 32
Weeks had passed since Alex's resignation, and the office felt different without him. Jane often found herself glancing at the empty chair where he used to sit, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she remembered their playful banter. But it wasn't just the absence of Alex that weighed on her mind; it was the newfound attention she had been receiving from Dan
Dan had made some advances before Alex left—subtle but unmistakable. At first, she thought it was just harmless flirtation, but as the days wore on, his interest had intensified. She tried her best to deflect his attention, keeping their interactions strictly professional, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. She felt uncomfortable each time he leaned too close to her desk or complimented her work with a glimmer in his eye that sent chills down her spine.
"Jane," he called one day, leaning against the doorframe of her cubicle. "Can we talk about the Johnson report? I think we might need to revise some sections."
"Sure, Mr Hartford," she replied, forcing a smile. Inside, however, her heart raced. She had spent countless hours trying to not give anything away—laughing off his comments and maintaining a friendly demeanor while hoping to deflect any unwanted advances.
Alex had been a welcome distraction during that time, diving headfirst into his own world of crypto and work projects. If he had been paying attention, he might have picked up on the tension in the air.
It was ironic how his distraction had allowed her to avoid scrutiny. If he had been there, he would have sensed the shift in her demeanor. She could almost hear him teasing her about the boss's behavior, questioning her about whether she had been playing a part in this twisted office drama.
The workload had increased significantly for everyone in the office since Alex left, leaving Jane feeling overwhelmed. Dan, trying to prove his worth as the new boss, had piled more tasks on the team. They were expected to meet unrealistic deadlines, and the pressure was palpable. It felt as if they were in a constant race against the clock, with everyone working late into the evenings and coming in early just to keep up.
Every so often, she and a few of the other old colleagues would gather in the break room, sharing their frustrations while gambling on who would be the next to leave the company.
"Place your bets, everyone! Who's next on the chopping block?" Tom grinned, leaning back in his chair, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
"Sandra might just be next," Rick joked, referring to another colleague who seemed perpetually frazzled. "She's been walking around like a zombie lately."
"Please," Jane added, shaking her head. "If anyone's going to go, it'll be me! I can't keep dodging Dan's advances and putting in extra hours. This place is going to drive me insane."
The group erupted in laughter, but beneath the humor lay an undercurrent of tension. Old-timers reminisced about worse bosses, recounting stories that felt almost like horror tales at this point. They shared jokes about not having seen anything yet, teasing Jane for her apparent good fortune in avoiding the spotlight.
"Just wait," one of them said. "Dan is like a shark—he can smell fear. You'll be his next target before long."
Each day felt like an endless loop of meetings and late-night catch-ups, and Jane was beginning to feel the strain. Dan's increasing attention made her anxious; she wanted to stand her ground, but the office atmosphere was thick with uncertainty.
She had thought Alex's departure would be a relief, but it had only opened a new can of worms. With his insightful perspective gone, she felt even more vulnerable, as if she were walking a tightrope without a safety net. She longed for a friend to confide in, someone who understood the nuances of the office dynamics, but the camaraderie they once shared felt distant.
Jane often found herself thinking back to Alex, wishing he were there to offer a wisecrack or a distraction from Dan's unwanted attention. She was grateful for the fun moments they shared, and in a strange way, she missed how he had always managed to turn the most mundane days into something amusing. Now, all she could do was keep her head down and hope that the storm would pass, finding solace in the belief that this couldn't last forever.
With each passing week, she felt the tension mounting, and as rumors swirled around the office like a storm cloud, Jane knew she had to find a way to navigate this mess. She just hoped she wouldn't have to do it alone.