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The late afternoon sun poured through the half-closed blinds of Derrick Brown's spacious living room, casting long, golden slats across the sleek furniture. Adeline sat stiffly on the leather couch, hands clasped tightly in her lap, eyes fixed on the floor. The silence between them was thick, charged—neither wanting to be the first to break it.
Derrick stood by the window, his tall frame silhouetted against the fading light. His presence was calm but commanding, a quiet strength that made the air feel heavier whenever he was near. His dark eyes occasionally flicked to her, searching, patient, waiting for her to speak.
Adeline's mind raced. Accepting this job would change everything. It was more than just a paycheck or a safe place—it was an escape, a chance to rebuild, but also a leap into the unknown. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the uncertainty, the weight of depending on someone else, especially someone like Derrick.
Her fingers trembled as she reached into her bag and pulled out the crumpled letter of resignation she had sent earlier that day. She hadn't told anyone yet. Not Asher, not her friends. She was still afraid of what would come next, but the idea of staying felt unbearable.
"I don't know if I can do this," she admitted. "Starting over, working for someone else... it's scary."
Derrick nodded, his expression softening. "It's supposed to be. But you won't be alone."
He stepped back and handed her a thick envelope. "Here's the contract. Take your time to read it. But know this—this isn't just a job offer. It's a promise. You'll have my support, and I'll protect you from the chaos you've been running from."
Adeline hesitated, then opened the envelope. The contract was straightforward: a position as his personal assistant, a salary that was more than she had ever made, and clear terms about safety and privacy. The kind of job that would let her work from home when needed, with flexibility and respect.
Her eyes lingered on the words. For the first time in weeks, something inside her loosened—a small seed of hope.
But then doubt crept in. "What do you expect from me in return?" she asked quietly.
Derrick's gaze sharpened, and he leaned forward. "Loyalty. Honesty. And your trust."
Her thoughts flickered back to the destruction waiting at her apartment—the chaos, the fear. The threatening calls, the shadowy figures she could never quite catch. Every step outside felt like walking on a tightrope, the ground beneath her cracking open with every breath.
"Adeline," Derrick's voice cut softly through the silence, pulling her back. "I want to help you. I'm offering you a job because I see what you're capable of. And because I don't want you going back to that nightmare."
She looked up, meeting his gaze. There was something in his eyes—genuine concern, but also something unreadable, something darker beneath the surface that made her heart skip.
"Why?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why are you doing this for me? You don't even know me."
Derrick took a step closer, closing the space between them, but not pressing. "I know enough. You're smart, determined. You've been through hell, and you're still standing. I want to give you a chance to breathe, to heal."
Adeline swallowed hard. Part of her wanted to run, to reject the offer and retreat into solitude. But another part—a tired, aching part—wanted to believe. To trust, even if just a little.
Adeline swallowed. Trust was the hardest thing she'd ever had to give. But as she looked at him, she saw sincerity there, mixed with a fierce protectiveness that made her want to believe in him.
She closed the envelope slowly and looked back up. "Okay. I'll do it."
Relief washed over Derrick's face in a flash, replaced quickly by a rare, almost tender smile.
"Good," he said, voice low and steady. "You won't regret this."
Adeline's heart was pounding as she stood, ready to leave the room but unable to move just yet.
"Thank you," she said, the words feeling fragile but real.
Derrick nodded. "You're welcome. And Adeline... I mean it when I say I'm here for you."
She nodded, fighting the flutter of nerves and the cautious hope stirring inside.
As she walked out of the room, contract in hand, the weight of her decision settled in. It was terrifying, but maybe this was the chance she needed—a way out of the darkness, and maybe, just maybe, the start of something new.
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I stepped out feeling a lot better than I expected ,now all that is left it's to look for a place to stay . I contemplated on calling Asher and letting him know I resigned but I couldn't tell him on the phone , I wanted to tell him face to face , I wanted him to see how happy I am now that I've left that place.