Chapter 2: Back in My Office, Begging

From now on, Autumn Hayes and I are done. We live in different worlds now.

She could chase her dreams, and I’d stay out of her way. Our paths wouldn’t cross—not if I could help it.

I won’t mess with her, and she’d better not try to use me.

I made a silent promise: if she tried to worm her way back into my life, I’d shut the door before she even knocked.

With Autumn out of my life, I finally got a little peace.

I started sleeping better, eating real meals, even getting back to the gym. For the first time in years, my life felt like it was mine again.

Until one day at the company, among all the employees, I saw her again.

It was a Tuesday, the kind of gray morning where the city felt half-awake. I was walking the floor, checking in with the team, when I spotted her. She looked smaller in the sea of cubicles, her hair pulled back tight, her eyes darting around like a cornered animal.

She was just an intern, and her supervisor was hauling her into the office, really letting her have it.

The supervisor’s voice carried down the hall, sharp and exasperated. Autumn followed, shoulders hunched, trying to make herself invisible. It didn’t work.

“What’s going on?” I walked over to ask.

My tone was casual, but heads snapped up all the same. People scrambled to look busy, but curiosity got the better of them.

A bold employee answered, “The supervisor’s scolding a new hire. That Autumn—she’s only been here two days and already messed up a ton. She can’t finish her own work and is holding everyone else up. She said she got in because of you. We’re all upset but don’t dare say anything. Today the supervisor couldn’t take it anymore and called her in for a talking-to.”

The guy’s voice dropped to a whisper at the end, as if he was worried I’d take offense. I just raised an eyebrow, thinking, Really?

“Got in because of me?”

I couldn’t help but laugh—a sharp, surprised sound. A few people jumped, but I didn’t care. The absurdity of it was almost funny—almost.

“Yeah, she said you two are old acquaintances and you arranged this job for her.”

There was a ripple of unease in the crowd. I could feel the resentment simmering just beneath the surface.

“Where’s HR? Why didn’t they report this?”

I scanned the faces around me, looking for answers. No one met my gaze.

“Uh…”

The employees looked at each other, not answering.

I didn’t bother to push it. I just walked up and knocked on the supervisor’s office door.

The knock was brisk, authoritative. The chatter outside died instantly.

“Oh, why are you here?” The supervisor greeted me with a nervous smile, then glanced at Autumn. “I mean, even if you brought her in, if she can’t do the job she still needs to be called out, right…”

He wiped his palms on his slacks, eyes darting between me and Autumn. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

I didn’t reply, just looked up at Autumn.

She flinched under my gaze, her hands twisting in her lap. The room felt even smaller with all three of us packed in there. For a second, I wondered if she’d bolt.

Feeling my gaze, Autumn’s eyes immediately filled with tears, looking utterly wronged.

She sniffed, blinking rapidly, her lower lip trembling. For a second, I almost believed the act.

“Mr. Callahan…”

Her voice was soft, almost pleading. She looked at me like I was her last lifeline, hoping I’d throw her a rope.

She trembled as she called my name.

The desperation in her voice was real, but I steeled myself. I wasn’t falling for it this time.

“Come to my office.”

I tossed out the words and walked to my office.

My stride was purposeful, every step a clear signal that I was in charge. The click of my shoes echoed down the hallway.

Autumn obediently followed.

Her footsteps were quieter, hesitant. I didn’t look back.

The door opened, then closed.

I leaned back in my leather chair, hands folded on my lap, quietly watching Autumn.

The office was silent except for the faint hum of the AC. I waited, letting the tension build.

“Thank you for helping me out just now…”

She tried a smile, tears still shining in her eyes. Her voice was soft, almost hopeful.

Autumn lowered her head, tears not yet dry, but her eyes brightening again.

She looked up at me, searching for a hint of kindness. I kept my expression blank.

“You think I was helping you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh—a cold, humorless sound.

Autumn looked instantly surprised.

She blinked, confusion clouding her face. She clearly hadn’t expected that answer.

She stared at me, eyes wide with shock and confusion.

Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

She hesitated and asked, “Didn’t you call me here because the supervisor was scolding me?”

She sounded genuinely lost, like she couldn’t imagine any other reason.

I laughed.

This time, the sound was lighter, almost mocking. I shook my head, unable to hide my amusement.

Honestly, sometimes I wondered if she was born to be a comedian. The thought made me smirk, cold and distant. She really had no clue.

So self-important—and as clueless as they come.

I leaned forward, elbows on the desk, letting the silence stretch. She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her. “Why would I help a woman who lies and has no shame?”

I let the words land hard, each one deliberate and sharp. I wasn’t about to let her play the victim again.

Her tears dried up instantly.

She straightened, the mask slipping. Her eyes flashed with something like anger.

Autumn frowned, completely confused. “What are you talking about?”

She tried to sound indignant, but her voice wavered. I could see the cracks forming.

“Is it really that hard to understand?” I spread my hands. “How did you get this internship at my company? You know better than I do.”

Her face drained of color.

She swallowed hard, looking everywhere but at me. Guilt radiated off her in waves.

“I, I just…”

Her voice was barely audible. She twisted her hands together, searching for an excuse.

“I don’t care what the reason is. You hid it from me, used my name to sneak in the back door, and even faked your education and resume. So how do you want to settle this?”

I kept my tone calm, almost bored. I wanted her to know I’d seen through every trick.

“…Mr. Callahan, do you really have to be so petty?”

Her voice was tight, defensive. She tried to sound wounded, but it fell flat.

“Let’s be clear—this isn’t about being petty. It’s about holding you accountable for what you’ve done. I’m not joking. If you can’t give me a reasonable explanation, we’ll see each other at the police station.”

I let the threat hang in the air, watching her squirm. I wasn’t bluffing, and she knew it.

“Mr. Callahan, you—!”

Her voice rose, frustration boiling over. She looked like she wanted to scream.

Autumn’s expression changed suddenly.

Her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. The fight was back, but it was desperation now, not confidence.

“What, you what? Show some respect. I can hire any lawyer and make sure you lose everything.”

I kept my voice low and steady. I wanted her to know I meant every word.

Her face twisted with anger.

She glared at me, jaw set. For a second, I thought she might actually throw something.

Her hands clenched tight.

She dug her nails into her palms, knuckles white. The tension in the room was electric.

She swallowed hard, struggling to speak.

Autumn finally broke down.

She slammed her fists on the desk, voice cracking as she shouted.

She shouted at me, “Mr. Callahan, what’s wrong with you? Why have you suddenly become like this? Why do you ignore me? Why don’t you comfort me when I’m upset? Why are you targeting me?

You said you liked me before, so you chased after me every day. Now you don’t like me, so you humiliate me whenever you want. What did I do to deserve this? Am I really so unworthy of love?

I was born poor, my family is a mess, I didn’t get into college, my education isn’t good. I just want to change my fate through my own efforts, I just want to fight for myself—is that so wrong? Why can’t you be a little more understanding?

I’m already working so hard just to get by. You don’t offer me an umbrella, I don’t blame you, but why do you have to tear up the one I made for myself? Mr. Callahan, tell me—what do you want from me?”

Her words tumbled out in a rush, raw and desperate. For the first time, I saw the cracks in her armor—the fear, the longing, the anger at a world that never gave her a break. Her voice echoed in the office, hanging in the air long after she’d finished speaking. I leaned back, watching her, wondering if she’d ever really see me—or if she was still fighting ghosts from a life I’d already left behind.