Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 132

Briar

Every day since I came back to Jake’s place it has been a struggle. I force myself out of bed, I force myself to train, and I force myself to eat. I’ve turned the house upside down multiple times; the letters and the photos haunt my thoughts. I take time to keep up with the shop. However, on the inside, I’m a wreck. I barely sleep, the softest noise rousing me in a panic, and who could forget the dreams? The last two nights, the memories of Creedon going from dashing CEO to my worst nightmare have had me waking, a silent scream in my throat. Carter’s presence was what chased those demons away, but now he has broken my trust. 

Thursday, Rosie and Tucker showed up in the afternoon, and I hung out with them for a few hours before I took them back, before Carter came looking for them. The state of his house proved to me that Carter wasn’t doing well either. Empty bottles of alcohol were littered across the coffee table, dishes were piled, unwashed, in the sink, and takeout containers barely touched, while food filled the trash can. I stepped further into the kitchen and noticed torn-up bits of paper scattered across the floor. I picked them up and lined the writing up across the counter. A check for 10,000 dollars was made out to him from Clyde, but he had just torn it up. I really shouldn’t be snooping. Pushing the paper back onto the floor to cover that I had been there. When I locked the pet door and rushed out of the house.

It was Friday, my designated day to go to the shop. After our run, Lana went home to nap, and I got ready for work. I took my coffee black, as most things again, the flavor didn’t matter to me. I took my bike to work and got there early. I wanted to make my rounds without their over-assessing eyes trailing me. I didn’t want their pity. Checking that they had kept up with keeping the bays as they should be, and scanning the inventory to be sure I didn’t notice anything missing that should be there. Satisfied, I booted the computer up and quickly placed orders before submitting payroll. I was packing up when Byron showed up. I hadn’t wanted to run into anyone. He glanced down at the scrawled note on the desk, next to a bag of muffins I was leaving for them.

Orders and Payroll are done.

Ya’ll are awesome

Keep up the good work!

Briar

“So you're ghosting us?” he asked.

“I’m pretty much ghosting everyone,” I admitted.

Byron scowled and gave me a once-over.

“Can I give you some advice?” Byron asked, sinking into the chair across from me.

“I’d decline, but you're gonna tell me anyway, aren’t you?” I said, leaning back in my seat.

He chuckled and did the same, his eyes watching me. Something seemed to lurk within the deep brown depths.

“Whatever is going on with you, the answer is right here. He pointed to the center of his chest. That's all that matters; the rest is just noise. I can assume some things that went on, that I'm not going to go into Briar, but I know Jake would have said the same; that was his advice to me once. In the end, as long as we trust this,” He said, pointing to the center of his chest pointedly again. The same place the bloom within me had risen from. I bit my lip and felt my eyes water with emotion as he continued. “You’ve come such a long way, don’t lose yourself in other people's secrets and manipulations. That's what they want, the truth will find its way out.” He watched me as I closed my eyes, and a tear fell. “I always knew Jake had secrets, I never pried. They were his, and now they are yours, but they do not define you. Be true to whatever self you have or are becoming.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. He stood and left, and I collected my things before anyone else could show up and give me their two cents. Byron must have been close with Jake, like Carter was,  yet neither of them had ever given me answers. To be fair, I hadn’t asked. They most likely knew nothing. But there was one person who did, and it was time for her to tell me the truth.

I lay into the punching bag, pushing my thoughts and emotions aside. Lana wasn’t here tonight, and I had thought all day about what Byron had said. These secrets didn’t define me; I followed Byron’s suggestion and let myself embody that presence. I didn’t falter as I pounded and kicked into the bag. I let it consume me, and I got to know it, let myself rely on those instincts. I felt more strength seep into the fibers of my being with every movement. Maybe, just maybe, Byron had a point.