Chapter 56: I’m Here
EVAN
“Sir,” Rui said, peeking his head inside the room. He had a hopeful look in his eyes, causing me to smirk. I didn’t let him finish the question before I spoke.
I nodded and waved him off. “Yeah, you could go.”
He was silent for a while before he entered the room and straightened his posture. “Are you sure, sir? You still have a lot of work to do.”
“I know,” I said, massaging the bridge of his nose. “I can’t even afford to miss one day because of this event, muttered.
“So, should I stay?” he asked. “You’re going to be working overtime again.
I shook my head. “It’s your mom’s birthday, right? Go ahead and spend the rest of the day with her.”
“Are you really sure?”
I stopped what I was doing and faced him, a small smile playing on my lips. “Go now before I decided to deduct the remaining hours from your salary.”
He smiled. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be here early tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved him off. “Oh, my gift is in the red car. Use it to go to your mom, too. I know she loves the color red.”
I didn’t turn to look at him; however, I could see him smiling from my peripheral vision.
“Thank you, sir. You’re the coolest!” he exclaimed before turning to leave.
The office turned silent again once Rui went out. However, the silence didn’t last for long.
My head was buried in a budget report when the door burst open. I lifted my head, frowning when I saw who it
was.
“Heather?” I asked, looking up to see her standing there, dressed to perfection in a cream blazer and skirt. She still had her school bag on, so I reckoned she just came from her university.
We hadn’t talked since her birthday party, so I felt pretty awkward.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I’m heading to your apartment later, remember?”
he
She walked in, shutting the door behind her. “I know,” she snapped. “However, I can’t wait that long. I want to
talk now.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “Can it wait? I’m swamped. The party with Mr. Miyagi is getting near, and I still have a hundred things to finalize.”
Heather crossed her arms, unfazed. “Is it that important, Evan? More important than this conversation? Talk to
the now.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhaled slowly. From her tone and look, I could tell she wasn’t going to let this
“Fine,” I relented. “What is it you want to talk about?”
Heather stepped closer, her heels clicking against the marble floor. “You were supposed to propose to me,
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Chapter 56 Im Here
weren’t you? You need to propose to me.”
The way she said it made her sound so different. Nonetheless, I felt like she was coming from a place of hurt.
“Wait, Heather,” I said cautiously. “How do you even know about that?”
She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line before she confessed, “Your dad told me.
וד
“Dad,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. Of course, he did.
“But then she ruined it,” Heather continued, her voice rising slightly. “Julia. She made me look like a fool in front of everyone.”
“Heather, it’s not like that ”
“Oh, it isn’t?” she interrupted. “And now you’re even defending her? Unbelievable.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the desk. The screen lit up with a name I hadn’t expected to see tonight.
Julia.
I hesitated for a moment before answering. “Hello?”
“Evan,” she said softly, her voice shaky. My chest tightened at the sound. She used my nickname after a long time. This time, I didn’t bother correcting her.
“Who is that?” Heather snapped, her arms flying to her hips as she glared at me.
Julia must have heard because she immediately stammered “Oh, you’re with Heather. I’ll call you later”
I
“No,” I interrupted. “Tell me what’s wrong.
There was a pause, and when Julia finally spoke, her voice was trembling. “It’s Andy,” she said. “He’s missing”
My blood ran cold. “Missing? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered, barely able to choke back tears. “I’ve looked everywhere. I don’t know what to do.”
“Where are you?”
“Near Sunshine School,”
“I’ll be there,” I said without hesitation.
“Who is that? What’s going on?” Heather demanded, her face turning red with frustration.
“I have to go,” I said, already grabbing my keys. “I’ll talk to you later. I have something important to do.”
“More important than me?” Heather challenged.
“Yes,” I replied without looking back.
The door slammed shut behind me as Heather’s furious scream echoed through the hallway. My mind was too focused on Julia and Andy to care.
The drive to Sunshine School was tense. My knuckles were white as I gripped the steering wheel.
Where could Andy have gone? Was he safe?
Julia’s voice played in my head on repeat. For someone so strong, she sounded so fragile.
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When I pulled near to the school, I spotted her instantly.
Julia stood near the gates, her arms wrapped around herself, trying to hold herself together.
Even from afar, I could see the expression on her face. She was trying to appear brave, but the vulnerability in her eyes betrayed her.
I got out of the car and approached her. The moment she saw me, her composure cracked.
“Evan,” she said, her voice breaking.
Without thinking, I pulled her into a hug. She stiffened for a moment, but then she melted into me, her hands clutching the front of my jacket like I was her lifeline.
Her shoulders shook as she started to cry. “I don’t know where he is,” she sobbed “I’ve looked everywhere. What if something happened to him?”
“Shh,” I whispered, stroking her hair gently. “We’ll find him, Julia. I promise.”
For a few moments, she let herself be vulnerable, leaning into my chest as her tears soaked through my shirt.
“I’m here,” I murmured, holding her close. “I’m here.”
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