Chapter 16

  Leo clenched his jaw, his mind racing. He needed to speak to Daniel, to do whatever it took to stop him. He had to make sure that the truth about Leila never came out, no matter the cost.

  But another thought stopped him cold: What if it’s already too late?

  Daniel had said it himself. Those three words — “It’s too late” — echoed in Leo’s mind like a death knell.

  Has he already told someone? The possibility was unbearable. The idea that Daniel was simply watching him squirm, letting the weight of his guilt crush him before delivering the final blow, filled Leo with a deep, inescapable terror.

  The park, once a place of quiet reflection, now felt oppressive, the shadows of the trees closing in around him. Leo buried his face in his hands, the enormity of his mistakes pressing down on him like never before.

  For the first time, he truly understood the depth of his actions — and the monstrous consequences they had set in motion. And for the first time, he feared that he was utterly powerless to stop what was coming.

  As Leo sat frozen in thought, his mind drowning in guilt and fear, a familiar figure passed by. The graceful movements, the soft brown hair — it was unmistakable. His heart leapt into his throat as recognition dawned.

  Leila.

  Without thinking, Leo called out, his voice trembling. “Leila!”

  The woman stopped in her tracks, her posture stiff. Slowly, she turned around, her face blank, devoid of emotion. But as her eyes met his, her expression shifted. The neutrality melted away, replaced by an unmistakable look of pure disgust.

  Leo’s breath caught. Words failed him. Sentences formed in his mind but died on his lips, refusing to come together. His guilt, his shame, the weight of his actions all crashed down on him in that moment.

  Leila stared at him, her gaze cold and piercing. Her voice was sharp and clipped. “What do you want, Leo?”

  Her question snapped him out of his paralysis. He stood abruptly, his hands trembling at his sides. “I… I just… Please, Leila, I want to apologize. I’m begging you… forgive me.”

  Leila’s expression remained hard, her voice steady but laced with anger. “I forgave you a long time ago, Leo.”

  For a brief moment, hope flickered in his chest. But then, her tone darkened, cutting through him like a blade.

  “But I will never forget what you did to me,” she continued, her voice filled with quiet fury. “The humiliation. The depression. The sleepless nights wondering if it was all my fault. You destroyed my confidence, my peace, my sense of safety. And for what? Your ego? Your need for control?”

  Leo felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, as her words bore into him, each one a stark reminder of his cruelty.

  Leila’s lips curled into a bitter smile, her eyes glinting with a mixture of pity and disdain. “You’re nothing to me now, Leo. Just a bad memory.”

  She turned sharply, her hair whipping around as she walked away without another glance. Her footsteps were steady, deliberate, a stark contrast to the chaos that now consumed Leo.

  He remained rooted to the spot, his mind blank and his chest hollow. Her words echoed in his head, louder than his own thoughts. Forgiven, but not forgotten.

  Leo slumped back onto the bench, his hands trembling. The weight of her departure settled heavily on him, a final, damning reminder of the damage he had caused. He had lost more than just respect or trust — he had lost his humanity in her eyes.

  And now, for the first time, he truly felt what it meant to be alone.

  Leo sat on the park bench, his head in his hands, the weight of his guilt and fear threatening to crush him. Every passing moment intensified the storm raging in his mind. The memory of Leila’s disgusted gaze was seared into his thoughts, her words echoing relentlessly: “I forgave you, but I will never forget.”

  His phone rested in his pocket, a silent reminder of his temptation. Should I call Daniel? The thought gnawed at him. He had nothing left to lose, and perhaps, just perhaps, a heartfelt apology could salvage what little was left of his career and reputation.

  But then, Daniel’s words came rushing back, cold and cutting: “It’s too late.”

  Leo’s hand froze as it reached for his phone. His chest tightened as the realization sank in further: it really was too late. He had crossed too many lines, burned too many bridges. No apology could undo what he had done, and no words could erase the damage.

  The truth was staring him in the face, and for the first time, he couldn’t look away. He was lucky — no, fortunate beyond reason — that Leila had chosen not to expose him. Her silence had spared him from immediate ruin, but he now understood that it was a fragile mercy. She could have easily destroyed him by revealing how he had harassed her, treated her like garbage, and crossed every boundary of decency with his inappropriate behavior.

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  The guilt hit him like a wave, his stomach churning. How could I have been so stupid? he thought bitterly, his fists clenching. How could I have thought I could get away with it?

  He cursed himself silently, over and over. For the arrogance that had driven him. For the cruelty he had inflicted on others. For the belief that his position made him untouchable.

  Every decision, every misstep, every moment of entitlement now felt like a brick added to the crushing weight on his chest. He had spent years abusing his power, believing he was immune to consequences. And now, the cracks in his world were splitting wide open, threatening to swallow him whole.

  The worst part was the gnawing awareness that his guilt wasn’t enough. It didn’t undo what he had done. It didn’t erase the harm he had caused to people like Leila, who had endured his harassment and disrespect in silence. It didn’t restore the trust he had shattered with Chief Director Michael, the respect he had lost among his peers, or the friendships he had taken for granted.

  As Leo sat there, consumed by his thoughts, the reality became painfully clear: he wasn’t the victim. He was the villain of his own story, and no amount of regret could rewrite the past.

  The only thing he could do now was brace himself for the inevitable fallout — and pray that he could find a way to live with the man he had become.

  Daniel leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips as the victory screen faded from his laptop. Another successful round of CS:GO had done its job, giving him a rush of adrenaline and a welcome distraction. But as he powered down his laptop and the screen went dark, his thoughts drifted back to work.

  He stared at the blank screen for a moment, his mind racing with anticipation. How will they respond? he wondered. The procurement portal he had developed in just one day was nothing short of a masterpiece — efficient, user-friendly, and flawlessly functional. It was a feat no one in the office could have imagined, let alone matched.

  The thought of unveiling his work to the office brought a small smirk to his face. He could already picture the reactions: the surprise, the disbelief, the grudging acknowledgment of his skills. This was what he had been waiting for, the moment when his value could no longer be ignored.

  For a brief moment, he was surprised at himself — at how far he had come. Not long ago, he would have been consumed with dread, afraid of stepping out of line, of drawing too much attention to himself. Leo had been a constant shadow, a figure of intimidation that loomed over every corner of his workday. Daniel had once gone out of his way to avoid confrontation, to stay under the radar.

  But now? Now, Leo was barely a blip on his radar. Most days, Daniel forgot he even existed. The fear that had once gripped him was gone, replaced by a quiet confidence that came from knowing he had outgrown the box Leo had tried to trap him in.

  It’s funny, he thought, leaning back in his chair. The person I used to fear the most doesn’t even matter anymore.

  The realization was both liberating and empowering. He had broken free from the cycle of intimidation and suppression, and now, he was the one holding all the cards.

  As he stood and stretched, Daniel felt a sense of anticipation bubbling beneath the surface. He almost couldn’t wait for the next day to come. The office, the portal, the reactions — it was all part of a new chapter, one where he finally took control of his narrative.

  For the first time in a long while, he was looking forward to what the future had in store.

  The sound of thunder rumbled through the air as Daniel stirred awake, the heavy rain pattering against his window like a rhythmic symphony. He glanced outside, taking in the stormy gray sky, its gloom illuminated sporadically by flashes of lightning. It was clear that the day would start slower than usual, and he wasn’t in a hurry to get moving.

  He stretched lazily, knowing full well that the office hours would be delayed. Director Clayton, consistent as ever, always adjusted the reporting time whenever there was rain. It was one of the things Daniel genuinely liked about him — a small but thoughtful gesture that made mornings like this feel less rushed.

  With a content sigh, Daniel brewed himself a strong cup of coffee and settled into his usual spot by the window. The warm mug in his hands contrasted with the cool ambiance of the rainy morning, grounding him as he prepared for the day ahead.

  He opened Strings, a social media platform that had become his go-to for staying informed. The interface was sleek and efficient, tailored to showing the latest news and trends. Daniel scrolled through his feed, immersing himself in updates from around the world.

  One headline caught his eye: “Multiple Lawsuits Filed Against AI Developers by Writers, Artists, and Musicians.” Intrigued, he clicked on the article and sipped his coffee as he read. The piece detailed the growing backlash against AI systems that were accused of infringing on intellectual property — generating art, music, and written content based on the works of creators without proper licensing or acknowledgment.

  The debate fascinated Daniel. On one hand, the lawsuits raised important ethical questions about originality, ownership, and the boundaries of AI development. On the other hand, he couldn’t deny the incredible capabilities of modern AI, the way it could transform industries and streamline processes.

  He bookmarked the article, making a mental note to dive deeper into the topic later. As he continued browsing, he came across posts about cutting-edge technology, economic trends, and snippets of humor that lightened the otherwise gloomy mood of the morning.

  The sound of the rain outside softened, blending with the hum of his thoughts. Today would be a shorter workday, but Daniel was ready for it. The anticipation of unveiling the procurement portal lingered at the back of his mind, a quiet buzz of excitement.

  As the clock ticked closer to the adjusted reporting time, Daniel finished his coffee and set the mug aside. He put his phone in his pocket, feeling informed and ready to face whatever the day had in store. The storm outside might have slowed things down, but for Daniel, it was just another step toward solidifying his place in the office and beyond.

  As Daniel walked into the IT section, droplets from his umbrella dripping onto the tile floor, he immediately noticed the gloom that hung in the air like a heavy fog. Joe and Graham were seated at their desks, their faces pale and downcast. They exchanged hushed whispers, glancing occasionally at the empty chair that once belonged to Ray. The absence of their former supervisor was a stark reminder of the turmoil that had engulfed the department.

  Daniel paused for a moment, taking in the scene. So this is what the aftermath looks like, he thought, a faint trace of amusement tugging at his lips. Chief Director Michael had promised a temporary replacement for Ray, but Daniel knew the reality of corporate logistics. There was no way a new leader could have been assigned so quickly, especially considering the storm of issues surrounding the IT section.