She Took The House The Car And My Heart

Chapter 170

Chapter 170 Utter Mortification

"It's not me you should be apologizing to." Freya knew the words would land like a

slap, but there was no gentler way to break it.

Alan had to face the weight of what he'd done.

Alan jerked to attention, yanking his hand away from his hair. "What's that supposed to mean?"

A ripple of unease crept through him. Had he made a spectacle of himself while drunk on the street?

No, that didn't sound right. Freya would never let him make a fool of himself like that-she knew how much his image mattered to him.

"You were at..." Freya began.

"I know!" Alan cut her off, rushing to get ahead of it. Better to say it himself than hear it from someone else. "I must've made a scene at Toby's, right? And he had no choice but to call you in?"

That had to be it! How was he supposed to give Toby proper instructions ever again? Toby probably thought he was a complete idiot now!

Freya silently weighed the shame of messing up in front of a close colleague versus someone he barely knew. She figured it was slightly less mortifying with a stranger.

At least Alan didn't have to see Kristian every day.

"It's not as bad as you think," Freya said gently, hoping to soften the blow.

Caught in a tug-of-war between panic and hope, Alan forced himself not to imagine anything worse.

He'd already pictured the most humiliating scenario. Since she said it wasn't that bad, maybe he could live with it. "So where did I humiliate myself?"

"At Kristian's place," Freya said, cool and composed.

Alan froze like someone had hit pause on his entire system.

Kristian's place?

Of all the godforsaken places-Kristian's?

Alan's face twisted in horror. "That's what you call 'not as bad as I think'?"

Toby's place would've been a blessing in comparison.

was Freya's ex-husband, for

0.0%

21:25

was humiliation

stopped torturing his hair and finally started to think. "How the hell did

a

party where Toby would've gotten drunk-or

when Kristian asked whether you wanted him or Toby to take you, you picked Kristian," Freya relayed, still a little unsure of the details. "Since Kristian didn't know

stunned silence. No way. She had

you're not fooling me," Alan said, pretending to laugh it off with a

said nothing, just

he clung to the belief that she

he ate the rest of his breakfast and got no further explanation, doubt

being serious?" he asked at

ask Toby," Freya said, glancing at her watch. "He should be getting ready for the office right about now.” Alan scrambled for

about to dial,

be heading to the office on your own?" Toby's words hit like a thunderclap, snuffing out the last flicker of

left with Kristian

"Yes, sir."

didn't you stop him?" Alan was already spiraling, his mood sinking fast. "You're my secretary-do you think it's acceptable to let the partner company's boss walk off

acceptable," Toby

why let him take

bring you home, sir, but you refused. You

told me to leave,

out why his boss would choose Kristian

only just begun to

ended the call

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forward, staring at Freya like a

my misery. I

live with this."

Utter mortification.

Complete, all-consuming shame.

to surrender," Freya said, twisting the knife just a little deeper.

There were

of emotions, Alan forced himself to ask,