When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

When I got back to the office, Clyde had his assistant march straight into the Design Department with a stack of files and plopped right next to Rachel. "If you won't come up, I'll come down. Either way works for me."

"What would you like for our afternoon snack? I've ordered cherries and strawberries. You love strawberry yogurt, don't you? Got that for you too."

Clyde, going out of his way to be nice, left everyone around us utterly gobsmacked.

Especially when he mentioned Rachel's favorite treats, all eyes turned to me.

Everyone knew I had a soft spot for those "girly" snacks, something Lina once said showed my childlike spirit.

Back in college, it was the same, and Clyde never missed a chance to tease me about never growing up.

But whenever he made a little extra from his part-time jobs, he'd always remember to treat me to some dessert, a habit I ended up holding onto.

Especially before the cancer came back, I would treat everyone to afternoon tea, almost always picking something with a strawberry twist.

Seeing the bandage at the back of Clyde's head, our colleagues immediately started speculating in the group chat.

[Did Mr. Patterson hit his head? Everything he ordered is Melanie's favorite.]

[Maybe, maybe, I've read novels like this. Amnesiac CEO, chasing his wife to the crematorium.]

[Really? Do his orders still count then? Could he be legally irresponsible?]

to the truth, panic set

issues, it would

Lina couldn't

disrupting our work." "And all these flowers, and snacks, why

ice, everyone

you showing off your lovey-dovey act

enough without having to watch the boss and his little sweetheart spread their love around."

murs continued, leaving

The Clyde

-

sour look on

also knew he was

as he offered no

longer. She slammed her hand on the table and glared

go!" Her eyes were teeming with

discussing a partnership and rushed out to smooth things

everyone, cut it out. This has nothing to do

Why didn't you

I could

don't think I don't

are the item here. 1 could never be interested in