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?]

edged closer to the truth,

issues, it would definitely affect the company. Clyde's presence in

Lina couldn't hold

to do it right out of the office? You're disrupting our work." "And all these flowers, and snacks, why don't you two go out

Lina breaking the ice, everyone else

you showing off your lovey-dovey act

the boss and his little sweetheart spread their love around." "Some people's intentions really make you wonder, wasn't she supposed to be Melanie's good

murs continued, leaving

The Clyde

-

a sour look on his

knew he was

as he

Rachel couldn't sit still any longer. She slammed her hand on

go!" Her eyes were teeming with tears,

a partnership

This

saint, huh? Why

at me again, but before I could retort,

think I don't

are the item here. 1 could never be interested in you,