Chapter 2
The next afternoon, Danielle showed up at Cody's office building in full battle armor, heels on, hair done, striding in like she owned the place and had a score to settle.
She didn't tell Cody she was coming. She wanted to pull a surprise visit and see how much of this "overtime" was real.
The receptionist looked at Danielle, who was so gorgeous that it was almost blinding, but with a glare that could cut glass. The receptionist felt chills down her spine. "Um, who are you here to see?"
"Which floor is your boss's office on?" Danielle demanded, cutting straight to the chase.
"The boss? He's out of town on a business trip."
"On a business trip?" Danielle's anger deflated for a split second, like someone had poked a hole in her balloon, but then it flared up hotter. "Then what about Cody from the tech department? Where is he? Take me to him."
The receptionist, intimidated by Danielle's aura, nodded and hurriedly led her to the tech department's open workspace.
It was around three or four in the afternoon, and the office was buzzing with activity, keyboards clacking, phones ringing, the whole place alive with noise.
Danielle's eyes swept over the rows of cubicles, and she instantly locked onto that familiar head in the corner.
Cody had his back to the aisle, totally absorbed in his computer, with a pile of half-eaten, cold buns next to him.
His shoulders drooped, and from behind, he looked totally wiped out but still laser-focused.
Danielle's anger vanished in a flash, replaced by a weird mix of emotions she couldn't name. 'So, he really is working overtime. He's not avoiding me?'
That realization left her feeling a little disappointed, a bit sorry for him, but mostly confused. 'Wasn't Cody always the guy who hated overtime? Why's he suddenly so eager to stay late? What's he up to?'
She didn't disturb Cody, just stood quietly a short distance away, watching him for several minutes.
She watched him massage his aching neck, take a big gulp of cold coffee, and frown in concentration at the screen.
Danielle quietly walked up behind Cody and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
Cody broke out in a cold sweat. 'I'm married. Who's bold enough to pull this in broad daylight? If my wife sees this, I'm totally screwed.'
"Honey," Danielle called out.
Cody froze, turning his head stiffly. "Honey, what are you doing here?"
"I missed you. I haven't seen you at all these past nights," she said, while her eyes were practically undressing Cody, giving him a shameless once-over.
"Work's been crazy lately. I've been stuck working overtime every night." Cody felt a pang of guilt, but quickly straightened up, putting on his best poker face.
'No way, I can't show my guilty face,' Cody thought. 'Besides, I really am working overtime. There's nothing to be guilty about.'
"Your boss is seriously heartless, working you to the bone like this. Ugh, he's totally ruining our fun." Danielle huffed.
Cody knew exactly what Danielle meant by "our fun." "I've been swamped lately. I can't really help it."
Danielle pressed her lips together, her eyes growing serious, like she was making up her mind about something. "Alright then, honey, you get back to work. I'm heading home."
Cody was genuinely shocked. 'She's actually being this easygoing? That's not like her at all.'
Danielle turned around without a word, her high heels clicking against the floor as she walked away.
Cody stared after her, totally spaced out for a long moment.
*****
Cody felt like the waves of weakness and soreness in his back were about to kill him.
He grabbed his lower back hard, hoping the sharp pain would snap him out of his exhaustion and keep him fighting with that stubborn code on the screen.
The wall clock mercilessly showed 8:40 PM, and all that remained in the office was the harsh pale light above his head and the dull hum of the computer.
"When is this damn project ever gonna be over?" He muttered under his breath, the words landing far too clearly in the empty office.
He was worried his worn-out back might finally give up on him, but honestly, he was sick of dealing with this crappy job.
Just then, some hushed commotion started up in the open office area.
Cody frowned in annoyance. 'Who's making a racket this late?'
He was about to stick his head out and yell when the heavy frosted glass door swung open with a crash.
The sharp, familiar sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed through the room, each step full of confidence he couldn't ignore.
Cody's heart sank like a stone. He turned his heavy office chair around, stiff and slow.
The woman standing in the doorway almost made Cody think he was hallucinating from all the overtime.
It was Danielle, the one who always acted cute and needy at home, lounging around in her comfy clothes.
"Honey." Danielle dashed over and threw herself into Cody's arms.
"Honey, what are you doing here again?" Cody asked.
"I came to pick you up from work. Come home with me. It's been ages since we've... You know." Danielle shot him a sultry look, her pout full of playful mischief and mock complaint.
Cody thought, 'Crap, looks like another sleepless night ahead.'
As soon as they got home, there was no time to catch his breath. Danielle dragged Cody straight to the bedroom.
The same Danielle who usually couldn't twist open a water bottle was now hauling him around like it was nothing.
Cody lay on the bed, dead inside, not bothering to move.
He let Danielle have her way with him, offering zero resistance.