Chapter 125


    The lights in the office flickered out abruptly, leaving Josefina stumbling into theforting embrace


    of warmth.


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    Oliver held her close, his voice a soothing whisper in her ear, "Don''t be scared."


    The dark had long been a source of terror for Josefina, a fear rooted in childhood nights spent


    locked in pitch-dark rooms. From those days on, she couldn''t bear to be in the dark without light.


    It was a scorcher of a summer, and with the air conditioner humming in the background, the office


    curtains were drawn, shielding the interior from the faint glow of streemps and leaving the room in


    an eerie darkness.


    Josefina''s grip tightened on Oliver''s arm, her panic palpable to him, tinged with an undeniable


    dread.


    "Hold on, I''ll pull back the curtains. Once there''s light, it''ll all be fine," Oliver reassured her as he


    held her close.


    Gritting her teeth, Josefina fought to quell the fear wing at her insides, inching her way to the


    window with Oliver''s guidance.


    With the curtains flung open, the outside light spilled in, lessening the grip of Josefina''s anxiety.


    She looked up, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, and caught sight of Oliver''s resolute jawline.


    Their eyes met as she looked up and he gazed down, his eyes brimming with concern.


    "I''ll get the door. Let''s head back," Oliver suggested, worried that Josefina might unravelpletely.


    He took her hand, leading her to the office door.


    "The door''s locked." Oliver frowned as he realized that there was a problem with the door lock. He


    pulled out his phone and sighed. "We''ve got a signal jammer in here."


    Josefina frowned at him, her silence speaking volumes of her fiery temper.


    Oliver offered a rueful smile. "Do you really think I''d stoop so low as to trap us together? I''m no


    saint, but I wouldn''t do that to you."


    Caught off guard, Josefina scanned the room, attempting to deduce who would resort to such


    shameless tactics against her. Using the dim light from outside, she hastily packed her belongings


    into her bag.


    "Oliver, step back," shemanded. She poised her right foot, ready to kick the door down.


    "Stand aside," Oliver said, taking her arm. "A gentleman should handle this."


    Josefina stepped back as Oliver''s foot mmed against the door with a thunderous crash.


    "Let''s go," he said, pulling the door down and taking her hand once more, guiding her toward the


    main entrance of the building.


    That door was also locked, and there was a smell of gasoline in the air. Oliver knew they had to get


    out fast. "I''ll get you out of here," he said as he prepared to kick down the door.


    "Let go of my hand first. I''ll do it," Josefina insisted.


    ss doors were dangerous to kick through. Shattered ss could hurt someone. Standing to the


    side, Josefina slipped a bobby pin from her hair and jimmied it into the lock. Momentster, the door


    clicked open.


    "I didn''t know you could pick locks," Oliver remarked, impressed.


    "There''s a lot you don''t know about me," Josefina quipped, returning the bobby pin to her hair like a


    secret weapon.


    Oliver leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a roguish smile ying on his lips. Even in the dim


    light, his charm was unmistakable.


    "You do have a wide skill set. Like... peeking at me," he teased.


    Josefina''s cheeks flushed, and she strode ahead.


    Oliver was quick to take her hand again, stepping in front to ensure her safety. With the night''s


    events growing more sinister by the minute, it was imperative that he safeguard Josefina at all


    costs.


    The two of them walked downstairs and arrived at the underground parking lot. The parking lot was


    very quiet, and they walked through it as if they were on an adventure. Even when they sat in the


    car, Oliver still worried about Josefina''s safety.