He Said the Cat Needed Him. There Was No Cat Chapter 04

He Said the Cat Needed Him. There Was No Cat Chapter 04

The HR manager looked uncomfortable when she saw my name.

“Claire, that might be difficult right now.”

“Why?”

She closed the file.

“Director Cole said you’ve been emotionally unstable lately and shouldn’t make any job changes.”

I smiled faintly.

“What else did he say?”

She avoided my eyes.

“He said you should stay home for a few days and calm down.”

“You can return when you’ve handled your personal issues.”

As I left the office, I heard Adrian Cole’s name in the break room again.

“Director Cole is actually fair. He didn’t even take his girlfriend’s side.”

“He explained everything because Vanessa Reed already struggles with depression and he didn’t want everyone blaming her.”

“He said Claire Bennett was too sensitive and turned one stupid cat into a disaster.”

“No wonder Vanessa Reed feels so guilty.”

I stood outside and finally understood.

Adrian Cole had spread every whisper in the office.

He had done it to make Vanessa Reed feel better.

I turned to leave, but Vanessa Reed’s voice came from the stairwell.

“Adrian Cole, why did you tell people that about her?”

“You know Claire didn’t do anything wrong.”

Adrian Cole answered quietly.

“If I didn’t, would you hide somewhere and cry again?”

Vanessa Reed choked on her reply.

“But she’s your girlfriend.”

“She’ll get over it.”

Adrian Cole sounded completely certain.

“Claire Bennett has a soft heart, especially when it comes to you.”

Vanessa Reed remained silent for a long time.

“The cat was never real.”

“Why did you keep covering for me?”

I braced one hand against the wall as my fingertips turned cold.

Adrian Cole didn’t answer immediately.

After a few seconds, he finally said, “Because I wanted an excuse to see you too.”

The stairwell went silent.

I could almost hear my own heartbeat.

Vanessa Reed’s voice trembled.

“You knew her parents waited three hours on her birthday?”

“I knew.”

Adrian Cole said it without hesitation.

“She’d make excuses for me. She always does.”

My transfer request slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

The voices inside stopped instantly.

When I looked up, Vanessa Reed had grabbed Adrian Cole by the collar and risen onto her toes to kiss him.

Adrian Cole went rigid for only a second.

Then he cupped the back of her neck.

I stood at the stairwell entrance and watched them kiss.

So every stubborn denial,

Every cutting argument,

Had only been a way for them to excuse what they wanted.

Adrian Cole saw me first.

His face changed instantly. “Claire!”

I bent down, picked up my transfer request, and turned away.

He chased after me and grabbed my arm.

“Let me explain.”

I looked at him. “Explain how the two of you made me your favorite joke?”

Vanessa Reed stood behind him, her face drained of color.

“Claire, I’m sorry…”

I ignored her.

Adrian Cole lowered his voice. “That kiss just happened. Before this, there was never any physical intimacy between us.”

“Who do you think you’re fooling with that face?”

I laughed coldly and ripped my arm from his grip.

That afternoon, HR returned my transfer request.

Across the top, someone had written: Not approved at this time.

A sticky note was clipped beside it.

It was in Adrian Cole’s handwriting: You can return to work after you apologize to Vanessa.

I stared at the sentence for a long time.

Then I opened my laptop and created a new document.

The title had only two words.

Resignation Letter.

After I sent it, I removed my employee badge and placed it on the desk.

Someone called after me. “Claire Bennett, are you seriously quitting?”

I didn’t look back. If I couldn’t transfer to Fairview, I would resign and return on my own.

Adrian Cole had refused to leave me any dignity.

So I would build my own way out.

A road that no longer had him anywhere on it.