Woke Up Naked Next to a Stranger - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
You are reading Woke Up Naked Next to a Stranger, Chapter 10: Chapter 10. Read more chapters of Woke Up Naked Next to a Stranger.
My voice exploded louder than I'd ever dared—probably the first time I'd truly yelled at Ryan Lowell. The raw, hysterical force of my scream even made him flinch.
"Fine, Sophia. Eat whenever you want."
Ryan turned to leave.
"Wait! Take this with you!"
The words snapped out before I could stop them, icy and sharp. The memory of last time flashed through my mind—Ethan Roscente witnessing the misunderstanding between us, his fury burning hot.
Now, Ryan's persistent kindness twisted something uncomfortable in my chest.
I was terrified. What if the door swung open again? What if Ethan saw something—anything—that could be misread?
At my command, Ryan hesitated, then turned back, wounded. He carefully picked up the spicy hot pot he'd left on my desk, his expression crumbling as he walked away.
The second the office door clicked shut behind him, the dam broke. Tears I'd been choking back spilled over.
Soon, word of my breakdown reached management—no surprise, given how visibly wrecked I was. What shocked me was how they already knew Ethan had vanished.
I hadn't told a soul at work. So how?
"Sophia," Richard Anderson, the CEO, studied me with careful concern as I stood there, red-eyed and distracted. "Given... everything, would you like to take some time off?"
I knew what he really meant: Get it together before you tank company productivity.
"Mr. Anderson," I wiped my face, voice steadier than I felt. "I promise you, my work won't suffer. Neither will the company."
They'd always seen me as relentless. That's how I'd become department manager so young.
"Alright. I trust you." He softened slightly. "But if you need a break—just say the word. This isn't about firing you. Talent like yours? We'd fight to keep you."
His kindness wrecked me all over again.
Back in my office, thoughts of Ethan were a knife to the ribs. The only escape? Drowning in work.
The afternoon blurred past. Just before clock-out, my phone buzzed—Vanessa Evans, my best friend.
"Sophia. What the hell happened with Ethan?" Her voice was all urgency. "I heard after Thailand, he just... ghosted you?"
The second she said his name, my throat closed.
"Vanessa, I... I don't know. I really—" My voice cracked.
"Hey, hey. I'm near your office. Come down. We're getting food, and you're telling me everything."
I swiped at my tears, grabbed my bag, and headed out.
As I stepped into the hallway, I caught Ryan watching me from the corner of his eye—head ducked like he was afraid to be seen looking, but unable to hide his worry.
Checking if I'm okay.
I wasn't. But I'd pretend—for now.
"Fine, Sophia. Eat whenever you want."
Ryan turned to leave.
"Wait! Take this with you!"
The words snapped out before I could stop them, icy and sharp. The memory of last time flashed through my mind—Ethan Roscente witnessing the misunderstanding between us, his fury burning hot.
Now, Ryan's persistent kindness twisted something uncomfortable in my chest.
I was terrified. What if the door swung open again? What if Ethan saw something—anything—that could be misread?
At my command, Ryan hesitated, then turned back, wounded. He carefully picked up the spicy hot pot he'd left on my desk, his expression crumbling as he walked away.
The second the office door clicked shut behind him, the dam broke. Tears I'd been choking back spilled over.
Soon, word of my breakdown reached management—no surprise, given how visibly wrecked I was. What shocked me was how they already knew Ethan had vanished.
I hadn't told a soul at work. So how?
"Sophia," Richard Anderson, the CEO, studied me with careful concern as I stood there, red-eyed and distracted. "Given... everything, would you like to take some time off?"
I knew what he really meant: Get it together before you tank company productivity.
"Mr. Anderson," I wiped my face, voice steadier than I felt. "I promise you, my work won't suffer. Neither will the company."
They'd always seen me as relentless. That's how I'd become department manager so young.
"Alright. I trust you." He softened slightly. "But if you need a break—just say the word. This isn't about firing you. Talent like yours? We'd fight to keep you."
His kindness wrecked me all over again.
Back in my office, thoughts of Ethan were a knife to the ribs. The only escape? Drowning in work.
The afternoon blurred past. Just before clock-out, my phone buzzed—Vanessa Evans, my best friend.
"Sophia. What the hell happened with Ethan?" Her voice was all urgency. "I heard after Thailand, he just... ghosted you?"
The second she said his name, my throat closed.
"Vanessa, I... I don't know. I really—" My voice cracked.
"Hey, hey. I'm near your office. Come down. We're getting food, and you're telling me everything."
I swiped at my tears, grabbed my bag, and headed out.
As I stepped into the hallway, I caught Ryan watching me from the corner of his eye—head ducked like he was afraid to be seen looking, but unable to hide his worry.
Checking if I'm okay.
I wasn't. But I'd pretend—for now.
End of Woke Up Naked Next to a Stranger Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to Woke Up Naked Next to a Stranger book page.