After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 277

Shirley jumped to her feet, her nerves on edge. She knew Waldo was losing it, letting all his anger spill out. He had always loved mocking Lawrence, putting him down every chance he got, so this must have hit him where it hurt.

“I’ll go check on him.” She stepped out, pulling the door shut behind her.

Waldo’s office was chaos. His three assistants were huddled nearby, too scared to get close. When they spotted Shirley, they rushed over as if she was their only hope. “Shirley, please, you have to go in and talk to him. He’s not listening to anyone.”

Shirley took a steadying breath and knocked on the door. Waldo’s voice exploded from inside. “Go away.”

She didn’t hesitate. She opened the door anyway and walked in. The floor was covered in broken glass and papers. Waldo stood by the window, smoking, his back tense. Shirley closed the door and faced him, her voice gentle. “Waldo, I know you’re hurting. I get it. But if you’re going to take on Lawrence, you can’t fall apart now. You need to pull yourself together.”

Waldo crushed his cigarette out with more force than necessary and turned to her. His voice was rough. “Did your dad ever tell you who Lawrence really is?”

Shirley froze, then shook her head quickly. “No, he didn’t. Honestly, I don’t think it’s just us. Even Catherine was kept in the dark. Lawrence covered his tracks too well.”

Waldo kicked a sofa cushion across the room. “So he’s been playing us this whole time? Watching us dance around like idiots? Was I just a joke to him?”

Anger twisted his face, the veins on his forehead standing out. He remembered every time he’d laughed at Lawrence, showing off, acting like he was untouchable. Back then, Lawrence had seemed so calm. Waldo thought he was just pretending. Turns out, the real fool was him.

Shirley watched him, feeling a pang of sympathy. Waldo had always acted so proud, so in control. Now, with everything flipped upside down, he was falling apart.

Maybe Catherine was right about Lawrence all along.

Lawrence was the one really holding all the cards.

Waldo looked down at her, surprised by her sudden move. He didn’t pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back with a hungry intensity. There was nothing gentle about it. It was all raw need and possession.

Shirley melted into him, letting herself be held. Catherine had Lawrence, but Shirley would have Waldo. She wasn’t about to come out of this empty-handed.

Now, when he was at his lowest, was her chance.

When the kiss finally broke, Waldo was breathing hard. He looked down at her, gripping her chin. “Come to my place tonight.”

Shirley’s cheeks flushed pink, her eyes bright. “Okay.”

Waldo let her go, but his tone turned serious. “Shirley, I need you. I need your Resonance AI even more. You have to fix those bugs and get it running perfectly. It’s our best shot against Nexus Dynamics.”