The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 183

The silence stretched on for five agonizing seconds.

The first thing to move was the elevator doors.

They slowly began to slide shut.

Maloney simply kept one hand firmly on Nora's lower back and reached out with his other index finger to hit the "Open" button.

"Are you getting in?" he asked calmly.

Nora wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Why didn't he just let the doors close?!

She could practically feel the employees suffocating from the awkwardness!

Well, the damage was done.

One of the bravest employees cleared their throat and loudly declared, "Thank you, Mr. Jameson!"

The whole group nervously shuffled inside, throwing out scattered apologies. "Sorry to intrude, Mrs. Jameson!"

Nora didn't want to exist anymore.

Please, just pretend she wasn't here!

The doors closed, and the descent resumed.

She poked Maloney in the arm, silently begging him to put her down.

He deliberately played dumb, tightening his grip.

Glaring at him, she pinched the skin of his bicep between her thumb and forefinger, twisting it ruthlessly like she was tightening a screw.

He didn't even flinch. "Nora, you're hurting me," he stated in a flat, unbothered tone.

"Pfft." Someone huddled near the door couldn't hold back a snort of laughter.

That instantly set off the others, who quickly covered their faces to hide their smiles.

Luckily, the elevator was fast.

The second they hit the lobby floor, the employees scrambled out like they were fleeing a burning building.

But Maloney and Nora were headed for the basement.

The elevator continued down.

She thumped him hard on the chest. "You're so annoying!"

See?

Her temper was flaring up again.

"What did I do?" he asked innocently.

He kept a perfectly neutral expression as they reached the parking garage. Striding over to his car, he didn't even get in. Instead, he popped the driver's side door open, pulled something from the center console, shoved it into his pocket, and carried her right back to the elevator.

This time, Nora fought tooth and nail, refusing to let him carry her back inside.

No matter what he confessed now, she wouldn't immediately sentence him to death, if only because of what he did for Jasmine.

She would go easy on him.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding her further into the office.

Approaching the far wall, he pressed against a disguised panel, popping open a hidden door.

It revealed a private, attached bedroom.

Nora blinked in surprise.

He placed a hand on her back and gently pushed her inside.

The curtains were drawn tight, and the lights were off. The air felt a bit stale, likely from months of disuse.

"Yes, Nora."

He backed her up until she hit the edge of the mattress. "I took you with me because I wanted you."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out two boxes of condoms, and tossed them casually onto the bed.

She stared at the boxes.

"I know that day you were trying to reach the fire alarm, but unfortunately, you bumped into me."

"I had a dozen different ways to save you, but I chose to take you away."

"I did it on purpose, sweetheart," he murmured, gently stroking her cheek. "Are you scared?"