168
The next morning moved like any other at Mathews Co.
Polished. Efficient. Controlled.
Amanda and Ericka arrived together as usual, with exactly enough space between them to look professional — but close enough that anyone paying attention knew they walked in together every day.
By late morning, Amanda was buried in scheduling while Ericka was locked in talks with the legal department. Nothing unusual.
Until 11:07 a.m.
Her desk phone buzzed.
"Amanda? Someone named... Sierra is here for you. Should I send her up?"
Amanda's heart dropped into her stomach.
She froze. "Um... sure. But don't let her past my desk."
Two minutes later, the elevator pinged open.
And Sierra strutted out.
Cute outfit.
Full face of makeup.
The confidence of someone who thought this was about to be a romantic comedy reunion.
Amanda stood up slowly.
"Sierra... what are you doing here?"
Sierra brushed her hair back dramatically. "I didn't get to say everything yesterday. So I thought I'd bring lunch and we could talk."
Amanda stepped back. "That's not a good idea."
"I just want to catch up," Sierra insisted, holding up a bag of takeout. "You didn't text back, and after everything we shared—"
"We didn't 'share' anything," Amanda said, voice low. "Sierra, you need to leave."
Sierra's lips twisted. "I know you still feel something. You can't hide that from me."
Amanda was about to shut it down again when—
Ericka's office door opened.
She stepped out, phone in hand, her CEO-mode presence slicing through the tension instantly.
Every employee subtly stopped typing.
"Amanda?" Ericka said calmly. "Is everything alright?"
Sierra turned, blinking. "Oh! You must be Ms. Mathews. I've seen you in the interviews."
Ericka approached... slowly.
Her heels quiet but dangerous.
Her expression neutral — the kind of neutral that meant danger.
"And you are?" Ericka asked.
"Sierra," she said brightly. "An old friend."
Amanda flinched.
Ericka didn't break eye contact. "You don't have an appointment."
"No," Sierra said, smile faltering a little. "I just... wanted to talk to Amanda privately."
Ericka's voice turned silk and ice.
"Unfortunately for you, this is a workplace. You cannot show up uninvited."
Sierra blinked, confused. "I was just trying to fix things between us."
"There is nothing to fix," Amanda snapped quietly.
Sierra's eyes softened, trying for charm. "Maybe you didn't see my messages—"
"Oh, she saw them," Ericka cut in, still calm. "I read every word."
Amanda's eyes shot to her, realizing what Ericka just admitted publicly she'd seen the texts. But Ericka didn't care. She was protecting her.
Sierra's brows pinched. "Why would you be reading her texts?"
Ericka didn't flinch. "Because I asked her about them. They concerned me."
Sierra huffed. "I wasn't trying to cause trouble."
"Then don't," Ericka said, voice firm. "You should leave."
Sierra hesitated, glancing between them. "Amanda... please. Five minutes."
"She said no," Ericka repeated calmly. "Respect that."
"I wasn't talking to you," Sierra shot back.
That was a mistake.
Ericka stepped forward just enough that Sierra instinctively stepped back.
"Let me be very clear," Ericka said softly, tone now lethal.
"You cannot come to this building demanding private discussions with one of my employees. You cannot ignore boundaries. And you cannot disrupt my office."
Sierra swallowed. Hard.
Ericka continued. "If you contact Amanda again or show up here without permission, security will escort you out and you will be trespassed."
"Wow," Sierra whispered. "The rumors are true. You are controlling."
Ericka's jaw tightened — but she smiled instead. A cold, CEO smile.
"No. I protect my team. And right now, Amanda is part of my team."
Amanda felt her chest soften at that — knowing what Ericka really meant.
Sierra realized she'd lost. She straightened her bag and scoffed.
"Fine. Whatever. This is ridiculous."
She stormed toward the elevator.
The elevator doors closed behind Sierra, her perfume and attitude vanishing like smoke.
But the damage she left behind?
It stayed.
Amanda turned toward Ericka expecting a sigh or maybe a sharp comment.
Instead... she saw the truth hit her all at once.
Ericka's eyes were full — glossy, glassy, trembling on the edge.
Her jaw was tight, lips pressed together too hard.
Her shoulders were locked stiff.
Her whole body was fighting something she didn't want the world to see.
"Baby?" Amanda whispered carefully.
Ericka didn't answer.
Her throat bobbed, and then quietly, almost angrily a tear slipped down her cheek.
Amanda's heart clenched. "Come here, sweetheart."
Ericka shook her head once, jaw clenching harder a silent "not here."
Amanda didn't ask again. She took Ericka's hand and moved swiftly, guiding her toward the office.
She closed the door, locked it, turned the blinds.
Only when the outside world disappeared did Ericka break.
She covered her face with both hands and let out a shaky, frustrated breath —half a sob, half a growl.
"Ericka..." Amanda said, reaching for her.
But Ericka stepped into her arms first.
Amanda wrapped her tight, hands stroking her back, her hair, wherever she could soothe her.
Ericka's breath hitched again, then again the tears finally slipping free.
Not loud. Not dramatic.
But the kind of tears someone cries when they've been too strong for too long.
Amanda kissed her temple. "Talk to me. Please."
Ericka shook her head, wiping at her face furiously.
"I'm pissed," she whispered, voice cracking like a snapped string. "I'm so fucking pissed."
Amanda held her closer. "I know. I know, baby."
"It's not just her showing up" Ericka pulled back enough to look at Amanda. Her eyes were red, shining. "It's the way she talked to you. The way she walked in here like she had a right. Like she like she could just disrespect us in my building."
"She can't," Amanda whispered, cupping her cheeks. "And she won't ever again."
Ericka sucked in a shaky breath, then let out a frustrated laugh that immediately broke into another tear.
"And I'm crying," she choked, pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, "because these damn hormones won't let me be mad like a normal person!"
Amanda's face softened even more. "Oh, baby..."
"It's stupid," Ericka muttered, sniffing and wiping at her cheeks. "I'm not sad. I'm angry. And my body is like 'nope, let's cry instead.'"
Amanda gently pulled her hands away from her face and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her jaw grounding her.
"It's not stupid," Amanda whispered. "You're pregnant. Your emotions are dialed up. You are protecting our family. That's why it hit so hard."
Ericka leaned her forehead against Amanda's, breathing shakily. "I hate that she made me feel anything."
"She didn't," Amanda corrected softly. "The hormones made you cry. She just happened to be the trigger."
Ericka let out a wet laugh. "That almost makes me feel better."
Amanda held her cheek, thumb brushing away another tear.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
Ericka nodded slowly, letting her body relax into Amanda's arms.
"I just needed a minute," she whispered. "I'm okay. I just... needed you."
Amanda hugged her tighter, lips brushing her ear.
"I'm here," she said. "Always."
Ericka finally steadied her breathing, her head still pressed to Amanda's chest. Amanda held her tightly, letting Ericka release every ounce of emotion without saying a word. It was one of those moments where silence did more than comfort it grounded.
After a few minutes, Ericka wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her blouse, frustrated at her own tears.
"I'm pissed," she muttered, voice trembling. "And the hormones aren't helping."
She exhaled sharply. "I hate that she saw me even a little shaken."
Amanda cupped her face gently. "Baby... nobody saw anything except me. And you're human. You're allowed to feel."
Ericka swallowed hard, nodding once — but not fully convinced.
"I need a minute," she whispered.
Amanda kissed her forehead, then slipped out of the office, closing the door softly behind her.
The minute the latch clicked shut, the entire floor snapped to attention.
Every head turned.
Every conversation stopped.
Every eye locked onto Amanda like she was carrying the results of a medical test they were too scared to read.
Leah was the first to speak, voice barely louder than a whisper.
"...Is she... okay?"
Amanda took a breath, pulling her professional mask back on — though her eyes still held the softness from moments before.
"She's okay," Amanda assured them with a calm smile. "She just needs space for a bit. It's been... a morning."
A collective exhale rolled across the department.
like a wave, shoulders dropped, breaths released, eyes softened.
Carter ran a hand through his hair.
"Thank God. I thought we were about to get a department-wide email titled 'Adjusting Expectations.'"
Jamie nudged him. "Dude, not the time."
Maria pressed her hand to her chest. "I was scared to even breathe."
Amanda laughed softly. "You're all dramatic. She just—" she paused, lowering her voice, "—had to deal with something unexpected. She'll be fine. But let's be sharp today, alright? On top of everything."
The team nodded instantly — loyal, ready, protective.
Leah whispered, "On it. No surprises. No mistakes. No sudden movements."
Jamie added, "I'll reroute any calls so nothing extra hits her line."
Maria held up a stack of papers. "I triple-checked the reports. They're clean."
Carter grabbed his laptop. "If anybody needs anything, I'm speed-running tasks today."
Amanda's heart swelled a little.
This... was family.
Before she could thank them, Ericka's office phone rang, her private line blinking. Amanda glanced back, lowering her voice even further.
"Let's just... keep things calm today," she said softly. "If you see something that might stress her out? Bring it to me first, okay?"
Everyone nodded quickly, serious now.
Amanda gave them a grateful smile and slipped back into Ericka's office, closing the door gently behind her as the team returned to work — calmer, quieter, and very, very aware of the stakes.