Her hair clung to her face, and her clothes were soaked through.
Kurt immediately shrugged off his jacket, ready to offer it to her, but she held up a hand, refusing.
She knew all too well that she was the current hot topic in the office, and the last thing she wanted was to drag Kurt into the mess.
Thank you, she whispered.
Her voice trembled as she hugged herself tighter and headed straight for the elevator, desperate to escape the nightmare shed just endured.
Taking in the secluded area, Kurt couldnt help but notice how it was a perfect blind spot for security cameras.
The layout made it the ideal place for sneaky business, with people coming and going unpredictably.
Whoever did this had planned it well, leaving no trace.
Kurts mind flashed to the recent office gossip, and a deep frown settled on his face. This wasnt going to slide.
He was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Inside the elevator, the icy air did nothing to help Dulcies situation.
Quivering like a leaf, she sneezed several times, each one shaking her to the core.
By the time the doors slid open on the top floor, her entire body was numb, her senses dulled by the cold and exhaustion.
Stepping out, she found herself locking eyes with Kyson, who was just leaving his office.
That brief eye contact was enough to make her stomach drop.
She quickly looked away, shuffling past him to her desk, trying to make herself as small as possible.
The ongoing standoff between them was taking its toll, leaving her emotionally and physically exhausted.
It didnt help that her mistakes were piling up, and Kyson wasnt making things any easier.
Every mistake she made was met with his sharp criticism, cutting through her like a knife.
His scolding had always been harsh, but lately, it felt like he was going out of his way to make her Life miserable.
Sitting at her desk, she hugged herself, trying to warm up and shake off the deep chill she felt in her bones.
But the chill in the office couldnt hold a candle to the icy grip around her heart.
Her resilience was wearing thin, and she was dangerously close to breaking.
Achoo! Another sneeze wracked her body, pulling a frustrated groan from her lips.
Her head pounded like a drum, and the room spun slightly. Convinced that Kyson had already left, she let herself slump over her desk, eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion finally overtook her.
Unbeknownst to her, Kyson hadnt left.
He stood quietly nearby, his gaze fixed on her fragile form.
Cold.
It was so cold.
The thought drifted through Dulcies mind as she hovered on the edge of consciousness.
Then, amid her drowsiness, she felt herself being lifted.
Strong arms cradled her, and the faint scent of mans cologne filled her senses.
Wait! Was someone carrying her? She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt like they weighed a ton.