140 She drew in a deep breath, then released it in a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Actually, I... No, it's nothing," she trailed off, avoiding Darwin's gaze.Darwin observed her closely, noting the sudden change. His curiosity piqued, he leaned in, his expression one of concern mixed with
141The next morning, Darwin awoke with a sense of trepidation about the plan he had agreed to with Lana. While he cared for her plight, pretending to be her fiancé felt like a scenario ripe for disaster. Taking a deep breath, he pushed those doubts aside and got ready for the day. His mother had r
142The gatekeeper finally stepped forward, trying to mediate. "Mr. Kress, he's said he'll move—"Albert rounded on him. "Stay out of this!" he barked, then turned his attention back to Darwin. "You need to learn your place here, boy."Darwin's jaw clenched at the word "boy," his annoyance flaring i
143Albert burst into laughter, so hard that he had to clutch his stomach. Through his fits of laughter, he managed to gasp out, "Ha! If you're the owner, then I must be Santa Claus!" His loud guffaws echoed through the crowd, sparking a wave of laughter and mocking jeers directed at Darwin.People
144The crowd of onlookers numbered around 20 employees who had gathered in the parking lot during their lunch break, drawn by the commotion. Word had spread quickly through the office grapevine that Albert was confronting some intruder who had parked in his spot. No one wanted to miss the inevitabl
145Albert, now visibly shaking, couldn't believe the turn of events. "No way, no way he's the big shot," he muttered under his breath, unable to reconcile the Darwin he knew with the owner of the company. His disbelief was so strong, it pushed him to speak out, "There's been some mistake. He—he's a
146As the guards began to lead a still-resisting Albert away, the crowd parted to make way, their expressions a mixture of relief and curiosity. The path cleared by the crowd felt like a walk of shame, every step away from the scene, a step deeper into a pit of realization and regret.Some onlooke
147As he pocketed his phone, Darwin couldn't help but roll his eyes at the absurdity of their situation. He was about to embark on a charade that seemed more suited to a sitcom than real life. He shook his head, a chuckle escaping him despite the gravity of their predicament. The things we do for f