Broken: 45 - First Deep Clean

[FingerToes]

Wow, this chapter is long. I would really like to know everyone's thoughts on this chapter and the previous two.  Are you ok with the direction I am taking it?  Also, if you find mistakes, let me know. I reviewed it twice, but I was getting ADHD from it being so long

Chapter 39 - Last Straw

As night approached in Avery’s apartment, Avery found himself once again wrestling with sleeplessness. His mind was entangled in a yearning for Darlene's comforting presence he had enjoyed before he so quickly left her place in anger about being regressed to so-called help him with his social and anxiety issues. He didn’t want to believe any of that. He was fine the way he was. He didn’t need Darlene. He didn’t need anyone. But he couldn’t help but crave the tranquility she effortlessly bestowed upon him when he was with her at her place. His heart was weighed down by her absence as he grudgingly accepted his solitude within the confines of his apartment. He hadn’t eaten well the last few nights. Just his typical microwavable dinners. They were bland tasting compared to what he had at Darlene’s house.

The last few nights became a ritual of a hot shower and a solitary microwaved meal. Afterward, Avery would immerse himself into the labyrinth of his theoretical calculations, sitting at the small kitchen table with the small camera on a kitchen self just under the trash can that faced the table. This was IT policy to ensure proper usage of DNA Pharmacia’s property. Intellectual property was the highest priority there. His fingers danced over the keyboard, eyes squinting at the glaring screen as he wrestled with complex algorithms. This was familiar territory for him, yet the looming presentation to the board threw him into uncharted waters.

His heart pounded at the mere thought of standing before that formidable panel. He had never navigated such social terrain before; his world was one of numbers and codes, not speeches and presentations. How was he going to stay dry in front of them? Conversations with Christy did little to quell his anxiety. Though she exuded more confidence than him, she, too, was a novice in this arena of corporate rules and expectations. They were both stepping on what felt like almost like a battlefield with nothing but their wits and raw determination. The only ones with any experience with these types of presentations to a board were Byran and John. It scared Avery that he had to rely on John. He just knew he would be set up in front of the board by him. That didn’t make matters easier for him.

It was almost 2 am when he finished for the night. He laid on his bed exhausted, but there was a gnawing desire for solace that only Darlene seemed to offer stubbornly lingered. He had so many emotions. He was depressed he wasn’t around her. He was mad at her for making him feel this way and feeling like he needed someone. He was mad at himself for letting him get close to someone. In almost tears again and in this moment of raw vulnerability, he finally surrendered to an object he had been evading - the diaper. Even though he had purchased these a few days ago for this very thing, each night, he tried to avoid doing it, telling himself this was the last time.

With a nervous touch, he retrieved the disposable diaper hidden inside one of his dresser drawers. He delicately unfolded the soft fabric, smoothing out any creases or imperfections. The gentle rustling of the diaper filled the silent small bedroom, almost like a lullaby. Slowly, he removed his boxers lowered himself onto the bed, and spread the diaper beneath him, arranging it perfectly before securing it snugly around his waist with the adhesive tape. The plush padding cradled his body, providing a sense of comfort and security that he could not explain nor deny.

Avery sighed as the diaper wrapped around him felt oddly comforting; its presence was a tangible reminder of reality - harsh yet grounding how he needed something to soothe him. It held him together just enough to keep him from falling apart. It wasn’t as snug and tight as Darlene did it, but it was good enough for the effect.

He grabbed his stuffed Red Dog. He then moved towards the sofa. Settling down on the old ruff sofa, he did his best to surround himself with an array of pillows, each strategically positioned to mimic being in Darlene's lap and her tender embrace.

One pillow nestled behind his back provided support while another cushioned under his head offered softness akin to her lap, which he used to rest his worries away. He clutched a third pillow tightly with Red Dog in between him against his chest, pretending it was her warmth radiating through.

Although her actual presence was painfully absent, this makeshift setup offered a semblance of reassurance - like a bandage over an open wound: not healing but preventing further injury.

Yet even amidst this carefully constructed fortress of comfort, the longing in his heart persevered unabated. He tried brushing aside memories of being cradled and the fleeting moments shared with Darlene, but they persistently resurfaced. As sleep finally began to claim him, he yearned for the hollow void within him to be filled, fully aware that no number of diapers, pillows, or sofas could ever substitute the warmth and love he once found in Darlene's arms. He told himself he would at least try to say “hi” to her tomorrow.

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As the sun crept through the curtains, Avery stirred awake. He reached for his phone to check the time and immediately felt a jolt of panic run through him - he had overslept. Why didn’t his alarm go off? Avery quickly jumped off the sofa in a rush, he felt the diaper and realized that he had slightly wet himself while asleep. The stress of the upcoming presentation must be taking a toll on him, he thought to himself. He had never done this before. There was no time to dwell on this right now. He had to get to work.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror tired, Avery could see the tired lines etched on his face. Was it from a bad dream he couldn’t remember or just a lack of sleep? He couldn't quite recall. But one thing was for sure - he needed to hurry if he didn't want to be even more late than he already was going to be.

Quickly tearing off his wet diaper and tossing it into the small trash can by the sink, he grabbed a pull-up and an insert from the cabinet and stepped into it. Sighing with relief, he put on a light green polo onesie, sliding it over his head and snapping the four crotch buttons. Next, he rummaged through his closet for a pair of slacks and found a slightly wrinkled but clean gray pair. Stepping into them, he pulled them up and buttoned them before putting on some socks and shoes.

Grabbing his backpack, Avery rushed out the door, knowing he had already missed the first bus and cursing himself for it. It was apparently his routine to never miss that bus - until today. He had to wait an hour to hop onto the next bus that arrived. There was nothing he could do but pray that he wouldn't be too late and Christy and Bryan wouldn’t be too mad at him. The wait was madding, but eventually, the bus did show up. It was things like this that made Avery realize how out of control his life felt.

Avery slumped back in a seat on the back of the bus, his heart racing with anxiety. He felt as if the weight of everyone's judgment was bearing down on him on the bus, even though they had no clue. He just faced the window of the bus to avoid their curious glances. The passing cars and buildings blurred together as Avery's mind raced, replaying all the ways he could have prevented this delay. Each passing second felt like an eternity, the slow crawl of the bus mocking his tardiness. Avery couldn't bear to face the disapproving looks from his peers, so he buried himself in his thoughts, feeling like a failure for being so late once again.

When the bus finally arrived at his stop, Avery stumbled off the bus, his heart racing as he glanced at his watch. Two hours late. Dread pooled in his stomach as he rushed towards the office building, his mind a whirlwind of unfinished calculations and half-formed presentation slides. It was a brisk, cold-mile walk to the DNA Pharmacia. It seemed to take forever to get there. The walkways were busy with people who continued to block and slow him down. Eventually, and out of breath, Avery made it.

The elevator ride felt interminable. Avery's fingers tapped an anxious rhythm on his thigh as he silently berated himself. Why hadn't he just taken the sleeping pills instead of working late? Now, he'd have to face Christy and Bryan's disappointment, not to mention how he might be giving John a reason to yell at him. He was glad in his rushed state. He still managed to put the pull-up on with the insert inside and stashing and a couple more pull-ups in his backpack. It would have been horrible if he had forgotten.

As the elevator doors slid open, Avery stepped out into the open workspace. He hallway and was struck by an odd stillness. The usual click-clack of keyboards was absent, replaced by a low murmur of voices. He rounded the corner, eyes searching for a familiar face.

"What's going on?" he muttered, taking in the clustered groups of coworkers, heads bent in fervent discussion.

His gaze landed on Christy's empty desk. That was strange - she was always here before him, usually with a cheerful smile and gentle ribbing about his perpetual lateness or how he was dressed. Her laptop was connected to the docking station, and a half-full mug of coffee was still steaming beside it.

"Christy?" Avery called softly, peering around. Maybe she'd just stepped away for a moment. But as he scanned the huddles of people, he couldn't spot her anywhere. He felt like what was going on in the quiet huddles of conversations by the coworkers had to be about him. Did they all know about his pull-ups? Did John spread a rumor about him? Did John somehow convince them he was a fraud or failure? Was he fired and didn’t even know it?

Unease prickled along his spine as he set down his backpack and grabbed his empty coffee-stained LEGO coffee mug. Whatever was happening, he would see if Darlene might now besides he needed caffeine and this might be a chance for him to just say “hi” to her. As he headed towards her office, Avery's mind raced. His mind continued to race. Had there been some announcement? A security breach? Or worse - layoffs?

"Get it together," he muttered to himself. "You're just on edge from lack of sleep. Everything's fine." But as the whispers and furtive glances continued around him, Avery couldn't quite convince himself that was true.

Avery's fingers tightened around his LEGO mug as he knocked on Darlene’s partially closed office door and slowly pushed it open. “Come in,” Da’s voice sounded stressed. The scene before him froze as he stepped into Darlene’s office. This was not the atmosphere he expected to be walking into.

Christy stood behind Darlene's chair, her face pale and eyes wide. Darlene herself looked like she'd aged a decade overnight, her brow furrowed deeply as she stared at her computer screen. As Avery entered, her hand flew to the mouse, quickly minimizing whatever they'd been viewing.

"Avery," Darlene said, her voice strained. "You're here. We were wondering if you were going to show up today. We were starting to get worried." The tension in the room was inescapable. Avery's stomach churned, his mind racing. What could be so bad that Darlene, always composed, looked this rattled? Christy looked nervous and out of sorts. It was something he did. He was sure of it.

“I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer your cell phone,” Christy said as Avery realized he had accidentally set it on silent just before bed.

"I, uh... yeah, sorry about that," he stammered, fighting the urge to fidget. "Is everything okay? The whole office seems... off. Did I do something?"

Christy's gaze darted between Avery and Darlene; her lips pressed into a thin line. Whatever they'd seen on that screen, it wasn't good.

Christy and Darlene both in unison. “No, you didn’t do anything.” It was too quick. They could see the confusion and fear in Avery’s face.

Darlene took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind, knowing that Avery was stressed. She wasn’t sure how much to say. "Avery, we have a situation. It's... complicated. And sensitive."

Avery's pulse quickened. Had something happened with their project? Was the presentation cancelled? Or was it something worse? He felt himself starting to wet his pull-up right there in front of the both of them.

Avery's voice trembled as he spoke, barely managing a whisper. His throat constricted with fear and confusion, and he struggled to form the words. "What kind of situation is this?" His eyes darted between Darlene and Christy; their tense expressions only heightened his anxiety.

Sweat beaded on Avery's forehead as he continued, trying to explain himself. "I missed the bus, so I had to wait for the next one. I-I'm sorry." Tears welled up in his eyes, feeling like a complete failure in front of these two powerful women.

Darlene's composed demeanor shattered as she met Avery's gaze. She slid her chair back from the desk and walked past Christy. When she approached Avery, she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a low whisper as if afraid of being overheard. "It's not you, Avery. It's John." She couldn't help but wrap her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

Christy watched in shock as Darlene hugged Avery tightly. Her mind was racing with questions and doubts, but now wasn't the time to question anything. All that mattered was that John was involved, and Darlene needed to act fast before it was too late and out of control.

"John really did something bad. We all can’t believe it," Darlene said, her words careful and measured. "He has caused a lot of problems this morning, and my team and I are trying to clean it up, but the news has got out."

Avery's mind reeled. John? The guy that was taunting him and yelling at him., the one he had to work with and was too scared to? What could he have possibly done to cause such a stir that didn’t involve him? He felt his palms grow clammy, gripping his empty coffee mug even tighter.

"Problems? What kind of problems?" Avery asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he was recovering from the fear that he did something. He glanced at Christy, hoping for some clue, but she averted her eyes, her face a mask of discomfort.

Darlene pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly wrestling with how much to reveal. "I can't go into details right now, Avery. It's... sensitive. But it's bad. Really bad. And it's affecting the whole company."

Avery's stomach twisted into knots. Their presentation, their project – was it all in jeopardy now because of whatever John had done?

Avery's mind raced, trying to piece together what could possibly be so catastrophic. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, almost about to throw a tantrum, "What news?"

“Calm down, Avery.” Darlene gave Avery another warm embrace and decided he needed to know if he was going to have a meltdown. She could feel it in her bones. Avery didn’t want to leave that embrace. He finally got back in her arms, but he didn’t want Christy to see his vulnerability.

Darlene's eyes darted around the room, ensuring no one else was within earshot of her office door. She fully closed the office door. She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "There is news that he brought a young, pretty woman back to Bryan's office. Had sex with her and posted it online." She paused, her face contorting with a mixture of disgust and disbelief. "Somehow, he posted it on the company's media platform. Plus, it's now out on other platforms outside of the company."

Avery felt the blood drain from his face. His coffee mug slipped from his grasp and fell. Darlene was quick and caught it just in time before it hit the ground and possibly shattered into pieces. "He did what? Why?" he choked out, his mind reeling.

Christy, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, let out a shaky breath. "I saw it," she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "It's... it's bad, Avery. Really bad."

Avery's thoughts whirled. How could John be so reckless? So stupid? Their project, their careers – everything they'd worked for was now teetering on the edge because of one man's idiocy. He felt a familiar twinge of anxiety in his bladder as he leaked again a little but forced himself to focus on the issue at hand.

"But... why?" Avery managed to stutterer out. "Why would he do something like this?"

Darlene shook her head as she got up and sat back down on her desk facing the computer, her fingers flying across her keyboard as she spoke. "I'm not sure how this happened. That's what I'm looking into right now." She frowned, squinting at her screen. "I didn't get any security notice because it seems to have been posted through his work iPhone. He had clearance to post on the site's Media forum."

Avery's stomach churned. "But how did it spread beyond our company?"

"Someone must of saw it before we could get to it and it was downloaded and distributed to other platforms," Darlene explained, her voice tight with stress. "I have my team trying to clean it up, but it's a mess. It's spreading faster than we can contain it."

Christy leaned against the desk, her face pale. "This is going to be a HR nightmare for Julian," she murmured.

Avery's mind raced, trying to process the implications. Their project, their reputations, the entire company's image – all hanging in the balance because of John's reckless behavior. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.

"What's going to happen to John?" Avery asked, his voice barely audible.

Before Darlene could answer, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, and her eyes widened. "It's the CEO," she said, her voice tense. "I have to take this. I am sure it's an emergency meeting." As Darlene answered the call, Avery caught Christy's eye. They shared a look of apprehension, both knowing that whatever came next would change everything.

Darlene's face tightened as she listened to the voice on the other end of the line. She hung up, her shoulders slumping. "Shit, this isn't good," she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Turning to Avery and Christy, Darlene's expression hardened with resolve. "I need you both to stay in my office and lock the door."

"Why? What's going on?" Christy asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Avery felt his heart rate quicken again. "Is it John? Is he coming up here?

Darlene's hands shook as she hastily closed the blinds, her eyes darting around the room with a sense of urgency. "Listen to me," she said in a low, urgent tone. "There's something serious happening in this building and I don't want John causing any trouble for you two. I need you both to stay safe."

As the last blind was shut, plunging the office into a dim, artificial light, Darlene spun back to face them. "Do not open this door for anyone while I'm gone. Not even if they say, it's an emergency unless you can confirm it. Understand? I'm putting up my out-of-office sign now." She fixed them with a stern look, warning them not to disobey.

Avery could feel his heart racing as he tried to process the gravity of the situation. What was going on? And why was Darlene so adamant about their safety? Did she know something about John he did not?

"But what about our presentation?" he asked, his voice shaking as he glanced at Christy.

Darlene paused at the door, her hand gripping the knob tightly. "That doesn't matter right now. Just do as I say and stay put and quiet. I'll be back as soon as I can."

With that, she slipped out of the office, leaving Avery and Christy alone in a suffocating atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

Avery's stomach churned as he watched the door close behind Darlene. The gravity of the situation began to sink in, and a wave of anxiety washed over him. His eyes darted around the room, settling on Christy's worried face.

"Why would he even come up here?" Avery whispered, his voice quivering. As the words left his mouth, he felt a familiar warmth spreading in his lower region. His bladder had betrayed him again, releasing its contents into his pull-up. A mix of embarrassment and fear coursed through him as he realized what had happened.

Christy's brow furrowed with concern. "I don't know, Avery. This whole situation is bizarre."

Avery shifted uncomfortably as he sat on one of the seats behind the desk, trying to hide his predicament. He could feel his cheeks burning as he attempted to focus on something else.

"Do you think John will get fired?" he asked, desperate to distract himself from his wet pull-up. "Why would he do this?"

Christy sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I honestly can't say. It's hard to believe John would do something this reckless. There has to be more to this story."

Avery nodded, his mind racing. He wanted to believe there was a logical explanation, but the fear in Darlene's eyes haunted him. Whatever was happening, it was clear that their somethings may never be the same.

Christy leaned back in her chair, her eyes distant as she recalled the disturbing footage. "I saw the video," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was weird. He was cursing, saying, 'Fuck this person, fuck this company, fuck them all' while... you know." She grimaced, clearly uncomfortable. "The woman with him was saying it too. 'That's right, fuck them all.'"

She nodded grimly. "It was... intense. John had this woman bent over Bryan's desk, papers flying everywhere. You could see the company logo on some of the documents. It was like he was deliberately trying to cause as much damage as possible."

Avery's eyes widened in shock, his own discomfort momentarily forgotten. "That's... that's insane," he stammered. "It's like he wanted to get caught."

As the gravity of the situation sank in, Avery became acutely aware of his wet pull-up. The material clung uncomfortably to his skin, and he could feel a slight chill where it had leaked. He shifted in his seat, trying to find a position that didn't make the wetness so apparent.

"I... I need to use the restroom," Avery said, his voice strained. He glanced nervously at the door, remembering Darlene's warning. "But Darlene said not to leave..."

His cheeks burned with embarrassment. Here they were, locked in an office during a crisis, and all he could think about was his need to change. He felt childish and ashamed, especially in front of Christy, whom he admired so much.

"Maybe I can wait," he muttered, more to himself than to Christy. But even as he said it, he knew it wasn't true. The wet pull-up was becoming unbearable, both physically and emotionally.

Christy's brow furrowed as she observed Avery's discomfort. Her eyes darted to his fidgeting hands, then back to his face. Realization dawned in her eyes.

"Avery," she said softly, "do you... do you need to change?" Her voice was gentle, devoid of judgment.

Avery's face flushed a deep crimson red. He wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor. "I... I..." he stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Christy leaned forward, her expression compassionate. "It's okay. Can you wait until Darlene gets back?"

Avery's eyes welled with tears of embarrassment. He shook his head slightly, avoiding her gaze. "I don't think so," he whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this."

"Hey," Christy said, reaching out to touch his arm lightly. "There's nothing to be sorry about. We all have our challenges."

Avery looked up, surprised by her kindness. "You... you're not disgusted?"

Christy shook her head. "Of course not. Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes, it helps to share."

Avery hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I've had issues since I was a kid," he began, his voice barely audible. "Stress makes it worse. And lately, with all the pressure..."

"That's understandable," Christy said. "How long have you been managing it?"

"All my life, really," Avery admitted, feeling a weight lift as he spoke. "But it's gotten harder to hide at work. I'm always afraid someone will notice."

“Well, we will do our best to keep a secret. You don’t have to be ashamed about it.”

There was a long pause as Avery still felt ashamed. It was then that Christy realized how fragile Avery could be. In fact, even though he was a young man, he looked like a scared little kid right now. She wasn’t sure how to respond. This was out of her expertise. They were stuck inside Darelen'soffice together.

Her head raced on what to do as she remember when she would baby sit for a toddler that was wearing pullups how she would handle the situation.

"Sweetie, do you need to get changed, or can we hold on a little bit longer?" Christy's voice was soft and gentle, like a lullaby.

Avery kept his gaze fixed on the floor. "I... I don't think I can wait," he muttered, his cheeks burning with humiliation.

Christy nodded sympathetically. "Alright, love. Did you bring an extra pull-up?"

Silence hung in the air as Avery didn't answer.

"I'll take that as a no," Christy said after a moment, her tone light despite the gravity of the situation. She tried again, "Is there any chance you've got a spare one tucked away in your backpack by your desk?"

"Yes," Avery admitted reluctantly, "but we're not allowed to leave..."

"Well, darling," she interrupted him gently, "we can't have you sitting here uncomfortable either."

The truth of Christy's words weighed heavily on Avery's mind. He had no idea how long they would be stuck in this office together. The silence between them felt suffocating as he grappled with feelings of entrapment and helplessness.

"Here's what we'll do." Christy broke through his thoughts with a determined edge to her voice. "I'll step outside for just a second and grab your backpack from your desk under the guise of looking for something else."

"But change in here? With..." His voice trailed off as anxiety overwhelmed him.

"Shh... it's okay." Christy reassured him with warmth in her voice. "I promise I won't look at all. And I'll make sure the door is locked for privacy."

Avery swallowed hard before managing an almost inaudible response: "Okay."

With a sense of urgency, Christy swiftly turned the door handle and left the office into the open floor plan. The area was abuzz with gossip and speculation about today's event. She calmly walked over to Avery's desk, feigning interest as she searched through piles of papers and opened drawers. Her gaze then pretended to fall upon his backpack, which she rummaged through as though searching for a missing item. As she scanned the backpack’s contents, her eyes landed on two spare pull-ups nestled neatly in the main compartment.

She snatched the backpack with false annoyance, hoping no one would notice the turmoil inside her. As she hurried back to Darlene's office. As she hurried back to Darlene's office, she felt bad for Avery, but she needed to remain professional. She closed and locked the door behind her, wondering if anyone would come looking for her. "Here," she said, holding out the backpack. "I got it."

Avery gratefully took his backpack from Christy's outstretched hand, careful to keep his head down and avoid her gaze. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he reached inside and pulled out one of the spare pull-ups. He had never been in a situation like this before, and he felt incredibly embarrassed and vulnerable.

"Appreciate it," he muttered, his words barely audible. Christy quickly turned around, not to look. “Make it quick.”

Avery quickly unbuckled his belt. His pants were next. They slid down his legs with ease, pooling around his ankles like liquid fabric. He kicked them aside unceremoniously, stepping free from their confines. His hands, trembling slightly with a mix of embarrassment and urgency, fumbled with the four snaps of his onesie. Undoing each with a “pop” sound. The pull-up was fully exposed and its dampness was immediately noticeable against his skin. In a swift motion, he pulled down the pull-up, a practiced maneuver that he had done countless times before but always in a bathroom stall. He carefully stepped out of it, one foot at a time. He could feel the cool air of the room brush against his bare skin - an uncomfortable reminder of his predicament. Avery felt so exposed and naked in the office, even with Christy’s back turned.

The new pull-up was ready and waiting—pristine white and crisp to the touch. He unfolded it carefully, revealing the insert nestled within like a secret promise of security.

With deft movements born from necessity rather than choice, he stepped into it before pulling it up and securing it in place. The insert felt cool against him— foreign yet familiar at the same time.  He quickly snapped the onesie together underneath the pull-up, securing and hiding it in place. He then slipped his gray slacks back on and buckled his belt.

All this while, Christy remained in the office, her presence a silent specter that he tried hard to ignore as he focused on completing this intimate task.

Christy kept her eyes averted and back turned respectfully, giving Avery some privacy as he changed into a clean pull-up. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him, knowing how uncomfortable it must have been for him to be stuck in a potentially embarrassing situation.

Once Avery was finished changing, he took a deep breath and stood up straight, feeling more comfortable now that he was in a clean pull-up. "I... I think I'm okay now," he said softly.

Christy turned back to face him with a reassuring smile on her face. "Good job. I'm proud of you." She gave him an encouraging pat on the back before turning towards Darlene's desk. Christy felt bad when she did this. She realized it must of sounded like he was 4 years old or so when she said it like that.

Avery couldn't help but feel grateful for Christy's help and understanding. At least he was in a dry pull-up. The little bit that leaked in the inner side of his slacks would dry quickly.

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Darlene stepped in boldly into the CEO’s conference room, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The room was a spectacle of grandeur and power, with its high glass walls revealing the city skyline. The CEO's conference was crackled with palpable tension. Mr. Bryans, his face a bright crimson, paced frantically like a caged animal. Julian from Human Resources, usually the personification of calmness, sat rigidly in a high-back leather chair next to the imposing conference table. His hands shook uncontrollably, betraying the inner turmoil he was experiencing. All eyes turned to Darlene, but she barely noticed as her gaze fell on the damning evidence displayed on the screen in front of them all - a sex video filmed on DNA Pharmacia company property with John's scathing words denouncing the company echoing through the room. The board members remained stoic and silent, their faces etched with disapproval and shock. This could be the downfall of everything they had worked so hard to build.

"This is a catastrophe of epic proportions," the CEO thundered, his hand crashing down on the polished mahogany of the conference table. "How in God's name has this transpired here!?" His voice filled every corner of the room with palpable fury as he pointed as the screen.

Bryan finally sat down, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Julian. He stammered, "I... I can't explain it. We've had minor issues with him before but nothing... nothing like this." He swallowed hard, struggling to find words that seemed to have abandoned him. Bryan kept his personal thoughts to himself as the CEO had many opportunities to get rid of John before but refused to.

One of the board members, a stern-faced woman in her fifties, fixed on Bryan with a piercing gaze. "Why would he choose to do such a thing in his office and then post?"

Bryan rubbed his temples and sighed heavily. "Not his office - mine. It was as if he wanted to make some twisted statement." He paused for a moment before adding bitterly, "For God sakes,he even left behind a used condom in my trash bin as evidence... not to mention the state of my office." trying to hold his own anger in.

The CEO's face was now crimson with rage. "John has been given more leeway than anyone else here because we all sympathized with his loss of his family and brother, and he had made many contributions to this company. But this? This is crossing every damn line!" His voice echoed through the room as he hammered home his point. "He needs to be fired immediately - I never want him within earshot or sight again!"

Julian was in agreement, his expression grave. "Understood. I'll handle the termination process promptly."

His eyes swept across the room and landed on each board member and Darlene, Julian, and Bryan - one by one. “Do you realize what kind of impact this could have on our investors?”

A murmur spread across the room at his question: How did John manage to upload such explicit content onto their media site?

Darlene cleared her throat and spoke up calmly despite her racing heart. She had been looking into this matter even before being called to this meeting, and she had come prepared for such queries. "It seems John used his company-issued phone to upload the... material... directly onto our media platforms. We're still trying to figure out how he managed to sidestep our security measures."

The CEO's glare turned icy as it landed on Darlene. "Who was responsible for granting him such access? It should have been restricted! How in the hell did he get access in the first place?"

Darlene looked across the conference table. “I don’t know, but there is no way it could have happened without a request being sent out to grant him access. I will have to look over our logs to find out when and who requested him to have access.”

Bryan suddenly remembered. “A couple of years ago I requested him to have access. He was making a video explaining the future of cancer treatment for our company website and all the initiatives we were pursuing. I don’t remember ever submitting a request to revoke his access. It would be might my fault.”

Bryan, feeling the weight of his mistake, spoke up. "I'll make an internal statement, taking full responsibility for the oversight. It was my error that allowed this breach to occur."

The CEO, though visibly displeased, nodded at Bryan. "Do it. And make it clear that we are taking swift and decisive action to address this issue."

"Now, what kinds of damage will this cause us in our stock price, in our investors, in potential sales and customers? What kind of news coverage are we expecting out of this?" His gaze swept across the room, landing on each board member individually. The CEO's question hung heavy in the air, a tangible tension that filled the conference room.

Maria from Marketing chimed in next. Her voice was steady, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "There's no doubt it'll affect potential sales and customers. Our brand reputation is at stake here."

"Indeed," added Robert from PR with a solemn nod. "As for news coverage... it won't be favorable." He ran a hand through his hair anxiously.

"Let's not forget about our competitors," interjected Susan from Sales with an edge to her voice. "They'll seize this opportunity to steal our customers away."

Each statement seemed to weigh heavier than the last as they echoed around the room. The CEO listened intently to each response, his expression unreadable as he took in their concerns and predictions.

The CEO's face contorted into a mask of rage as he whirls towards Darlene, his voice laced with venom. "Did you take the damn video down from our website? And how in the hell are we going to scrub it from all those other social media sites?" His words were like bullets, sharp and piercing.

Darlene's heart pounded as she scrambled to respond. "Yes, I have a team working on it, and our lawyers are sending formal requests to have the video removed immediately from all known sites out there to each social media company," she stammers, her voice shaking. "We just need your signature-"

"Get those letters out NOW!" The CEO interrupted, slamming his fist onto the desk. "I want to sign them within the HOUR, no exceptions." He locked eyes with Darlene, seething with impatience and fury.

Darlene's heart raced as she mustered up the courage to speak. “Yes, sir. I am on it.” She knew there was no time to waste. She had already taken a bold risk by breaking protocol and cutting off John's access to his iPhone and laptop before the meeting, hoping to prevent any further damage. It looked like she made the right move.

The CEO turned to Robert from PR with a look of urgency. "We need a statement before the media catches wind of this mess. We have to show that we're taking swift and decisive action. It's already out there - we can't hide from it. If we don't address it head-on, it will only make us look guiltier in their eyes. I would have hidden it if I could, but it's too late for that now!" The tension in the room was palpable as they scrambled to contain the fallout from this grievous error.

The room was filled with tension as the CEO's words hung heavily in the air. Susan from Sales spoke up, her voice shaking with worry. "What about our customers? How do we regain their trust after this?"

The CEO's expression softened just a bit as he turned to her. "We'll have to be transparent and honest with them. We'll have to show that we take responsibility for our actions and are taking steps to make things right." He paused for a moment, thinking. "We'll also need to offer some kind of compensation or gesture of goodwill."

Darlene spoke up, feeling uneasy but determined to contribute. "I think it would be best if we issued a public apology from the company, signed by you, sir."

The CEO nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's a good idea. We'll make sure it's sincere and heartfelt."

Robert from PR spoke up next, his voice steady and confident despite the chaos unfolding around him. "I'll start drafting the statement now and get it approved by legal before sending it out."

The other board members nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of John's actions and the impact they could have on the company's reputation.

"Alright then," said the CEO with finality in his voice. "Everyone has their assignments - let's get to work on mitigating this disaster before it gets any worse."

As they all began to leave the conference room, Darlene lingered behind for a moment to speak with the CEO privately.

"I want to apologize again for not catching this sooner, sir," she said, her voice filled with regret.

The CEO gave a harsh look at Darlene. “Let’s not let this happen again and beef up our IT systems.” Darlene could feel the disappointment

As the meeting concluded, Julian and Bryan also stayed behind to quickly discuss the next steps. They knew that rebuilding trust with both their clients and their internal team would be a long and challenging process. But they were determined to emerge from this crisis stronger and more resilient than before.

In the CEO's office, silence settled heavily in the aftermath of the violent altercation. The CEO slumped in defeat, his weariness palpable as he muttered a quiet prayer for resolution. He knew all the times he had given John grace within the last couple of years and tried to pretend his behavior would get better.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

As soon as Julian and Bryan exited the conference room, they made their way toward the security station located at the entrance to the first floor of the building complex. The air grew heavier around them as they descended, filled with a sense of urgency and tension, knowing that John wasn’t going to make this easy.

Upon reaching the station, they found two guards on duty. The first was a man named Frank, a formidable presence encased in a uniform of midnight black. His broad shoulders filled out the crisp shirt that was stretched taut over muscles that seemed as if they had been carved from granite. A thick salt-and-pepper mustache sat above his stern lips, creating a stark contrast against his dark skin. His duty belt was laden with tools of the trade, from handcuffs and pepper spray to a flashlight, each item reflecting his readiness for any situation. Yet, nestled within this daunting facade, his eyes sparkled with an unexpected softness.

Next to him was Sarah, her authority evident not through physical intimidation but through her commanding presence. She wore the same black uniform as Frank but tailored to fit her slender frame perfectly. Her sharp green eyes, always alert and scanning their surroundings, were framed by short blonde hair that fell in an austere style around her face. Her duty belt held similar equipment to Frank's but also included a small notebook and pen - tools she used more often than not. Her competence wasn't just evident; it was woven into every thread of her uniform like impenetrable armor.

Byran spoke up first, “Accuse me, we have an order from the CEO that John Taylor is to be removed from this facility immediately and escorted offsite. His badge and all employment privileges are to be revoked immediately.”

"John," Julian began, his voice echoing in the hushed room, "has become a liability. We need to let him go immediately." His words were sharp as flint, striking sparks in the dimly lit room.

Bryan chimed in, his tone equally grave. "And it won't be easy. He's not going to leave quietly. We expect resistance."

Frank and Sarah exchanged a look across the table, their shared history speaking volumes in that silent exchange. They had faced such situations before - this was just another challenge they would tackle together.

Without missing a beat, they both stood up from their chairs. Their synchronicity was as fluid as a well-practiced dance - a testament to their years of working together. What John and Bryan did not realize was that these two people had served in Afghanistan as marines together. They had always had each other’s back and seen the worst and best of people in those times.

"We understand," Frank said, his voice steady and calm despite the gravity of the situation.

"Let's do this," Sarah added, her determined gaze meeting Julian's and Bryan's as she grabbed two tasers for them, just in case.

Together, they followed Julian and Bryan to the elevator, ready to face whatever John would throw at them.

The quartet moved swiftly through the maze-like corridors of the office building, their footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors. Upon reaching John's office door, they paused momentarily before Frank reached out to knock firmly on its polished surface.

John's expression was a crystal clear mirror of foreknowledge, reflecting the unfolding events even before they happened. "That wasn't my doing. I didn't post that," he insisted, his voice echoing around the room.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt that hugged his strong built frame, its sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows, revealing a hint of strength. The charcoal grey suit trousers were expertly tailored, hanging just right on his hips and tapering down to meet polished black leather shoes that gleamed under the overhead lights. A matching grey tie with subtle blue stripes was knotted perfectly at his throat, completing the picture of professional elegance.

“I don’t give a fuck about your lies anymore. You had the gall to have sex with a young woman in my office. How dare you!” Bryan yelled angrily, losing control as everyone outside John’s office could hear the commotion. At the CEO’s request, you are to be permanently removed from this premises.”

Suddenly, the office reverberated with thunderous shouts that pierced through the hallway. The two security guards maneuvered through the chaos toward John. They closed in on him as he thrashed against their grasp, his face contorted in a mix of rage and desperation. Amidst the tumult, John's voice rose above all else, a tempest of curses and screams that echoed off the glass walls and filled the air with an unsettling intensity.

"You can't do this to me!" John bellowed, his face contorted with rage. "I helped build this company! You're nothing without me!"

The guards grappled with him, trying to pry his laptop from his white-knuckled grip. John's elbow connected with one guard's jaw, sending Frank stumbling back.

"Fuck all of you!" John screamed, spittle flying from his lips. "You'll regret this!"

Sarah swiftly deployed the taser, causing John to release his grip on the laptop as she deftly snatched it back. With a firm grip on his arm, she and Frank began leading him out of the office and towards the elevator. The hushed silence enveloped the open floor plan office as curious onlookers peered over their desks, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. John's feet shuffled along the pristine floor, leaving faint scuff marks in his wake, a silent testament to his resistance.

John's screams echoed down the hallway, drowning out the sound of the taser as he thrashed against the two security guards in a frenzied fury. His muscles bulged and strained as he swung his fists with reckless abandon, each blow fueled by desperation and rage. But despite his strength and determination, the guards expertly dodged and subdued him, their grip unyielding.

Julian's eyes landed on John's iPhone, still attached to his hip. With a quick motion, Sarah snatched it from its holder, her fingers trembling with urgency.

"Let me go, you imbeciles!" John roared, his voice laced with pure hatred. He lunged forward, a primal force unleashed, determined to reclaim his precious device at any cost. The guards braced themselves against his onslaught, surprised by the sheer ferocity of his attack. Unexpectedly, John reached for the iPhone to retrieve it back.

The scuffle intensified, grunts and thuds echoing off the walls. Frank managed to disarm John, wrenching the iPhone away forcefully. John's resistance only grew fiercer, his curses cutting through the tension like a knife.

"You can't do this to me! I'll sue the company and destroy you all!" John's threats were laced with venom as he continued to struggle against the guards' relentless hold. His words dripped with malice, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding around them.

With astonishing speed and efficiency, as they had worked years together, the guards swiftly subdued John, their trained movements synchronized as they dragged him towards the elevator. His protests grew more frantic, his struggles becoming increasingly desperate as he was forcibly taken away.

The elevator's descent was no easier, John's wrath still simmering to a violent boil. The two security guards, calm from their years of training together, were still forced once more to deploy the electric bite of their tasers to quell his outburst. At long last, they alighted onto the ground floor, leading a subdued John through the lobby and out into the open air.

As soon as his feet hit the pavement outside, a procedure of security measures began inside. The guards initiated a lockdown protocol that transformed the building into an impenetrable fortress. Doors automatically slid shut and locked with metallic clicks that echoed through empty corridors.

Additional security personnel were called and stationed at each entry point swiftly moved into position, their fingers flying over control panels as they activated steel barriers. Closed-circuit television monitors flickered to life, displaying feeds from every corner of the building while alarms blared intermittently – a cacophony of safety measures all aimed at ensuring no one could breach the premises.

Meanwhile, outside, John's shouts and curses reverberated down city blocks, his anger echoing off buildings like an urban thunderstorm. Soon enough, though, those cries were drowned out by approaching sirens – a chorus of authority coming to take control.

The police arrived in force; uniformed officers spilled out from squad cars like ants from a disturbed nest. They quickly formed a human barrier between John and any potential escape route before moving in with practiced ease. Two officers stepped forward - one calmly reading him his rights while another secured handcuffs around his wrists with professional detachment.

John was escorted away under this watchful guard, his volatile presence replaced by an eerie silence that settled heavily on the scene as he disappeared into the backseat of a waiting cruiser.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————r

Sitting in Darlene's office, Christy tried her best to keep Avery calm. Avery sat in one of the chairs and just held on to his Lego coffee cup, taking sips of the decaf coffee Christy had made for him. Christy figured that the caffeine would only make him more on edge. He didn’t even notice the difference. He kept trying not to think about what he did in the office with Christy’s back behind him. There was the used pull-up in Darlene’s office as evidence. He had crumbled several sheets of unused paper to try to cover it in case the janitors came by to pick up the trash.

Christy’s fingers anxiously scrolled through the messages on her iPhone as she read some of them out loud, her voice trembling with worry. "They're firing John," she announced gravely. "He's not happy." She continued to read the incoming messages, her phone buzzing repeatedly. The tension in the room was palpable as they waited for updates.

"Holy shit," Christy exclaimed suddenly, causing Avery to jump from his seat. He paced nervously, feeling like everything was his fault even though zero of it was his fault or in his control. He couldn't shake off the guilt and anxiety that clouded his mind.

"They had to taser him," Christy said in shock. "He hit one of the guards." Avery's heart raced with fear and he couldn't control himself as he wet his pull-up yet again, embarrassed by his lack of control. "Did he get away?" he asked anxiously.

"No," Christy replied quickly. "After a struggle, they managed to get him into the elevator..." Her voice trailed off as she couldn't believe how a normal work day turned into complete chaos.

A sudden voice blared on the intercom, blaring throughout the building. It was Sarah, the security officer, her urgent tone echoing through the halls as she announced an official lockdown. The words rang out like a warning, jolting everyone into action. This was not a drill, and the seriousness of the situation hung heavily in the air. Everyone was to remain at their desk, and no one was to enter or leave this building until further notice was given. Avery and Christy look shocked hearing this.

Just then, the sound of the door unlocking caused both Christy and Avery to turn their heads in anticipation. Darlene's entrance was met with a look of deep concern; her shoulders visibly weighed down by heavy pressure.

"What happened?" Christy's words rushed out, her eyes darting outside as if searching for someone accompanying Darlene, but she was alone.

"If you haven't heard, they finally did it. They fired John. Thank God!" Darlene's exhaustion was evident despite the day having only just begun. "But in the spirit of John, I have a mountain of work to do to fix what he did."

Avery remained silent, his gaze fixed on Darlene. He had never seen her so stressed before and being naturally introverted, he chose to stay quiet and observe as Christy and Darlene conversed.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Christy offered.

"No, Christy." Darlene looked up at her with tired eyes. "I just need to get to work with my team immediately."

Darlene then turned to face Avery and noticed his silence. "Are you okay, Avery?" she asked with genuine concern. But Avery kept his head down and stared at his half-empty coffee cup and simply nodded in response.

“Christy, I don’t mean to be rude but I really have to get my team together and resolve a lot in the next hour.” She looked at Christy and the kind of motioned over to Avery as if asking to please watch over him.

Christy picked up the subtle cue from Darlene's tone and understood that it was time to get back to work. She didn't want to linger in the tense atmosphere of Darlene's office any longer. Turning to leave, she noticed Avery still sitting in the chair, his body tense and his eyes distant. He wanted to say something to Darlene. He wanted to say sorry, but he wasn’t sure how.

"Avery, don't we need to get back to work?" Christy asked gently, walking over to him. She took his hand in hers and led him out of the office, feeling his hesitance with each step they took.

As they reached their desks, Christy couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with Avery. He should be relieved that John was gone with all the bad that he had caused him, but she knew he wasn't a typical man. He had always been different, and though she didn't fully understand it, she also knew he could be kind and incredibly intelligent.

Sitting down at their desks, the office now fell into an eerie hush after John's explosive departure and the lock-down announced. Avery tried to focus on his work, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept feeling and thinking he was hearing whispers and furtive glances rippled through the open-plan workspace like a nervous current as everyone tried to process what had just happened.

Christy rolled her chair towards Avery and appeared at his elbow, her face pale. "Avery, we should get back to work. Try to focus on the project."

"How?" Avery whispered, his voice cracking. "Everything's falling apart."

He glanced around the office. Some colleagues huddled in small groups, their voices low and urgent. Others sat rigidly at their desks, staring blankly at their screens. A tense, expectant silence had replaced the usual hum of productivity. "I know it's hard," Christy said, placing a hand on his arm. "But we can't let this derail us. The presentation-"

"The presentation?" Avery interrupted, his voice hysterical. John was supposed to lead that. What are we going to do now? I am sure they will cancel it."

Christy took a deep breath. "You and I have all the knowledge. He was just there to take our credit and cause problems. We'll figure it out together. Come on, let's go over the data and programming again."

Sitting at the desk near Christy, Avery couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every rustle of paper, every cleared throat, seemed to carry an accusation. He sank into his chair, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"I can't concentrate," he muttered, staring at his computer screen. "Everyone's probably wondering if we knew. If we were involved somehow."

Christy leaned in, her voice barely audible. "We weren't. And we can't control what others think. All we can do is our jobs."

As the day dragged on, Avery's mind remained clouded with doubt and unease. Despite Christy's attempts to help him refocus, his thoughts continued to drift, unable to shake off the weight of suspicion that lingered in the air.

Darlene's absence only added to the tension, leaving Avery feeling adrift in a sea of unresolved tension and unfinished work. The silence that filled the office as they departed for the day echoed with the unspoken questions that hung heavily in the air for him.

The project files lay forgotten on Avery's desk, a stark reminder of a day lost to uncertainty and distraction. With a heavy sigh, he packed up his belongings, knowing that the shadows of doubt would follow him home. The echoes of that unsettling day reverberated in his mind long after he had left the office.

Darlene watched as Christy and Avery left for the day. She hadn’t checked on Avery once the rest of the day. She didn’t have the time to worry about him. She turned to her IT team, who were all huddled around their computers, typing furiously to remove any trace of the explicit content from the social media sites.

She got up and walked around the office to check on her teammates. "Keep at it, guys," Darlene said, her voice steady and calm. "We need to make sure every last trace of those videos is gone from the internet. We can't let something like this happen again."

Her team nodded, their fingers flying over the keys as they worked to secure the system. Darlene walked around the open floor plan, checking in with each team member and offering words of encouragement. She knew how important it was for them to feel supported in their efforts to protect the company and its employees.

Hours passed, and finally, the last of the videos was removed from the web. Darlene's team let out a collective sigh of relief, their shoulders sagging with exhaustion as it was past midnight.

"Great work, everyone," Darlene said, smiling warmly at her team. "I couldn't have done it without you."

As her team started to pack up and head home, Darlene took one last look at the secure system she had helped build. She knew there would always be threats to their business, but she had always felt confident in her team's ability to handle whatever came their way. Here, the team was a pride built from years of putting them together.

As Darlene shut off the lights and left her office, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. The video she had watched replayed in her mind, the woman's voice hauntingly familiar yet unrecognizable in every other way. She tried to focus on getting home and going to bed, but her thoughts kept coming back to the mysterious stranger in the video. It wasn't until she drifted off to sleep that her mind finally found some respite from the endless loop of confusion and curiosity.

[Tasa]

Finally they got rid of John (or did they?:P). Also even if they ever figure out it was Darlenes sister who set John up its not like he didnt do all the things out of free will, (well except the posting it online part)
Anyways I do hope Avery and Darlene can make peace soon.

[Pierry Louys]

This chapter we finally see john getting what he deserves but we have some apprehension regards Darlene and her sister if they found out , and hope Darlene and Avery make peace because it’s clear that they need each other badly 

[BabySofia]

I just hope John doesn't go after Avery on the way home or at home... Glad to see him finally get his due! (even if it was a setup 🤣 ) He should have been fired long ago! 

Hopefully Darlene and Avery can reconnect and she can start taking care of him again!

[Diapered Dave]

Wow.... Very intense chapter!! Glad to see John get fired !!   Regarding what you asked about the direction of the story,  I hope it's more focused now on Darlene and Avery's relationship,  with perhaps Christy in the mix too.

I guess if I was writing it, it would develop more as Darlene and Avery in a sort of adoptive mother / special needs son relationship, with Christy becoming kind of a babysitter.  It's kind of leaning that way already.

[BabySofia]

Just now, Diapered Dave said:

with Christy becoming kind of a babysitter.  It's kind of leaning that way already.

More Christy becoming the eventual girlfriend to me once issues are resolved. But I agree, looking forward to more of a return to the mommy/baby dynamic that seems fitting for Darlene and Avery. 🙂

[Babyqtboy]

I fully expected John to piss himself when he got tasered lol not an uncommon occurrence 

[kirababy]

On 1/27/2025 at 12:20 PM, Babyqtboy said:

I fully expected John to piss himself when he got tasered lol not an uncommon occurrence 

That would have been so poetic!

[Eagle0769]

I hope John peed in his pants when he got tasered.

[zzzz50]

I continue to be impressed with how @FingerToes nails corporate life. The CEO asks if they had any indication John would do such a thing when he has been covering for the guy for some time. He said in front of his Board indicating to his employees that he would not be taking responsibility for John’s actions. Classic deniability!

I was surprised that Darlene was not aware of her sisters plan, it kind of turned into Darlene’s error and responsibility. It will be interesting how it all plays out.

[CDfm]

Wow that was an awesome chapter.  Took me a while to actually read the whole thing.   
So glad to see that John was let go and escorted off the property.  I think that once he struck one of the security officers they would have contacted the police and had him charged with assault. I guess he could still be charged now that they have him. 
Christiy continues to fill my heart as a kind comforting person who has nothing but the best of intentions for Avery.  I can see Darlene taking a role of a mother to the both of them as their relationship grows. Not sure if that’s the path the story will take but whatever way it goes I will be eagerly waiting to find out.  

[007specialk]

Fist off so glad to hear your Mom is doing better and will keep her in my prayers.

I don't comment as much as I should just wanted you to know I love your work and Thank you and look forward to reading more soon.

[deewet]

I concur with what 007specialK said, and want to add my 2cents.  Dealing with a very ill loved one is traumatic and very draining.  Been there, done that.  You have all our support for your tireless efforts!

About the story you are doing, it is a great one for sure, and hope to see more when your precious time allows!!

[Littlediaps36]

On 1/26/2025 at 1:46 PM, FingerToes said:

 

I just wanted to start by saying I’ve been on this website for years sense 2012 to be exact and this is the only story that has ever inspired me to actually create an account to leave a comment for the author. Thank you so much for writing this story I connect very deeply with Avery and this story has helped me uncover some past trauma that I have suppressed and even some reasoning within me for why I am into all of this what I like about it why Abdl soothes me I can’t explain it I know this may sound crazy but this story is awakening feelings within me that I’ve never felt before in this space and I really love it and am thankful for it. Please don’t give up on this story the complexities of the characters are so incredible and I’m on the edge of my seat every chapter I’m still trying to figure out the dynamic between Avery and Darlene and also Avery and Christy because part of me feels that there may be even more to Darlene and Avery’s relationship beyond mommy and little potentially romantic undertones in a complex sort of way haha I’m sorry for rambling but my main message is you are such a talented writer and I hope you continue this story and your writing career!! And my Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as well I’m so sorry for the situation with your mom and dad and I’m praying Jesus helps all of you through this trying time! Can’t wait for the next chapter! 

[FingerToes]

 I just wanted to say that what a wonderful post and compliment.   I am glad you have enjoyed the story.  I am also glad (because I think it is a good thing) that this helping deal with some issues.  I would be lying if I told you  I always accepted my AB/DL slide.  In fact, I spent most of my life so far trying to deny, belittle, and even degrading that side of me instead of letting that side of me exist and help me through things.  The AB/DL side of me has been with me since I was about 9 years old that I recall.  It wasn't till I was around 40 years old did I embrace this side of me.  I did the typical binge and purge things so many have talked about on here. This sight is wonderful for support. We are here for you if you need any support.

Oh by the way the next chapter should be out next week.

[FingerToes]

Here is the next chapter.  Thank you for all your support!

Chapter 40 - Dread Days to Come

Avery's eyelids flickered open, awareness trickling back into his senses like a sluggish, relentless wave. The same as the previous night, the moist sensation of his diaper pressed unpleasantly against his skin was immediately noticeable. It was an intimate and disconcerting echo of his nocturnal regression, a physical testament to the escalating tension from work that seemed to press down on him relentlessly. He clutched more tightly at the makeshift fortress of pillows around him, imagining Darlene's calming aura next to him as he reclined on the couch, allowing himself a few additional moments of quiet isolation.

The dampness between his legs was a cold discomfort that clung to him. Avery couldn’t believe he did this again. What is wrong with him? It was a feeling that brought both shame and frustration—a wetness that was chillingly intimate and an unwelcome reminder of his loss of control he felt in his life. It felt like a layer of cold sweat that refused to evaporate—a lingering trace of vulnerability that made him squirm with discomfort.

"Another day," he mumbled, his voice a gravelly whisper breaking the morning silence as he looked around his small messy apartment.

As he sat up, the cool air nipped at his bare legs, sending a shiver through his body. Avery's eyes drifted to his phone - it was Friday. The looming presentation next week cast a shadow over his thoughts, an ever-present cloud of anxiety. He fretted over whether the project would be canceled or if he would end up presenting with Christy in John's absence. How was he going to contribute something to the board of DNA Pharmacia? He was just the theoretical guy that could do math. Standing up in front of people never goes well for him, yet somehow everyone expected him to.

"One week," he murmured to himself, running a hand through his unruly, tangled hair. "One week to figure this out to get the  presentation ready and not screw this up."

Still feeling half asleep with unsteady steps, Avery made his way toward his dresser. His hands, a little shaky from anxiety and insomnia, plunged into the unorganized chaos of the drawers. He sifted through the clutter until his fingers found what they were searching for - a fresh pull-up, an insert and a wrinkled-up Navy-blue polo onesie which Darlene purchased him.

Avery gathered his clothes in his arms and made his way into the cramped bathroom, where the floor was littered with old, used bath towels and heaps of dirty laundry. He nudged them aside with his foot to clear a path to the sink. The air was tinged with a faint mustiness from the damp towels. With a practiced motion, he untaped his diaper and discarded it into the bathroom pail, joining the crumpled remains of yesterday's diaper still languishing at the bottom.

As he grabbed the fresh pull-up, its smooth texture was familiar under his fingertips, providing an odd sense of comfort amidst the turmoil within him. The crinkling sound it made as he unfolded it echoed in the silence of the room. He placed the insert into the pull-up then slipped the pull-up on with practiced ease, feeling its snug fit against him - a constant reminder of his issues and insecurities.

Once the pull up was entirely in place, he observed with a sigh that the irritating rash was making an unwelcome return to the sensitive skin around his crotch. Aware of the creeping discomfort, Avery realized he needed to take action but wasn’t sure what to really do. The persistent itch was intensifying, demanding his attention. He knew he had to get some soothing cream or remedy later, maybe after work, to alleviate the growing irritation in that delicate area.

Next came the navy blue polo onesie. He tugged it over his lean torso, feeling every thread glide against his skin like a gentle caress, a reminder of Darlene’s generosity, snapping the four buttons underneath the crotch, securing the pull up tightly against him. He had to admit Darlene had a clever idea about using these types of onesies. They didn’t at all look like something a little kid would wear. With pants, no one would know he wasn’t wearing a polo shirt, which hid his pull-up well.

He then stepped his selected pair of khakis which hung off his slim hips just right. They were worn thin, being worn a lot, and not adequately taken care of. But even as he buttoned up and zipped them closed, there was no escaping the reality reflected in the mirror before him. Despite being fully clothed now, Avery couldn't shake off that disheveled appearance that seemed to cling to him like a second skin - clothes wrinkled from not being taken care of or folded, hair wild like an unruly bird's nest refusing to be tamed.

"Good enough," he sighed, catching his reflection.

In the kitchen, Avery walked up to the fridge, its humming the only sound breaking the silence. He opened the refrigerator door, revealing a chaos of haphazardly stacked food items and containers. The shelves were a jumble of old leftover takeout boxes from various local eateries, their contents long forgotten. A half-eaten pizza from last week's coding marathon lay on one shelf, its crust now hard and cheese congealed. Amidst this culinary disarray, several containers of milk stood like sentinels in different stages of consumption - some nearly empty while others still full.

Avery reached for one of them, his nose wrinkling as he unscrewed the cap. He was greeted by a pungent whiff that instantly told him it was past its prime. His face contorted in disgust at the sour smell assaulting his senses, a testament to his less-than-stellar attempts at grocery management.

"Great. Dry cereal it is."

Munching on the tasteless, dried-out cornflakes, Avery felt his thoughts spiraling out of control. John's absence was a blessing, but it was the looming project. The dreaded presentation that had his stomach knotting up with dread. The thought of standing before the CEO and the board members, all eyes trained on him, made him feel like he was choking on his breakfast. He thought to himself “if John were still here, he would have probably given the entire presentation himself, then at least I wouldn’t have to give any part of the presentation.” Even as those thoughts swirled in Avery’s head, he ignored all the horrible degrading things John had done to him and that he is the reason he previously started to wear diapers instead of the pull-ups. His lack of self-confidence allowed him to give John some value to the project that he didn’t deserve.

"Concentrate and stay focused, get through this day and then focus on the next day," he mumbled to himself, trying to push away the image of their expectant faces. He dumped his half-finished bowl into the sink with more force than necessary.

He didn't want this responsibility; he didn't want to be the one in front of everyone. He wished someone else could take his place and shoulder this burden. But there was only Bryan, Christy, and himself. There was going ot be more pressure on him, and that realization only twisted the knot in his gut tighter.

Avery packed his bag methodically - laptop, charger, two spare pull-ups, inserts; each item a talisman against disaster. His mind swirled with negative emotions and thoughts, making him unable to see all the positive things around him at this moment.

"You can do this, John's finally out of the picture. That should be a relief, right? It's just a typical day, and Christy will be there. Everything will be fine." Avery attempted to reassure himself that John's absence was a positive change. No more belittling or being degraded in front of others. Yet, a part of him hesitated, conflicted by how he'd grown used to John handling all the discussions, which he disliked but now was suddenly ok with him taking the credit during the board meeting. Avery imagined himself previously just sitting back and listening, and now the thoughts of stepping up and presenting parts of the project horrified him.

But as he locked his apartment door, Avery couldn't shake the feeling that somehow the project he was working on would be doomed and it might not come to that with John’s absence.

Avery stepped onto the bustling sidewalk, his shoulders hunched as if to make himself smaller. The morning crowd surged around him, but he felt oddly isolated as if encased in an invisible bubble. But then a new feeling came over him. Now, he felt like John’s presence was near by watching him.

"Get it together," he muttered, adjusting his backpack. "John's gone. You're safe. He has no idea where you live."

But his eyes darted from face to face, searching for a threat that wasn't there. Every passing stranger seemed to loom larger, their gazes feeling heavy and judgmental.

Lost in his spiraling thoughts, Avery didn't notice the woman until they collided. She yelped, stumbling backward.

"I'm so sorry!" Avery exclaimed. "I wasn't looking—"

"It's fine," she replied curtly, her voice sharp as she hurried past, eyes fixed ahead, avoiding his gaze.

Avery's cheeks burned with embarrassment, a flush of red crawling up his face. He quickened his pace, weaving through the bustling crowd, only to collide with a man a few steps later.

"Watch it!" the man snapped, irritation etched across his features as he cast a strange look at Avery before striding away, melting back into the sea of people.

Avery's breath came in short gasps. "It's all in your head," he whispered, clenching his fists. "No one's watching you. John doesn't know where you live." He repeated.

But the feeling of eyes on his back persisted as he boarded the bus. Avery slumped in his seat, staring out the window without really seeing much.

"Why am I letting him control me like this?" he thought, anger and shame warring inside him. "He's gone; fired. There's even a court order for him to stay away from the company."

Stepping off the bus, he began the lengthy stroll along the bustling downtown streets. His path meandered past the sprawling green expanse of the park, where the trees swayed gently in the breeze. A reminder of when he wet himself in front of everyone and used the fountain to cover up what really happened before taking a bus home. Towering buildings lined the avenue, their glass facades glittering in the sunlight, casting long shadows on the sidewalk. The rhythmic hum of city life surrounded him as he continued his journey through this vibrant urban landscape.

Yet as DNA Pharmica's building came into view, Avery's stomach clenched. He knew, logically, that John wouldn't be there. But the irrational fear persisted, a constant whisper in the back of his mind.

"One day at a time," Avery murmured, steeling himself as he approached the entrance. "You can do this. You have to."

As Avery entered the office, his eyes were immediately drawn to Christy. She sat at her desk, a steaming cup of coffee in hand, her appearance striking him in a way it never had before. Her chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, and her emerald eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. The soft pink of her blouse complemented her fair skin, giving her an almost ethereal glow in the morning light.

"Good morning," Avery said softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he approached his desk.

Christy smiled warmly. "Morning, Avery. How are you holding up?" As Christy's gaze drifted up to Avery, clad in his customary crumpled trousers and rumpled shirt, her eyes widened at the sight of his unzipped fly. She hesitated, cheeks flushing with secondhand embarrassment before she stuttered out, "Uhm...Avery, you might want to...uhm...check your...pants." She stumbled over the words, feeling awkward about bringing attention to such a personal faux pas. "Your zipper appears to be down."

A wave of mortification washed over Avery and he felt his face heat up like a furnace. His heart pounded against his ribcage like a frantic drummer as he quickly glanced down and confirmed Christy's observation. He fumbled with the zipper, trying to rectify the situation while sinking lower into his chair as if it could swallow him whole.

His fingers found their way into his unkempt hair and started threading through it nervously. His voice came out shaky as he tried to steer the conversation away from his blunder. "I'm... coping, I suppose," he mumbled awkwardly. "What about you? Do you think we can still pull off the project after it is still a go...all that transpired?"

Christy's expression was a mix of determination and doubt. "I hope so. We've poured so much into it already. I want to stay positive, but it's hard not to worry."

"I have to admit, I'm relieved John's gone. I believe it's better for the company and the project. He was holding things back, but... still, it's complicated." She hesitated. "And he always took credit for everything."

"Do you know that sleaze had the audacity to ask me out once? He must've been around his 40s, insinuating it would be a beneficial move for my career." She let out a deep sigh, her brow furrowed in remembrance. "That was when I had no choice but to bring him to HR. It was the right thing to do, but God... making that call wasn't easy."

She paused for a moment, her gaze distant as she recalled another incident. "And then there was the time he crossed another line - he tried to touch me inappropriately during his unwelcome advances. His hands were like ice against my skin, sending shivers of revulsion down my spine."

Her voice took on a grateful tone as she continued, "I was just thankful that Bryan and Julian stood by me through it all. Even though all that came of it was a mere verbal warning for him."

Just then, a notification pinged on Christy's computer. Her eyes widened as she read it. "Avery, look at this. We've got a meeting request from Bryan. Conference room at 10:00 AM."

Avery leaned over to look at her screen, his heart rate picking up. "What's it about?"

"It just says 'Path Forward.' Pretty vague, huh?"

Avery nodded, his mind racing. "You don't think they're canceling the project, do you?"

Christy chewed her lip thoughtfully. "I don't know. Maybe it's about reassigning tasks now that John's gone?"

"Or maybe they're shutting the whole thing down," Avery muttered, his anxiety spiking.

Christy reached out, gently touching his arm. "Hey, let's not jump to conclusions. We'll find out soon enough."

Avery nodded, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "You're right. I'm going to grab some coffee. Want a refill?"

As Christy declined, Avery shuffled toward Darlene's office, his steps slow and deliberate, each one echoing his hesitance. He paused at the open doorway, taking a deep breath to steady himself before stepping inside.

“Good morning, Darlene,” Avery greeted, his voice soft yet just loud enough to break the silence of the room.

“Good morning, Avery. Here for your morning coffee, I presume?” Darlene replied warmly, casting a discerning eye over him. Avery appeared more disheveled than usual—his hair tousled, his shirt slightly wrinkled. She had become adept at interpreting his body language and sensed a heightened tension in his demeanor. “Did you manage to get any sleep? You look exhausted,” she remarked, watching as Avery made his way to the Keurig machine.

“Not much, but I’m hoping to catch up tonight,” Avery replied, attempting to downplay his fatigue as he finished putting the creamer in and placed his well-loved Lego-themed coffee cup under the Keurig and started brewing a fresh cup.

Darlene, curious and always one to probe gently, leaned forward slightly. “So, have you heard anything from Bryan lately?” she asked, her tone inquisitive. She was eager to know if Avery had gleaned any new information about John’s dismissal and the status of the ongoing project.

“No, nothing yet,” Avery admitted, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. “But we do have a meeting scheduled with him later this morning. Hopefully, we’ll get some clarity then.”

Darlene nodded, her expression thoughtful and contemplative. "I truly hope it goes well. I hope there's continued support and Bryan can align everyone moving forward. It would be a real shame to see this project canceled. You've done such great work, even though most of it is over my head."

Avery nodded in agreement, raising his steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee to his lips. "Yeah, I'm hoping Bryan has some answers," he said, exhaling a sigh of uncertainty. Avery was still unsure about the direction he wanted the project to take. It seemed like the path ahead would not be easy, no matter what. He longed for the simplicity of sitting at his desk and focusing on his tasks rather than delivering a presentation to the board and CEO, but he didn’t want the project to be canceled or not move forward.

"Let me know if you need any support or if there's any way I can help," Darlene offered sincerely, her eyes locking with Avery's, reflecting genuine concern and empathy.

"Thanks, Darlene. I really appreciate it," Avery responded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, providing a touch of comfort as he braced himself for the challenges of the day ahead.

Darlene was a bit taken aback by his gratitude. He wasn't usually the type to express thanks, even though she knew he valued and appreciated her efforts. "You're welcome," she replied warmly, unable to resist offering a bit of practical advice. "But you really should hang them up or fold them properly so they don't get so wrinkled." She smiled, her eyes twinkling with gentle amusement.

Avery blushed slightly, a faint pink tinge on his cheeks, and then turned to head back to his office, feeling a bit more buoyant.

Darlene returned to her work with her eyes fixed on her computer screen, lost in thought. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind, a chaotic storm of emotions and memories. Suddenly, a fragment of the video she'd seen yesterday floated to the surface of her consciousness. The woman's voice, muffled and breathy, tickled at something in her memory.

Her eyes flew open in shock and mouth agape, the realization crashing into her like a violent storm. That voice. She knew that voice.

Frantically, she loaded the video on her computer, her fingers trembling as she jammed the headphones on and hit replay. Every word confirmed her suspicions, stripping away the tattoos, the altered hair color and style. It was unmistakably her.

"Oh my God," Darlene gasped, her hand clapping over her mouth in disbelief. "It's Ashley."

The shock of the revelation sent her reeling. Her sister. Who they shared flesh and blood had been involved with John. There was a slight sense of betrayal since she had no idea about Ashley’s plan, but a surge of conflicting emotions quickly followed it.

Anger bubbled up first. How could Ashley do this? Didn't she know what kind of man John was? But just as quickly, bewilderment set in. Why would Ashley hide this from her? They'd always been close. She knew the answer because Darlene would have done everything to stop her from doing this.

Then, in a surprising twist, gratitude seeped in. If it hadn't been for Ashley's involvement, they might never have been rid of John. This left her torn, unable to decide whether to feel upset or grateful, with the emotions swirling in a relentless storm.

Darlene's fingers trembled as she reached for her phone. She typed out a quick text to Ashley: "Need to talk. My place after work. Important."

She set the phone down, her mind still reeling from the revelation, when a knock at her door startled her. Bryan stood in the doorway, his expression serious.

"Darlene, do you have a moment?" Bryan asked, stepping into her office as she knew there must be a purpose for him coming. It was probably about John and what more they could do to prevent this from happening again. She felt that this was the reason for the visit. It was unnecessary because she was already handling it on her side.

Darlene nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Of course, Bryan. What's on your mind?"

Bryan settled into the chair across her, the leather creaking under his weight. "I wanted to discuss Christy and Avery's placement. Now that John's gone, I think it's time we moved them back to the Project and R&D department."

Darlene felt a sharp pang in her chest, and she hadn’t expected this. "Is that really necessary? They've been working so well here. Avery seems more comfortable and productive than before. At least that is what I understand from Christy." She did her best not to show any emotions about this. She didn’t want Byran to think she got comfortable having Avery around. After all, this was just a favor she was doing for Bryan.

Bryan leaned forward, his expression earnest, his words gentle yet unyielding. "I understand your concern, Darlene. However, their research is crucial to the project. They'll be more effective working directly with the R&D team. I will be able to work more closely with Avery and guide him."

Darlene stood frozen, her heart tangled in a web of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she desperately wanted to keep Avery near, to protect him from the unpredictable future. Yet, Bryan's words echoed in her mind, resonating with a harsh truth Darlene couldn't ignore. With John no longer there, she struggled to find a reason to keep Avery around that wasn't rooted in her desire for reconciliation.

"I suppose you have a point," she conceded reluctantly, her voice tinged with regret. "When would this transfer take place?"

Bryan's face softened with a smile, relief shining in his eyes. "After next week's board presentation, assuming all goes well. We want to make sure the project has the green light before we shuffle things around."

Darlene nodded, a mix of resignation and understanding washing over her like a tide. "Alright, Bryan. If you think it's best for the project, I won't stand in the way."

As Bryan exited her office, Darlene slumped back in her chair, the weight of the morning's conversation pressing down. She had much to process, with a difficult conversation with her sister looming on the horizon. Would this be the end of her seeing Avery? The prospect of him returning to her felt increasingly dim.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The conference room felt suffocating as Avery settled into his seat, acutely aware of the pull-up hidden beneath his clothes. Bryan's presence at the head of the table exuded confidence, a stark contrast to the anxiety churning in Avery's stomach.

"Good news, team," Bryan began, his voice cutting through the tension. "The meeting with the CEO is still on for next week."

Christy's face brightened with a palpable sense of relief, her eyes sparkling like sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky. In stark contrast, Avery's heart began to pound erratically, each thud echoing in his chest like a drumbeat. He shifted uneasily in his chair, his fingers twitching nervously against the armrests. A sudden, unwelcome warmth spread across his lower abdomen as stress washed over him like a tidal wave, causing him to involuntarily wet his pull-up slightly. The pressure of the moment had become too intense, engulfing him in a storm of anxiety.

Avery felt his cheeks grow warm with embarrassment as he struggled to maintain control of his bladder. He could feel the pull-up becoming increasingly damp, a clear sign that he had lost the battle against his nerves.

"I-I'm sorry," Avery stammered, feeling humiliated and helpless. "I just...I don't think I can do it."

Bryan's expression softened, his eyes betraying a hint of concern. "What do you mean? This is your chance to shine."

Avery shook his head, feeling overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations placed on him. "I can't do it, Bryan. I'm not ready."

Bryan's brow furrowed in confusion as he leaned forward in his chair, studying Avery intently. "You have to. You don’t have a choice, Avery. The CEO expects all three of us to make the presentation. You are the one with the theoretical background on the calculations. You will need to be able to field his and the board's questions.”

Avery's heart sank at the realization that he had no choice but to face his fears and make the presentation. He knew it was crucial for the department, but the thought of speaking in front of a room full of executives and potentially embarrassing himself was paralyzing.

"I...I don't think I can handle it," Avery admitted, his voice trembling with fear. "What if I mess up? What if I can't answer their questions?"

Bryan's expression softened with understanding as he gently placed a reassuring hand on Avery's shoulder. "You won't mess up. You're more than capable, Avery. And if you get stuck, Christy and I will be right there to support you."

Avery finally nodded, a mix of defeat and agreement washing over his features. Bryan's eyes flickered with a disturbingly palpable relief. He didn’t expect that kind of resistance from Avery. Meanwhile, Christy watched the exchange, puzzled by Avery's persistent resistance. A hint of embarrassment tinged her cheeks because they were supposed to be a team as she pondered his behavior, questioning why he was so hesitant.

"Let's go over the presentation layout," Bryan said, oblivious to Avery's distress. "I'll handle the introduction, setting the stage for our proposal." He pulled out his laptop and cast the outline of the presentation he was thinking onto the screen for all three of them to see.

Avery nodded mechanically, his mind racing as he thought to himself. "How bad is it? Will it leak? Can they tell?" He shifted slightly, feeling the cool dampness pressing against his skin, a tangible reminder of the fullness of his pull-up. The moisture clung to him, creating an uncomfortable sensation that spread slowly, a subtle yet persistent discomfort.

Bryan turned to him. "Avery, you'll cover the theoretical aspects. Your expertise is crucial here."

"I require your expertise in elucidating the intricate variations in the genetic makeup of cancer cells across individuals. It's imperative to delve into the nuanced complexities of how this unique genetic code can influence the thickness of a cell wall.

The disparity in cell wall thickness between a normal cell and a malignant one is not a mere physiological difference, but rather a manifestation of underlying genomic alterations. Therefore, it becomes crucial for us to comprehend and quantify these differences.

In essence, we're attempting to map out an individual's cellular landscape, differentiating between benign and malignant territories based on their structural characteristics - primarily the thickness of their cellular boundaries or walls.

I will then explain how these variations are instrumental in determining an individual's drug metabolism rate. This is where our discussion transitions from theoretical genetics and cellular biology into practical pharmacology."

"R-right," Avery stammered, his voice trembling and barely audible. "I think I can do that." Doubt gnawed at him like a relentless beast. The plan seemed evident in his mind, a coherent thread of logic and ideas. But the prospect of distilling it all into a spoken explanation felt like attempting to scale an insurmountable mountain with bare hands. His heart raced, and his thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of anxiety.

"Christy," Bryan resumed, "you're tasked with the software execution and subsequent strides. It's your responsibility to explain the intricacies of translating Avery’s mathematical computations into functional code. The challenge lies in creating an algorithm that can dynamically adapt to the ever-changing genetic maps of individuals. We're not merely dealing with static data here – we have a labyrinth of constantly mutating genetic information that needs lab data, interpretation, and response. This code must be robust enough to handle millions of data points and yet sensitive enough to detect minute changes in gene sequences, all while maintaining speed and accuracy. Following this, I'll take over with the discussion on the pilot plant proposition."

Christy responded with eagerness and assurance. "I can do that," she declared, her voice brimming with confidence and excitement, a stark contrast to Avery's more subdued and hesitant demeanor regarding the opportunity.

As the meeting dragged on, Avery found it increasingly difficult to maintain his concentration. The damp pull-up clung to his skin, an ever-present reminder of his vulnerability and discomfort. Each minute felt like an eternity, and the room seemed to close in around him. When Bryan finally dismissed them, Avery shot up from his seat with urgency.

"Avery, wait!" Christy called after him, her voice carrying a hint of concern. "I thought we could go over some-"

"Not now!" Avery interrupted, his voice crackling with a sense of panic in his chest. "I can't... I need a minute!" His words were sharp, slicing through the air with intensity.

Christy's expression shifted, a flicker of confusion on her face as she pulled back slightly. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and worry.

"Nothing! Just... leave me alone!" he shouted, his voice filled with raw emotion. He stormed off, leaving Christy standing there, bewildered and alone, trying to make sense of his sudden outburst.

Avery ran by his desk to grab his backpack. Trying to hold back tears and a panic attack. Racing to the restroom, Avery locked himself in a stall, tears pricking at his eyes. "Pull it together," he muttered, fumbling with his clothes. "You can't fall apart now."

As he changed into a fresh pull-up, Avery's mind reeled with the enormity of the task ahead. How could he possibly present to the CEO when he couldn't even control his bladder?

Outside, Christy leaned against the wall, a mix of concern and irritation warring within her. "Should I check on him?" she wondered. "Or give him space?" She sighed, realizing they had much to get ready for this presentation.

Christy hesitated for a moment as she realized Avery wasn’t coming out anytime soon and left. She then made her way to Darlene's office. She knocked softly, her eyes brimming with frustration and unshed tears.

"Come in," Darlene called, looking up from her computer. Her expression softened when she saw Christy's distress. "What's wrong?"

Christy stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "It's Avery," she said, her voice trembling. "He just... he completely lost it after the meeting and doesn’t want to present his part to the CEO and Board. I get that he is nervous or even scared, but that is no excuse for not wanting to do it. I don't know what to do. This is important to the department, Bryan." Christy paused as a tear slid down her face. “It is important to me.”

Darlene gestured for Christy to sit. "Tell me what happened."

As Christy recounted Avery's outburst, Darlene listened intently, her brow furrowed in concern. When Christy finished, Darlene leaned back in her chair, considering.

"Avery is... special," Darlene said carefully. "What little I know about him is that he makes things more stressful than they need to be, and it is more intense for him than for the average person. Then, speaking in front of people, particularly the board, is a nerve-wracking ordeal for him. The mere thought of standing before an audience, their expectant faces staring at him, I bet it sends his heart racing. If you watch him, he has trouble mingling in simple social situations, often ending up awkward and clumsy, as if he's navigating uncharted territories. I have watched this with him and a few of my coworkers who have tried to have conversations with him.”

Darlene paused as a small smile of caring came across her face. “Yet, there's an undeniable brilliance that resides within him. He does well when surrounded by understanding and supportive individuals who acknowledge his quirks rather than chide them. He becomes capable of doing those hard calculations that leave even the most accomplished in awe. But he needs that special nurturing that he probably hasn’t experienced much in his life”

Christy nodded, wiping her eyes. "I want to help him, I don’t know how. Lately, I feel like every time I reach out, he tries to make it harder. It's as if my attempts to aid him at work are seen as intrusions rather than support. He pushes me away, leaving me feeling frustrated. And what's worse is that I'm lost. He needs to work on this presentation with me. I am afraid he won’t do it or won’t stand up and give his part, yet I can't find a way to help him focus and conquer his fear."

"I want to help him, but I don't know how."

Darlene smiled gently, her eyes softening with warmth. "I wish I could give you better advice, but patience is key. Be calm, be reassuring. Let him know you're on his side, no matter what." Her voice was soothing, like a gentle breeze on a warm day. Darlene paused, her hesitation evident as she considered the weight of her following words. “Sometimes, I think it is best to think of him as a scared little kid and treat him as such.”

Christy looked up, her gaze meeting Darlene's, and she could see the genuine concern for Avery etched in her friend's expression. "You really care about him, don't you?" Christy asked, studying the sincerity in Darlene's face, which was lined with empathy.

Darlene paused, her thoughts momentarily drifting, before she nodded. "I do. And I'm glad you came to talk to me about this. I don’t know how much help I can offer, but if he comes to talk to me, I will listen. I hope at least our conversation has helped you," she said, her voice carrying a note of earnest hope.

As Christy stood to leave, Darlene unexpectedly stood up from her desk and walked over to Christy, pulled her into a warm embrace. Christy stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by the gesture, then gradually relaxed, realizing how much she needed the comfort of Darlene's arms, which felt like a safe harbor in a storm. “You will do manage. He is a tough one to figure out.”

"Thank you," Christy whispered, her voice barely audible as she gently pulled away, gratitude shining in her eyes.

Back at her desk, Christy saw Avery approaching, his face still pale but calmer. She took a deep breath and remembered Darlene's advice.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice as gentle as a whispering breeze. "How are you feeling?"

Avery slumped into his chair, the weight of the day pulling him down. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice barely audible, eyes cast downward. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

Christ got out of her chair and sat in a chair next to Avery. She reached out, her fingers brushing his arm with a feather-light touch. "It's okay," she reassured him gently. "This is a lot of pressure for both of us. But we're in this together, alright?" as she tried to reassure herself on the words Darlene told her. “he is like a scared little kid”

Avery's nod came with a subtle release of tension from his shoulders, and a hint of relief sparked in his eyes like a distant star. "Together," he echoed back to her, the tremor in his voice reduced.

Christy attempted to muster a warm smile. "How about we take a break and have some lunch?" she suggested, her voice laced with a gentle invitation. "I packed a sandwich for you along with some fresh fruit." She reached into her bag and retrieved two neatly packed lunch bags. One was meant for him, the other for herself.

Avery responded with a nod of affirmation, having grown accustomed to Christy's habit of preparing his lunch. As they enjoyed their meal, Christy made a concerted effort to steer clear of work-related thoughts. She posed numerous inquiries, discovering that Avery was quite fond of video gaming.

"Oh really?" she asked, feigning interest as best as she could while he started to describe his favorite games. "Tell me more about these... Little Big Planet and Ratchet and Clank?"

"Well," Avery began with enthusiasm lighting up his eyes, "Little Big Planet is like entering into a world of puzzles where you have to use a lot of creativity. You can also design your levels and characters using whatever materials you find in the game world."

"And Ratchet and Clank?" Christy prompted him further.

"That's an entirely different beast," Avery chuckled softly. "It’s an action-adventure game set in a futuristic universe populated by all sorts of alien species. The main characters are this quirky duo: Ratchet, who is a mechanic with dreams bigger than his current life, and Clank, his robot sidekick with a heart of gold."

Throughout their conversation, Avery never probed much about her life but that didn't bother Christy at all.

The rest of the day was used to begin preparing for the presentation. Avery tried to summarize everything multiple times and would end up trashing it. A couple of times he would get upset and Christy tried her best to calm him down. Talking to him softly, reminding him to breathe slowly.

As the workday began to wind down, Christy turned to Avery with a thoughtful expression.

"You know, Avery," she started, her voice a gentle lilt in the quiet office space, "We are both not as far along as we would like and we are going to need to work on this both Friday and throughout he weekend.”

Avery looked up from his computer screen and met her gaze. He nodded for her to continue.

"I think it might be beneficial if we tackled it together," she suggested, her tone light and non-demanding.

"It's quite a load, and I could really use your expertise in the technical aspects. We could review each other's presentation and work"

She paused for a moment before adding, "And besides, working together might help us both stay focused and calm amidst all this pressure. What do you think?"

The suggestion hung in the air between them as Avery considered it. His eyes flicked back to his computer screen before returning to meet Christy's expectant gaze. “I like that idea.” Avery felt some relief that he wouldn’t have to put this together by himself.

"How about we order lunch to your place each day and work through the weekend?" Christy proposed, an optimistic grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "We could even kick off tomorrow for an early start on our presentation."

Avery attempted a tight smile, but the unease etched on his face was unmistakable. "My place is... not really suitable," he confessed, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Christy's grin wavered just a bit, like a flickering candle, but she held firm. "It doesn't matter, Avery," she reassured him with warmth in her voice. "I don't mind."

But Avery was resolute. He refused again and again, each refusal more firm than the last. His home was not something he was ready to share; it was his sanctuary amidst chaos, however messy it may be.

Eventually, Christy gave up on that idea and instead suggested an alternative she wasn’t thrilled about herself. “Fine,” she conceded with a sigh, “How about I pick you up tomorrow and we can work at my place?” She didn’t like this idea because it would require her driving back and forth from his place multiple times.

The prospect sat better with Avery as he finally agreed. “That sounds good,” he said quietly, adding a small “Thanks, Christy.”

As the clock ticked closer to the time for Avery to leave work and catch the bus home, he stood up from his desk and began to pack his backpack with deliberate care. He quietly thanked Christy once more, his voice barely rising above the hum of the office as others prepared to leave for the day. Passing by Darlene's office, he knocked gently on the doorframe, peering inside to see her deeply engrossed in her work, her fingers dancing over the keyboard.

"I just wanted to say good night," he said, his voice warm and sincere.

Darlene looked up, her expression one of pleasant surprise, as Avery had never stopped by to bid farewell before. "I hope you have a good night, too," she replied with a smile that reached her eyes. Just as Avery was about to turn away, she added, "Avery, maybe we can get lunch sometime next week."

A childlike grin spread across his face, lighting up his features. "I would like that," he said, his eyes twinkling as he turned to leave. Darlene watched him go, the brief smile he wore warned her heart for a second. She felt a swell of satisfaction in seeing his happiness, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

Little did Avery know, she grinned, about the news that he and Christy would soon be moved back to their original department the following week.

[Diapered Dave]

51 minutes ago, FingerToes said:

"Oh my God," Darlene gasped, her hand clapping over her mouth in disbelief. "It's Ashley."

The shock of the revelation sent her reeling. Her sister. Who they shared flesh and blood had been involved with John. There was a slight sense of betrayal since she had no idea about Ashley’s plan, but a surge of conflicting emotions quickly followed it.

Anger bubbled up first. How could Christy do this? Didn't she know what kind of man John was? But just as quickly, bewilderment set in. Why would Christy hide this from her? They'd always been close. She knew the answer because Darlene would have done everything to stop her from doing this.

Hmm.. Typo? Should "Christy" here be Ashley??

[CDfm]

Awesome new chapter.  I can’t wait to read about the conversation Darlene and her sister are going to have. I am still hoping that Avery is going to accept Darlene’s help and allows her to take care of him.  I believe that if he allows himself to regress a little bit, at least while not at work, it would do wonders to help him relax and face his fears about giving the presentation. I have always had a fear of public speaking but know the best way to overcome it is with being overly prepared. I think that the weekend with Christy and her treating him more like a small scared child will also help him some. 
You are continuing to do a great job on this story and I am very much so looking forward to seeing more. 

[Tasa]

Somehow i expect them to end up working at Darlenes during the weekend.
I also totally understand Avery not wanting to work at his place, and he probably dosnt even have a desk where two people can work from.

[BabySofia]

Great to see a new chapter pushing this forward! I really do hope he comes back to Darlene, even as he begins building a peer relationship with Christy. Thanks for the new chapter! 🙂

[Eagle0769]

What a great chapter long but welcomed. 

I know I have said this a number of times but your writing is so good an old timer like my self understands what is going on. (My mind is not what it use to be. I read other stories and have to read it twice).

I was afraid that when Avery was walking to the office that John was going to show up. So happy he got there without meeting him.

To be in the care of an older woman would help him calm down and to be breast feed would make sleeping much better. And to have Christy as a close friend would be what he needed too.

I really like no love this story and am happy it is back. 🙂

[FingerToes]

On 3/4/2025 at 11:55 AM, Diapered Dave said:

Hmm.. Typo? Should "Christy" here be Ashley??

Yes you are correct. I am going to correct it.  Thanks so much for finding this.

[Littlediaps36]

Another great chapter I can’t wait to see what’s next!! 

[FingerToes]

Here is the next chapter.  It's a short chapter, but the good news is that I should have the next chapter, which I've put a lot of effort into, tomorrow.  Thank you for all the encouragement with the story and support with my personal life. Everyone is the best!

Chapter 41 - The unspoke ( The hidden act of love)

Darlene stepped into her home with a quiet sense of relief that the workday was over. The last two days have been quite stressful.  When she entered, the evening sun slanted slid through the custom-made blinds in the entryway of her home. She made her way through the living room, recalling her day and her realization that it was Ashely on that sex video with John. 

Even as she had invited Ashley to come over for dinner, she wasn’t sure if Ashley even suspected there would be a discussion on her revelation.  However, right now, there was a little bit of time for solitude, which gave her the perfect opportunity to do her evening routine workout.

Eagerly, she hurried up the stairs, swiftly shedding her work attire for her favorite sporty ensemble—a form-fitting sports top paired with sleek leggings accented with snug socks and crisp tennis shoes.  It always felt good getting out of her work clothes.  It was like shedding off all the day's events and placing them in a box for another time.

Once fully dressed, she descended back down the stairs to her custom-designed workout room in the back of her house. This room was her private haven—a place meticulously set up for her to break free from the world, engage in exercise, and rejuvenate her mind and spirit. The decor was simple, and the soft light gray hues were well-lit with natural light and a fully mirrored wall on one side. The floor was covered in protective mats that were perfect for yoga or high-intensity workouts. A stationary bike sat against one wall, its digital display glowing softly. It was flanked by an array of weightlifting equipment - dumbbells of varying weights; kettlebells lined up according to size, and a power rack with a barbell awaiting use.

Today, like every day, this was her time alone, a daily ritual that always left her feeling re-energized. Today, she began her routine with a dynamic cardio class streamed on her large, wall-mounted TV, letting the vibrant beats propel her through a vigorous 30-minute session. Following that, she transitioned to weightlifting, carefully aligning her posture as she scrutinized herself in the mirrors that lined the walls.

After completing her invigorating workout, Darlene made her way to the kitchen to prepare dinner for herself and Ashley. For Darlene, the act of cooking a nice homemade dinner was continually enhanced by a simple ritual—a glass of wine in hand. She poured a generous serving of red wine she had already opened from the previous nights, savoring the ruby hue and subtle fruit and nut tones as it complemented the kitchen’s serene ambiance. Yet her mind couldn’t help but return to the sex video Johns posted on DNA Pharmica’s media site. With the recount of the video, she re-affirmed that it was indeed her sister on that video. She understood well that in her sister / Ashley’s world as a professional escort, appearances were artfully transformed for each encounter. Ashley always ensured that no photos or videos were ever taken, let alone published to hide her carefully constructed personal life outside of being an escort. Yet this video, intentionally provocative, had stirred conflicting emotions. As she thought through this, anger began to stir for her sister, who let this happen, and there was confusion about why she would let this happen. She was mad that Ashley would take such an uncalculated risk, which was not her style. It made Darlene contemplate why Ashley always cleverly avoided showing her face on camera. She knew she was being filmed and mostly orchestrated it. Darlene took a long sip of her wine as she thought this through more.

Among the sisters, each woman was undeniably brilliant—each had chosen a distinct path in life. As her thoughts tangled, she refocused her attention on crafting a delightful dinner.

Tonight’s menu was an Italian classic, Cacio e Pepe—a simple yet elegant pasta dish featuring perfectly cooked spaghetti, shavings of sharp Pecorino Romano cheese, earthy shiitake mushrooms, and freshly cracked black pepper. The aroma of sizzling mushrooms and simmering pasta soon embraced the kitchen, mingling with the rich scent of wine. While waiting, she uncorked one of Ashley’s beloved Chardonnay bottles, setting it on the table in a container of ice to keep it chilled. With care, she poured two glasses, placing them next to neatly set plates, complete with a napkin, fork, spoon, and knife.

Moments before the meal was ready, the front door creaked open. Ashley appeared walking in tight designer jeans and a T-shirt, her hair braided back into a ponytail. She quickly coasted through the living room as the aroma of dinner led her directly to the kitchen, where she greeted Darlene with a warm, affectionate embrace. “It smells good, sis, as always,” Ashley said, her tone rich with genuine appreciation and love for her sister.

Ashley pulled back from the embrace and stepped closer to the stove, taking a glance at the dinner Darlene was preparing. “So, what’s the special occasion tonight?” she inquired, a playful glint in her eyes.

Darlene smiled, her focus splitting between stirring a sauce and the conversation at hand. “Oh, I just thought we’d catch up. We haven’t had much time, just the two of us lately, and I missed you at Aegean Palette for dinner the other night.”

Curiosity danced in Darlene’s tone. “Were you out with one of your clients?”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “I was out, but not really a client,” she replied ambiguously but truthfully. The conversation continued to skirt around an unspoken truth—Darlene couldn’t help but wonder if Ashley intended to confess something or if Darlene was simply overthinking. She disliked when Ashley spun coy remarks or played mind games. She was not as skilled as her sister. Why couldn’t she be direct and just spit out what she did?

“Really, I hope he was nice,” Darlene teased gently.

Ashley chuckled softly. “Nice? I wouldn’t say. He was rather self-absorbed.”

“That sounds like most of your clients,” Darlene remarked with a chuckle and a knowing smile.

Ashley adjusted her posture as she reached for her glass of wine from the kitchen table, handing one over to Darlene in a graceful gesture as she noticed her other wine glass was already empty. “Hey, I do get some wonderful clients, too. Some treat me like a princess, while others... well, if they get too arrogant or pushy, I simply cut them off. I don’t tolerate that nonsense.”

They raised their glasses in a cheerful toast. “To Sisters.” Darlene smiled.

“To Sisters,” Ashley repeated, clinking their glasses before taking a sip of the Chardonnay, which graced the palate with ripe fruits. Its inherent smoothness was reminiscent of perfectly ripened peaches, delicately laced with an undercurrent of crisp apples. A subtle hint of citrus zest added to a refreshing tang, while a faint vanilla taste finished the wine's complex flavors.

As Darlene turned off the stove and carefully strained the pasta, Ashley continued their lighthearted banter about life in general.

“So, how’s work been? Any new updates with Avery?” Ashley asked, her voice lilting with curiosity and mischief.

Darlene sipped her wine thoughtfully before replying, trying to put the finishing touches on the dinner, “Well, Avery’s started speaking to me again, and John got fired. Honestly, that might just be the best news this month.” She watched Ashley intently, marveling at her sister’s craft in playing different roles—a skill essential for her line of work. Ashley could effortlessly act as though she were blissfully ignorant of any underlying secrets.

“John? Wasn’t he the jerk you mentioned, the one who was always all over Avery and got you in hot water?” Ashley looked shocked as if she was trying to recall some information from previous conversations and couldn’t believe the news.

“Yep, that’s the one,” Darlene confirmed with a wry smile.

Ashley giggled lightly, tossing out a wild guess. “What happened? Did he hit someone or fail a drug test?”

“No,” Darlene said, her tone laced with bafflement, “he had sex with someone—but not in his office. It was in his boss’s office, and then he went ahead and posted it on the company’s social media page.”

Ashley’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. “What? No way. People don’t do that—it’s just too stupid.”

“I know, right?” Darlene sighed. “I literally saw the whole video: his face, his words; however, the woman he was with never showed her face—as if she was fully aware of being filmed.”

“Geez, people these days love taking risks just for some kinky sex. I guess those two just wanted to make a public statement, something to throw their boss off his game,” Ashley mused, taking another sip of her wine. “Glad, I never seem to encounter anyone quite like that.”

Darlene studied Ashley’s expressions, noting no hint that she had planned or intended any of this mischief. Her voice, however, stayed unmistakably her own—a subtle reassurance in the midst of swirling thoughts.

Setting her wine glass down with deliberate care, Darlene arranged two plates at the kitchen table, her movements graceful and methodical. “Shall we eat?” she invited softly.

“Absolutely. It smells divine,” Ashley replied with a gentle smile as she settled into her seat.

As they both relished the taste of the food and wine, Darlene watched her sister with hawk-like scrutiny. "You know," she began, her voice slipping into a tone laced with playful yet piercing curiosity, "there's something peculiar about the woman in that video. She had tattoos on her lower back and arm, yet her voice was eerily identical to yours." She awaited a flicker of acknowledgment, a crack in Ashley's facade.

"Really? How strange," Ashley replied, effortlessly twirling the pasta around her fork and letting out a light-hearted laugh. "Perhaps I have a doppelgänger who sounds exactly like me. How exciting. I hope to meet her someday." Their jovial exchange blended seamlessly with the food before them.

Darlene continued to be met with a wall of nonchalance, unable to extract a confession from Ashley. Her sister's face and body language were a fortress, revealing nothing. Ashley had always been a master of disguise, the star of every high school drama production, and she even earned an acting scholarship. Frustrated but determined, Darlene decided to abandon the game. "God, you're good. I'll never get it out of you without being direct, will I?"

Ashley feigned innocence, her expression a perfect mask. "Get what?"

"You don't have a vocal twin. I know that was you in the video. With your clients, you always change your hair, alter your eye color, and use tattoos. You brag about it when you have an intriguing client. You always play the part. You didn't do anything different that night, did you?" Darlene's voice was now sharp and unyielding as she glared at Ashley, daring her to deny the truth.

Ashley firmly placed her wine glass down, the the clink of the glass on the table echoing in the room as she traced her finger around its rim with a deliberate slowness. "You caught me. It was me. But I did it to get John fired. He walked right into my trap. And by the way, he's a complete asshole. Struts around like he's God's gift to women, I can’t tell you that he has some seething anger issues that will get someone hurt one day.."

"You’re insane! I never asked you to do this. You know I’d never want you to risk yourself like that. You went against your principles and allowed a video of you!"  Darlene raised her voice, glaringly upset at her sister.

"I was meticulous. Like you said, that person never showed her face. I ensured my anonymity in the video even while we were... fucking madly!" Ashley tried to smile and make a bit of humor to cool the situation off. "You should be thanking me for what I did instead of being upset."

"I'm furious because I've seen the fury in that man's eyes," Darlene said, her voice caught between anger and fear. "He assaulted a guard when he was fired hand and dragged out kicking and screaming. The police had to escort him away when he refused to leave the premises. There was a brawl, too. This man could have harmed you, and yet a part of me wonders if there's more to his story. For what? I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you, but I can't help feeling torn about not being told about this beforehand or thank your shitty ass. I hate not being in control, especially when I wasn't even aware of what was happening where I work."

"But you don't understand, I didn't get hurt. I...I managed to push him away, to keep him from you," her voice elevated but trembled as she tried to hold back tears. "That's what you wanted, isn't it? You never had to voice it out loud for me to know."Ashley turned away, avoiding the piercing gaze of her older sibling. She curled the cloth napkin in her hand as she talked.  Why couldn’t Darlene just be happy or proud of her for what she did?

"Now, he can't harm you anymore...or Avery," Ashley added, lowering her voice a little. The name hung heavy in the air as Darlene knew that was the real reason she wanted John gone, as if it was an unspoken truth on her own end. "This is why I didn't tell you about my plan...why I kept it hidden." Ashley’s gaze flickered back towards her sibling, eyes filled with a mix of defiance and desperation as her lip quivered and continued.

"You would've yelled at me," Ashley confessed quietly. "You would've made me swear not to do anything. But just because I'm your younger sister doesn't mean I can't stand up for us."

Her voice grew stronger with each word, revealing a determination that belied her young age.

“For once, I could protect you...and Avery too," she declared firmly, "I was able to do something for one of the two people I care most about in my life."  She looked Darlene directly in the eyes as her voice was louder and firmer.

"You've been my rock so many times in my life. When Mom turned her back on me for my escort business, you stood by me and took me in. You helped me stay clean. I've always wanted to give something back to you, my big sister, just once. I've never had much to offer, but this time, this one time, I had the perfect skill set to help. I'll never get that chance again. Please, just be thankful I did it. Geez," Ashley shouted, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. She truly loved her sister deeply, yet she always felt like the one sister with nothing to give back. Even though she enjoyed what she did for a living and enjoyed playing the characters, it was hard not to feel overshadowed by her other sisters, who had real, respectable careers.

Darlene saw the love in her sister's heart. Darlene began to calm down and lowered her voice.  “I get it. I do appreciate it, but at the same time. I am upset you put yourself in harm's way. What if you were caught? I can’t have anything happen to you. We sisters are the only family we have. Laurisa is the only one of the three of us who still has contact with Mom and Dad. Both you and I don’t exist to them. So you and Laurisa are all I have. I can’t lose you!”

Darlene got up from her chair to embrace her sister in the chair. Ashley stood up and also embraced. “I wanted to be the one to the hero for once. I wanted to show you I can help when things get tough.” Ashley cried, letting loose years of feelings of being felt like a worthless sister when it came to helping her sisters with their troubles.

Darlene could feel the love and hurt being released in her arms. She pushed Ashley apart a little and looked at her face. “Thanks, Sis... I do appreciate it, and by the way, you did a number on him. And your acting had me fooled for a while. If it weren’t for your voice in a few of those sentences I heard, I would never have guessed it was you. Your secret is our secret, ok? I love you!”

“Love you too, sis,” Ashley said back as the embrace continued for a few minutes before they disengaged and returned to their dinner.

As the rest of the night wore on, there were heartfelt exchanges and reminiscing about good times past. It was an evening where Ashley and her sister reaffirmed their bond over shared stories, delicious food, and fine wine - moments etched into their hearts forever.  Darlene truly did appreciate her sister's help.  She was glad it all turned out ok in the end.

 

[BabySofia]

Nice to see a new chapter! Things there are out in the open with the sisters. I hope Avery and Darlene can get things patched up again here soon now too!