As I walked into the company, I was met with a familiar sight - my boss, Mr. Johnson, pacing back and forth in his office, looking frustrated. He was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a thick beard, always impeccably dressed in a suit and tie. His eyes were fixed on me, and I could sense a mix of emotions - concern, worry, and a hint of anger. As soon as he saw me, he rushed out of his office, his face etched with a deep sense of urgency.
"Gabriel, what happened?" he asked, his voice firm but worried. "I went to the police station to bail you out, but they told me you were no longer there. I've been trying to reach you on your phone, but you weren't picking up. Is it true? Were you involved in Ryan's death?"
I took a deep breath, preparing myself to narrate the whole story. I knew it was going to be a long and difficult conversation, but I was determined to clear my name and tell the truth.
"No, sir, I wasn't involved in Ryan's death," I began, my voice calm and steady. "It's a long story, but I'll try to keep it short. You see, my ex-girlfriend Stephanie was the one who killed Ryan."
Mr. Johnson's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, as if he had been punched in the gut. "Stephanie? But why? What could she possibly have against Ryan?" he asked, his voice laced with incredulity.
I shook my head, trying to process the events of the past few hours. "It's a complicated story, sir. But basically, Stephanie was obsessed with me, and when I broke up with her, she snapped. She started stalking me, Knowing that Ryan was my best friend, and a weakness that she can use to pin me down, she decided to hurt me by killing him."
Mr. Johnson's face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists. "That's unbelievable," he muttered. "I had no idea she was capable of something like that. How could she do such a thing?"
I shrugged, feeling a sense of sadness and regret. "I don't know, sir. I thought I knew her, but I guess I was wrong. She was always a little unstable, but I never thought she would go this far."
Mr. Johnson nodded, his expression softening. "I'm glad you're okay, Gabriel. I was worried sick about you. But I have to ask, why didn't you tell me about Stephanie's behavior earlier?, Was she always acting this way?"
I sighed, feeling a sense of guilt and responsibility. "I didn't want to bother you with my personal problems, sir. And besides, I didn't think it was that serious. But I realize now that I should have spoken up sooner."
Mr. Johnson nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "Well, just be glad that it's over now. And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come to me. We'll get through this together, as a team."
As our conversation was coming to a close, Mr. Johnson's expression turned from one of concern to one of authority. He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes locked intensely on mine. "Gabriel, I don't want you to go back to work just yet," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
I looked at him in surprise, unsure of what to say. "But, sir, I have a lot of work to do," I protested. "I don't want to fall behind on my projects."
Mr. Johnson shook his head. "I know you do, Gabriel. But I'm not going to let you go back to work right now. You're going through a lot, Gabriel. Ryan's death was a shock to all of us, but I know it's hit you particularly hard. You were close friends, and I know how much he meant to you."
I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought about Ryan. I had been trying to process my emotions all day, but it was hard to accept that he was really gone.
"You need to take some time to process everything, to relax your mind and recharge," Mr. Johnson continued. "I don't want to see you back here until you're feeling better. Take a leave of absence, two days, three, or even a week if you need it."
I was taken aback by his words, but deep down, I knew he was right. I was still trying to process everything that had happened, and the thought of going back to work right now was overwhelming. I felt like I was in a daze, like I was just going through the motions.
"But, sir, I don't know if I can just take time off like that," I said, feeling a sense of uncertainty. "I have responsibilities, deadlines to meet."
Mr. Johnson nodded understandingly. "I know you do, Gabriel. But your health and well-being are more important than any deadline. And besides, we'll manage without you for a few days. We'll make sure everything runs smoothly while you're away."
I felt a surge of gratitude towards my boss. No one had ever shown such concern for my well-being before. He was always so focused on the bottom line, on getting results, but now he was showing me that he cared about me as a person.
"Thank you, sir," I said, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I appreciate your understanding."
Mr. Johnson smiled. "Don't thank me, Gabriel. Just take care of yourself. We'll be here when you get back."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my boss. I knew that I was lucky to have someone like him looking out for me.
"I will, sir," I said. "I'll take care of myself."
Mr. Johnson nodded. "Good. Now go home, Gabriel. Take some time for yourself. We'll talk when you get back."
I turned to leave, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I knew that I had a lot to process, but with my boss's support, I felt like I could finally start to heal.