In the early hours of the morning, the office corridors were engulfed in silence. Emily felt an unusual unease as she stepped to her desk. Jack's absence was felt even from the coffee cup he had left on his desk. Normally, Jack was always punctual; as soon as he arrived at the office, he would turn on his computer and set up his working routine. But today, there was no trace of him.
Emily took a deep breath. There was tension inside her—not just because Jack was missing, but also because of the growing suspicion since the strange phone conversations last week… It felt like something was being hidden.
"Why didn't he come?" she murmured to herself. She took her phone out of the desk drawer and sent a short message to Jack: "Is everything okay?"
No reply. Normally, he would respond within minutes at most. But today, the silence only deepened Emily's curiosity.
The office was empty and quiet. Looking out the window, the first rays of the sun hit the building's glass, but even this brightness could not dispel the clouds in Emily's mind. As she walked among her colleagues, her thoughts were confused; she asked about Jack's absence, but everyone just shrugged. Some said he was sick, others mentioned personal matters, but no details.
Emily's mind couldn't settle. She had to see him; there was no other choice but to go to Jack's home. She made up her mind: she would leave the office at lunch break. In her bag were a small notebook, a pen, and a bit of courage; everything else was uncertainty and anxiety.
The rain was soaking the streets along with the coolness of the morning. Emily got into her car, started the engine, and headed towards Jack's apartment. Different scenarios played over and over in her mind: Was Jack really sick, or did he have something to hide?
As she neared his home, Emily slowed the car. The streets were silent. Jack's building seemed hidden in darkness; the window lights were dim, like a city asleep. Emily parked the car, raindrops raced across the windows. She opened her umbrella and started walking toward the building.
When she knocked on the door, silence lasted for a few seconds. Then the door opened slightly. A woman Emily didn't know was standing there; on her face was a slight surprise and at the same time a cold distance.
"Hello," said Emily, "I'm… looking for Jack. I'm a coworker. Is he home?"
The woman tilted her head slightly and avoided Emily's gaze. "Jack? There's no one here," she said. There was neither warmth nor invitation in her voice. "I don't know him."
Emily's heart tightened. A moment of silence merged with the rhythm of the rain, as if the world had slowed down. Her instinct told her this answer was a lie. The woman's attitude, the expression in her eyes, all confirmed Emily's intuition: Jack was hiding something.
"Are you sure?" Emily asked, her voice a little firmer. The woman stepped back. "Yes, there is no one here. Please, leave."
Emily stepped back with her doubts. The empty space left behind when the woman closed the door darkened Emily's inner world further. This encounter clearly revealed that there was a secret in Jack's life.
As Emily walked away from the building, she formed a plan in her mind. She needed to return to the office; but this time she had a different target: Human Resources. Jack's file could officially explain everything. And Emily was going to find the answers there.
When she returned to the office, the corridors were still quiet. She headed to the Human Resources department, knocked on the door, and entered. Among files, computer screens, and ID cards, she searched for Jack's dossier. The staff knew Emily; they were aware of her professional and disciplined attitude.
"I want to see Jack's personnel file," Emily said with determination. The clerk slightly raised his eyebrows but did not object; the file could be accessed, though the records were confidential. Emily opened the file and began scanning the documents one by one.
Every page, every form, every signature fit into the puzzle in Emily's mind. But the most important were the records and notes about the days Jack hadn't come to work. Hours, leaves, documents… each gave Emily a clue. And as Emily pieced together the hints, she knew the secret Jack was hiding would surface.
Outside, the rain still continued. When Emily closed the file, she took a deep breath. Now she had to know more; but what she would do with this information was entirely her decision. At that moment, amidst the office lights and keyboard clicks, a new plan was forming in Emily's mind.
Jack's absence had left a mixture of curiosity, anger, and resentment inside Emily. But now she told herself, the control was in her hands. This energy would make Emily stronger—both at work and in her personal life.
Emily's next step became clear: she was going to uncover Jack's hidden secret and be prepared when faced with him. This process would not only help Emily discover her own strength but also understand Jack's true face.
Thus, Emily took control of both her workplace and private life. Everything was planned: to confirm her suspicions, to solve Jack's mysteries, and to protect her emotional boundaries. From now on, instead of the shadows of the past, she would move forward with the light of her own steps.
What would happen to Jack next? How would Emily behave? All these were questions full of curiosity, with countless unanswered mysteries.
What do you think—where was Jack?