You Broke Me First Volume 2 — Chapter 1:
The Illusion of TrustThe hum of MacTech's office had settled into a familiar rhythm, but for Shayne Broklin, nothing felt ordinary anymore. The initial excitement of his internship had morphed into something far more complicated—an intoxicating blend of fascination and confusion centered around one woman: Hagar Mills.
It started with small gestures. Hagar would pause by the IT department more often, her eyes lingering a moment longer on Shayne than necessary. She began asking about his work, offering subtle encouragements that made his heart race. Shayne, inexperienced in matters of the heart, mistook her attention for something real—something genuine.
One rainy afternoon, as the office emptied early due to a brewing storm, Hagar found Shayne alone by the coffee machine. The soft patter of rain against the windows created a cocoon of intimacy. "You're working too hard," she said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You need to take care of yourself."
Shayne's breath caught. "I'm fine," he replied, voice barely above a whisper.
"No, you're not," she insisted, her tone suddenly vulnerable. "Sometimes, I see too much of myself in you."
The words struck him like a lightning bolt. Was she opening up? Or was this just another layer of the mask?
Meanwhile, whispers began circulating around MacTech. Jenna, Hagar's closest friend, noticed her growing closeness with Shayne and grew uneasy. One evening, Jenna confronted Hagar in the quiet of the HR office. "You're playing with fire," she warned. "He's just a kid, Hagar. You can't keep using people to fill your emptiness."
Hagar's eyes flashed with a pain Jenna had never seen before. "You don't understand," she said bitterly. "He's different."
But was he?
As Shayne delved deeper into his work, he stumbled upon a confidential folder buried in the company's shared drive—an old personnel file labeled "Mills, Hagar." Curiosity overcame caution. Opening it, he discovered documents revealing Hagar's previous marriage, a bitter divorce, and a custody battle that left scars deeper than he imagined.
The revelation shattered the image he'd built in his mind. The woman he admired was a complex puzzle, pieces jagged and worn. Yet, instead of retreating, Shayne felt a fierce determination to be the one who could heal her.
That night, as he lay awake, his phone buzzed with a message from Hagar: "Can we talk? It's important."
Shayne's heart pounded. Was this the moment their fragile connection would deepen—or unravel?
He arrived at the office after hours, the building eerily silent. Hagar was waiting, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I need to tell you everything," she whispered.
Before she could speak, the lights flickered and the emergency alarm blared, jolting them both. Security guards rushed in, and in the chaos, a shadowy figure slipped past unnoticed.
As the alarm died down, Shayne noticed a file dropped on the floor—a file with his name on it.
Confused and alarmed, he picked it up. The first page read: "Shayne Broklin — Under Investigation."
Hagar's face paled. "I didn't want you to find out like this," she said, voice trembling.
"Find out what?" Shayne demanded, heart sinking.
But before she could answer, the office doors slammed shut, locking them inside.
The night had only just begun.
Cliffhanger:Trapped together in the darkened office, with secrets unraveling and trust hanging by a thread, Shayne and Hagar face a truth neither expected. What is the real reason Shayne is under investigation? And how far will Hagar go to protect—or betray—the young man who dared to love her?
To be continued in Volume 3 — Chapter 1: Broken Promises and this will unfold the storyline further as Shayne is introduced more to MacTech