The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 214

Dylan frowned, set the stack of papers aside, and sat in silence for a moment.

The tension in the office grew thick and stifling. Director Porter stood off to the side, hardly daring to breathe, nerves jangling as he waited for Dylan’s reaction.

Dylan’s fingers tapped quietly on the desk, his gaze distant, as if weighing something important.

Finally, after a long pause, he spoke. “Forget it. We’ll deal with it on Monday. You can go.”

Relief washed over Director Porter’s face. He nodded eagerly, “Of course, sir. I’ll head out now.”

He all but sprinted from the office, worried Dylan might suddenly change his mind.

Once Porter was gone, Dylan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

He couldn’t help but feel frustrated with Raina’s lack of responsibility, but he also understood he couldn’t disregard his employees’ personal lives completely. Work mattered, sure, but people needed time to rest and enjoy themselves too.

With Porter gone, Dylan decided to let his own work rest for the moment.

His eyes drifted to the concert ticket Crystal had left on his desk earlier. He picked it up and glanced at it—across the front, in bold letters, was the name “Michael.”

Dylan had never paid much attention to the entertainment world; he knew next to nothing about this so-called national heartthrob. But judging by Porter’s and Raina’s reactions, Michael was clearly a big deal.

Dylan tried to return to his paperwork, but his mind kept wandering. Absentmindedly, he turned the concert ticket over in his hands. Maybe, for once, he should do something out of the ordinary. Spend less time holed up at work and see what all the fuss was about.

On a whim, the ever-dedicated Mr. Austin did something he’d never done before—he skipped work and headed out the door.

Driving toward the concert venue, Dylan’s phone rang. Dennis’s name flashed on the screen.

“Mr. Austin, are you busy right now?” Dennis asked. “I just sent an important email to your inbox. Could you take a look?”

Dylan answered, “I can’t. I’m not at the office.”

Dennis stood in the middle of the office, phone in hand, still trying to process what had just happened.

He paced back and forth, muttering, “This can’t be real. The boss is going to a concert?”

A few coworkers noticed his dazed expression and asked, “Dennis, what’s up?”

He told them what had happened, and jaws dropped around the room.

“The boss is really going to a concert? That’s insane.”

“Maybe he’s finally changed.”

“Or maybe he’s going with someone important.”

Speculation buzzed around the office, everyone chattering in disbelief.