"Yeah, I'm fine," I lie. Because all I can think about is Zaria, and how one minute I had something, and now it's all blown up in my face.
Linda sets plates in front of us. Some kind of grilled chicken salad. It looks good. Smells good. But my stomach twists at the sight of it.
I pick up my fork anyway.
"So," I say, stabbing a piece of lettuce. "You talk to Declan today?"
"Uh, no," Keira says, taking a sip of her water. "Why?"
"No reason," I say, moving the food around my plate. The last thing I need to do right now is bring up the warehouse fire.
Mom shifts in her seat, her favorite tea, which Linda knows she likes, sitting next to her, untouched. "How you doing, Mom?" I ask.
"Oh, fine," she says, sighing. "Some days better than others, but…" she trails off and shrugs.
Keira interjects and starts talking about a charity luncheon she attended last week. About a woman she met who reminded her of someone she used to know. Our mom loosens up a bit and chimes in with a comment about how exhausting social obligations can be.
I try to focus. Try to be present. But every second that passes, I see Zaria's face, and I'm thrown into a whirlwind of emotions all simmering inside me.
Suddenly, Tommy appears in the doorway. His face is stern, his shoulders stiff.
I look at him and wave him forward.
"Sorry to interrupt, sir. I have something to show you."
"Now?" Keira asks.
"It's alright, dear. Go. We'll be here," Mom says, her voice gentle.
I stand, pushing my chair back.
I give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek, then move around the corner with Tommy, out of the kitchen and into the hallway.
"You'll want to listen to this," he says, handing me an iPad.
I glance back toward the kitchen, then lower my voice. "Let's go to my office."
We start walking, and every step tells me I’m not going to like what comes next.
"What am I going to hear?" I ask.
"It's a recorded call, boss. Since all incoming calls are recorded, I was able to pull up a call to her room."
I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. "Her room? How did that happen?"
"Someone got the number. I'm not sure how yet, but they did."
My blood runs cold.
Tommy pushes open the door to my office, and I walk inside, my hands gripping the iPad tightly.
Once Tommy shuts the door, I don't waste any time.
I unlock the iPad and start the recording.
Zaria's voice fills the room immediately. "Hello. Good morning."
My chest tightens, and then a man speaks.
