“She had to go to an appointment,” she stammered.
“I didn’t see anything on her calendar.”
“I think she had one before lunch.”
“So, she’s taking an extended lunch?” I raised a brow.
“No!” she stammered. “She—”
I put my hand up before she could continue annoying me with her uselessness. I could tell she was covering for Sadie, and doing a piss-poor job at it. But why was she covering for her? Where was she? I could feel my temper flaring up, and seeing Tanya look nervously away to avoid my gaze wasn’t helping. I pushed myself from her desk and slipped my phone from my pocket. If this woman wouldn’t give me answers, then I would call Sadie and get them myself.
I was just about to press the greensendbutton when the elevator doors slid open and Sadie stepped out. I saw red. I stormed toward her ready to demand an explanation, but stopped short when I saw her face. It was as white as the sheets from our hotel room. She looked up and saw me. Sucking in a breath, her cheeks somehow draining more of color.
I took a deep breath, trying to get my temper in check.
“I need you in my office,” I said firmly, aware that Tanya was watching carefully from her desk. I didn’t need rumors starting around the office, tarnishing my reputation.
Sadie simply nodded slowly before I turned on my heel and walked down the hallway, shooting Tanya a look of irritation, which made her sink into her desk chair even further.
“Clean up your desk,” I said to her sharply.
As I waited in the doorway of my office impatiently, I watched Sadie walk toward me, her steps careful and slow, as if my officewere the last place she wanted to be. She finally slipped past me and I shut the door firmly behind her.
“Where the hell were you?” I asked, whirling around.
She just stood there with her back toward me, not saying a word, which further added to my irritation.
“Do you think you can now just take long lunch breaks? Or do whatever the hell you were doing without giving me notice?” I continued. “If you think what happened in Dallas gives you the right, then you aresorelymistaken.”
She stepped in front of the closest chair and slumped into it, her red hair pouring over the back of it. I jerked my head back in confusion. Now was not the time to ignore me. I cleared my throat to further rip into her and to demand answers, but she didn’t even flinch at the sound. It was as if she couldn’t hear me. As if I wasn’t there at all.
The better part of me wanted to bore into her further. The same part of me that thought it would be easier to be mad at her than to give in to the feelings I had been avoiding since our trip to Dallas. Really, since the night I met her when I found her in my apartment. It was easier to be an asshole. Easier to push her away. Just like I did with everyone else.
“Sadie.” I said firmly, trying again.
No reaction.
I took the few steps toward her, rounding the chair and facing her. She just stared at the floor, wrapping her arms around herself. Something seemed terribly wrong. The hard parts of me that wanted to push her away gave in to the softer parts that wanted to care for her. Needed to care for her. Needed to know what was wrong, so I could fix it. I sighed in defeat. I couldn’t bring myself to come down on her anymore.
I kneeled on the floor in front of her and looked up at her. I put my hand on her knee, desperate for any reaction from her.
“Sadie…” I said warily.
Her eyes finally met mine, and I wished they hadn’t because I could see they were glistening with tears. Some part of me cracked.
“What is it?” I asked softly.
She just shook her head, loose strands of her curled auburn hair falling across her face.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” I urged.
Silence.
“Are you hurt?”
Another shake of her head.
“Did you get some sort of bad news?”
