Someone had removed her.
#
Chloe kept tellingherself not to check the clock again.She failed.3:42 p.m.
Robin still hadn’t shown up, nor had she called or even texted back.The unease that had been pacing quietly in Chloe’s head all day had picked up speed, bumping harder against her skull every time the front door opened and it wasn’t the person she was waiting for.
She sat at her desk with her phone to the right of the keyboard, pretending not to notice it.She’d already called twice more and gone straight to voicemail.Again.
This was officially past late.It was edging into something-was-wrong territory and Chloe didn’t enjoy how familiar that feeling was starting to become.
She rubbed at the space between her eyebrows and exhaled slowly.Robin didn’t strike her as flaky.Nervous, yes.Earnest.Maybe a little overwhelmed.But not someone who would vanish without so much as a message unless something had happened.
She didn’t let herself finish that thought.
The door banged open hard enough to rattle the glass.
Chloe flinched, then straightened automatically as Danica stalked inside, designer boots clicking with irritation, sunglasses still on despite the indoor lighting.Her mouth was in a thin line, her entire body broadcasting that something had personally offended her, and she would be filing a complaint.
“Hey,” Chloe said carefully.
Danica didn’t respond.She dropped her bag onto the nearest bench and yanked the sunglasses off, revealing eyes flashing with annoyance and mascara that had already seen better hours.
“This city is a nightmare today,” she announced.
Chloe blinked.“Good afternoon to you too?”
Danica waved a dismissive hand.“Traffic was awful.I couldn’t find parking at the store because apparently everyone in St.Louis has decided to shop at the same time, and the coffee place on the corner messed up my order.Twice.”
“I’m so sorry the city conspired against you,” Chloe said mildly, though her patience was already fraying.Danica had been off doing her own thing instead of earning the generous salary Chloe paid her.“Do you want to sit down?”
“I want to know why you didn’t answer my text.”
Chloe frowned.“What text?”
Danica pulled out her phone and shoved it toward her.Chloe glanced at the screen.
U busy?Sent seven minutes ago.
“I was trying to track down my missing manager,” Chloe said, keeping her voice even.
Danica scoffed.“Already?That didn’t take long.”
Chloe stiffened.“She didn’t quit; she just didn’t show up.There’s a difference.”
Danica’s mouth twisted.“If she didn’t show, that’s basically quitting.People are unreliable like that.”
Annoyance had her snapping, “Not everyone, and I don’t actually know what’s going on yet.”
Danica rolled her eyes and flopped onto a chair.“You’re way too trusting.That’s your problem.You always assume the best, and then you’re shocked when people disappoint you.”
Chloe pressed her lips together, choosing not to rise to that particular bait.She glanced toward the door again before she could stop herself.
Danica noticed.“You waiting for someone?”she asked, interest sharpening her tone.
Chloe closed her eyes for half a second.When she opened them, she forced her shoulders to relax.“Danica, if you’re here to pick a fight, I don’t have the bandwidth.”
Danica crossed her arms.“I’m in a bad mood.”
