It was the first time he’d left the alcove since he’d arrived. The Blutecc office was a frantic hive of activity, and the frenetic energy made Sacha’s brain buzz. He winced and automatically looked for Jonah, but the FG side of the office was deserted.
“Christmas party,” Helga supplied. “Their boss took them out for lunch. I don’t think they’re coming back.”
“What? At all?”
“Not today. Are you ready?”
“For what?”
Helga nudged him. “For the meeting, Sacha. Jesus, you’re on another planet today.”
Sacha glared. “I am not that lucky.”
“Whatever. Come on, we need you.”
“That is sweet, but not true. You do not need me in this meeting.”
“Then don’t come. Go back and finish whatever you’re doing. Regardless, stop blocking the door.”
Dazed, Sacha stepped aside and let Helga pass. Then, unable to face his computer screen again just yet, he followed her into the meeting and took a seat at the end of the table.
He fished his phone from his pocket and typed out a message.
Sacha:You are not here. Perhaps it is me who must find you?
Jonah Gray:You won’t have to look far. I’ll be bankrupting myself across the road for the rest of the day.
Sacha:Never ending lunch?
Jonah Gray:And then some. When will you be done?
Sacha:The app goes live at 5pm. I will watch and wait for a little while. Then I am finished until the new year and…I will find you.
Jonah Gray:Counting on it, Ivanov.
So was Sacha. Hour by hour, minute by minute. His team was counting down for the launch, but Sacha had already checked out. The app was finished and it worked. He’d delivered, and now he was free, of more than just the bad days and late nights of a shoddy fitness app.
With his father gone, and Christmas looming, there was nothing in Sacha’s heart butyolkasand Jonah Gray.
18
It was gone seven by the time the first Blutecc employees began to filter into the pub. Jonah watched, trying not to track them, and whip his head around every time the door opened.
Failed, naturally, much to Lily’s amusement. “You’re going to hurt yourself,” she said.
Jonah sipped his glass of tonic water. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That’s because you’re not listening. I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said since you came to sit with me under the pretence of keeping me company when actually you’re using me as a convenient place to spy on the door.”
“Am not.”
“Are so. But let’s not be children about it. I’m your friend, not your employee. You can be honest about the fact you’re waiting on Sacha.”
Jonah forced himself to look away from the door and sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me,” Lily said. “And maybe the dark-haired girl. What’s her name again?”
“Winona.”
