My brow furrowed. I scanned the office and spotted an orange Post-it note stuck to the table, right in front of my usual seat.
Can’t stay for today’s meeting. There’s a production emergency. I tried calling, but your phone was off. Email me, and we’ll reschedule. -Seb
I checked my phone. I’d forgotten to charge it last night, and it had, in fact, died during my commute.
A long, unsteady breath seeped through my lips. Relief and disappointment tugged at opposite ends of my emotions. Part of me was glad I wouldn’t have to face Sebastian and the unwanted emotions he inspired, but another part had foolishly looked forward to our reunion.
I wasn’t used to going this long without seeing Sebastian. He hadn’t attended any holiday parties, and though we usually spentNew Year’s Eve with the Laurents, they’d decamped to St. Bart’s between Christmas and the start of the year.
I reread his note. Was there really a production emergency, or was he avoiding me? I couldn’t imagine him showing up only to bail at the last minute. If he came all the way here, he had to have a good reason for leaving.
At least, that was what I told myself.
Since our meeting was canceled, I left and went to my regular office across the floor instead. I hadn’t been here all week since I’d been busy with vendors offsite, and I barely had time to settle in before Ezra knocked on my door.
“Sorry to disturb you first thing in the morning,” he said when he walked in. “But I have the documents you asked for, and I wanted to make sure you got them before I’m pulled into back-to-back meetings all day.” He placed the manila folders on my desk.
My heart rattled. Adrenaline pulsed in my veins, but I kept my voice even. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.”
I waited until he was gone before I opened the folders with eager hands. I hadn’t forgotten about my Pittsburgh theory. The end of last year had been too busy for me to continue my investigation, but now that the frozen foods line was in production and we were making good progress on the launch event, I had a little more time to indulge my instincts.
I’d asked Ezra to compile all the internal communications regarding the Pittsburgh employee’s termination and subsequent arrest. I’d told him I was using them to create new standard operating procedures for similar cases in the future, and he’d bought it without question.
I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I was certain I was overlooking something. Although our contamination crisis was in the rearview mirror, it would always be a stain on the company’sotherwise spotless reputation—unless I cleaned it up.
For the rest of the morning, I alternated between actual work and poring over the documents.
I didn’t call Sebastian back, but I emailed him to reschedule our meeting.
By lunchtime, I’d gotten nowhere with my investigation. I blinked away the screen-induced fatigue in my eyes and stretched my arms over my head.
I was starving. I could grab a salad from my usual takeout spot, or… I could go to the ramen place Sebastian recommended last year. I didn’t know the name, but how many ramen spots could there be in the area?
I opened my desk drawer to grab some emergency bills just in case the restaurant was cash only. Most places took credit cards these days, but there were a number of holes-in-the-wall that clung to their old ways.
I reached for the cash bag in the back of the drawer, but I stilled when I noticed a small white box sitting atop some old marketing materials. It was tied with a blue ribbon, and it had definitelynotbeen there last week.
Curiosity edged out my wariness.
I untied the ribbon and opened the box.
My breath caught. I retrieved the item inside and stared at it, my blood a dull roar in my ears.
There was no note, but I didn’t need one.
I knew exactly who’d put this here.
I didn’t speak to anyone about the gift, not even the person who’d given it to me. It was a conversation I wanted to have in person, but I’d have to wait since our next meet-up wasn’t for another week.
Until then, I needed to focus on something else—like the very cute, verypresentguy I was currently on a date with.
“I hope it’s not weird that I asked you out on Valentine’s Day,” Zack said. “It’s only our second date, so…”
“It’s not weird at all. It’s nice to have Valentine’s Day plans for once.” I winced. “Wow. I hope that didn’t make me sound like a total loser.”
Zack’s eyes twinkled. “I don’t think you could be a loser if you tried.”
