Page 114 of At His Beck & Call

I run my hands through my hair as I think about what she was wearing last night. Definitely not something you should be tromping through the snow in.

I hear a crack and look down at my phone to find a splintered white line skittering outward from its edge, the screen shattered from my grip.

“Fuck!”

I spin on my heel, stalking into my room to get dressed. My guilt is morphing into anger now.

How dare she leave without telling me? How dare she walk out without talking to me?

My bad mood continues all the way to the office, and it isn’t improved by the shitty traffic. The snow looks like it’s about three feet high and there are several crashes snarling up the intersections all the way to the building.

As I drive, I dictate a quick text to my mom to make sure she’s alright and receive a picture in reply. It’s just her feet surrounded by cats in front of a warm fire. Some of the tension eases from my shoulders, but there’s still no word from Lissa.

Once I’ve parked my car in the lot beneath the office and made my slow ascent in the elevator up to my floor, I’m at a breaking point.

I haven’t felt this furious since I saw James threatening Lissa in the hospital. I’m not in control of myself, and I don’t like being unable to deal with my emotions.

Walking briskly down the hallway, I head to my office, knowing that Adelaide likely won’t be here yet. And I hope to god Lissa came straight here when she dropped Henry off.

But both their desks are empty.

I walk through my office door, ready to kick over my chair, but stop in my tracks as I find Thomas Burton inside waiting forme. He’s bent over my desk writing something, and I stand in the doorway waiting for him to see me.

I look quickly around, checking that I haven’t left anything incriminating for him to find, but as he notices me, a wide smile spreads over his face.

“Ah, Oliver, I’m sorry to barge in so early. I have an exec meeting in a few minutes, and I wanted to leave you a note to call me. Felt more personal than an email.”

“Morning, Tom,” I say, biting back the anger as best I can. “What can I do for you?”

“I just stopped by to let you know how impressed Carmen is with your work.”

I glance up at him, frowning. Using ‘Carmen’ is odd; he wouldn’t usually address a client by their first name.

“Yes,” I say. “It’s better than we could have hoped for. Richard Reynolds has failed to disclose at least three residential holdings in different states that he uses to house his mistresses. She’ll take him for everything he’s got.“

I walk around my desk, putting a barrier between us as I sit down in my chair.

“It was actually one of my executive assistants who found the link,” I add, my heart clenching. “Kudos to Noah Finnigan, of course, he’s done the lion’s share of the work. But Lissa Davenport was the one who discovered the first apartment.”

“Huh… Good little EA you’ve got there,” Tom mutters condescendingly, and I chew the inside of my cheek to stop myself from giving a sharp retort.

Careful Oliver. Don’t piss off the man who will vote you in as the next EP.

“Either way, it’s excellent news,” Tom continues. “Good work.”

“Has there been any news on when the partnership vote will be scheduled?” I ask quickly, but he’s already lost interest, hiseyes wandering vaguely around my office. He clearly has more important places to be.

“It’s between you and Warren Sutcliffe,” he murmurs. “I assume you’re aware of that?”

“I am. But I’m also aware I’ve brought in a lot more revenue for the firm than Sutcliffe has. And several new high-profile clients.”

“True,” he says with a tight smile. “You’ve done good work lately, Oliver. Keep it up. But it’s not just me you have to impress.”

There’s a knock on the door, and my heart leaps into my throat at the possibility that it’s Lissa, but instead, Noah pokes his head in.

“Oh!” he says with a look of surprise. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were in a meeting.”

“I was just leaving, come on in, Finnigan,” Tom says, winking at me and sauntering towards him. “Oliver tells me you’ve been working hard on the Reynolds case. Good job.”