Chapter 11
April
The quiet of my office felt almost foreign after weeks of constant activity. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I stared at the empty chairs across from my desk - no detectives hovering, no urgent discussions, just the gentle hum of a normal workday. The normalcy felt wrong somehow, like putting on clothes that didn’t quite fit anymore. I wasn’t sure if the relief or anxiety was winning.
My phone buzzed, the familiar notification making my heart jump before I even read it. A text from Stewart: Meeting running long. Miss your face.
A smile tugged at my lips even as my eyes drifted to the chat window where Rory’s status remained stubbornly offline. No messages since his terse “Following lead” text at dawn. The tight feeling in my chest that had become all too familiar these past weeks intensified as I clicked the window closed. Once, he would have sent dozens of messages by now, little check-ins throughout the day that said I’m thinking of you without words.
A knock at my door preceded Georgia slipping in from her adjacent office, an amused smirk playing at her lips. “You’ll never believe what just happened in the coffee room.”
“Let me guess - Cassandra trying to get Graham’s attention again?” The familiar banter was a welcome distraction from my thoughts.
“Even better.” Georgia settled into one of my visitor chairs, her presence bringing warmth to the room that had felt too empty moments before. “She’s rearranged her entire tiny office to have a clear view up the stairs to the mezzanine. Claims she needs to ‘maintain visual contact with senior management for optimal workflow efficiency’.”
I bit back a laugh, grateful for the moment of lightness. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Oh, it gets better. She just cornered me to explain how her ‘executive support experience’ makes her the perfect candidate for advancement.” Georgia rolled her eyes in that perfect way she had, the gesture carrying years of accumulated office wisdom. “Two weeks as an assistant to the assistant, and she’s already gunning for my job.”
“How ever will you survive the competition?” I teased, letting myself be drawn into the familiar rhythm of office gossip. Anything to keep my mind off that empty chat window.
“I know, I’m terrified,” Georgia deadpanned, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Fifteen years with Graham versus her… what was it? Three weeks of temp work at that startup?” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “But you should have seen her face when Graham came in this morning.”
“Oh? Do tell.” I found myself leaning in despite myself, hungry for any distraction from my own thoughts.
“Full power suit, fresh makeup, practiced hair flip…and she practically sprinted from her closet-office when she heard his voice speaking to Walter at the base of the stairs. But Graham walked right past her mid-sentence because he spotted Scarlett getting off the elevator.” Georgia’s eyes danced with mischief. “I thought she was about to spontaneously combust.”
A genuine laugh escaped me, the first light moment in what felt like forever as Georgia and I spent a few moments speculating on what Cassandra’s next move might be. The warmth of our shared amusement almost made me forget the cold weight in my chest where Rory’s absence lived.
“We should make an office pool on how long she lasts,” Georgia said, giggling.
I managed a small smirk but didn’t respond. Graham buzzed for Georgia, and she excused herself, hurrying into her office. The moment of warmth faded with her departure, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.
Through the connecting door to Scarlett’s office, I could hear her quietly confident voice on a conference call. That confidence that had only recently returned, only to be shattered again with Jenny’s kidnapping. I admired how she kept going, kept fighting. Maybe I could learn something from that.
The peaceful moment shattered as Cassandra’s voice carried up from below, nearly shrieking something about urgent reports that absolutely couldn’t wait. Georgia peeked into my office saying, “Here we go. Round two.”
We exchanged knowing looks as the click of heels started up the stairs. The familiar office drama felt almost comforting in its predictability, unlike the uncertainty waiting in my phone’s silent messages.
“I should probably go rescue Graham,” Georgia sighed, standing. “Walter’s tied up in meetings all morning so he can’t run interference this time.”
“My money’s on Scarlett appearing in the hallway before Cassandra makes it to his office,” I wagered, trying to keep my voice light.
“No bet,” Georgia laughed. “Though I almost feel bad for her. Almost.”
As Georgia headed back to her office to intercept Cassandra, my phone buzzed again. Christian this time: Taking Stewart to lunch after his meeting. Miss you. My smile felt more brittle this time, Rory’s continued silence a weight that seemed to press against my lungs. Why couldn’t he spare even a moment to send a simple message like the others did?
The sound of Cassandra’s voice rose again from the stairwell, followed by Scarlett’s precise tones asking about some urgent filing that needed immediate attention downstairs. I pressed my lips together, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter as Cassandra’s heels reluctantly clicked back down to the main floor.
Just another normal day at the office. Almost.
The connecting door to Scarlett’s office opened, and I snapped to attention, fingers already poised over my keyboard. Scarlett paused in the doorway, head tilted to the side, as she studied my rigid posture with puzzled amusement. The concern in her eyes made me want to look away.
“I just wanted to say good morning and ask you to meet me in my office in a few minutes to go over some things for the day.”
My shoulders relaxed slightly, grateful for the distraction of actual work. I managed a weak smile. “Of course, Ms. Swanson. Would you like me to bring the quarterly reports?”
Scarlett’s lips twitched as she fought back a laugh at my formality. Her eyes flicked briefly to the security cameras mounted in the corner before she shook her head. “Just you will be fine.” She glanced down the hallway toward Graham’s office. “I need to meet with Graham for a quick moment first. Then I was thinking, coffee?” She raised an eyebrow at me. “Want one?”
“I can grab those while you meet with Graham,” I offered, already reaching for my tablet, eager for something to do with my hands. “Then I’ll meet you in your office?”
“Perfect.” Scarlett’s expression softened for a moment, showing a glimpse of the friend behind the boss before her professional mask slipped back into place. She turned toward Graham’s office, her heels clicking purposefully on the floor.
I watched her go, fighting back a grin as I imagined Cassandra’s reaction must be downstairs. There was something almost magical about Scarlett and Graham together—both of them looking like they’d stepped out of a magazine cover, but more than that, they had this energy that crackled between them. Power couple didn’t begin to cover it. Even before I knew about their relationship, I’d thought they looked like something out of a fairy tale, all classic lines and perfect symmetry.
The kind of certainty they had in each other made my chest ache. Once, I’d felt that same certainty with my guys. Now… I pushed the thought away as I gathered my tablet and headed downstairs for the coffee.
Sure enough, Cassandra was hovering near her office door, practically vibrating with frustrated energy as she watched Scarlett disappear into Graham’s office above. A deliciously wicked thought crossed my mind. I paused by her door, channeling every ounce of executive assistant authority I’d learned from Georgia.
“Oh, Cassandra?” I lifted one perfectly manicured eyebrow. “We need all the marketing reports from 2019 through 2021 reorganized by quarter, color-coded, and re-filed. Today, if possible.” I paused for effect. “The old filing system simply isn’t… optimal for workflow efficiency.”
Cassandra’s face fell as her own buzzwords were turned against her. “But that’s thousands of…”
“Perfect, thank you.” I sailed past toward the coffee room, allowing myself a small smirk. The petty victory felt good, even if it was fleeting.
When I returned to the mezzanine with two perfectly prepared coffees, Georgia was waiting at the top of the stairs, eyes dancing with barely suppressed mirth.
“Do I want to know what you said to make our ambitious little friend look like someone just canceled Christmas?”
I winked as I passed, unable to contain a soft giggle. Sometimes the small victories were the sweetest.
“I was desperate,” I confessed, turning back to Georgia. “That cologne of hers was suffocating, and if I had to watch one more pass by my office today…” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “I have her reorganizing, refiling and color coding some reports.”
Georgia’s laugh was warm and knowing. “Graham might just buy you lunch for the save. Between us…” She glanced around before lowering her voice, “He doesn’t see the need for her now that everyone’s back. The constant chasing is getting on his nerves. Word is she might not make it to the end of the week.”
“Oh?” I balanced the coffee cups carefully.
“Mmhmm. He’s thinking about sending her upstairs to help,” Georgia made air quotes with her fingers, “the CEO.”
We both dissolved into quiet laughter, sharing the kind of moment that made office politics bearable. I shook my head, still grinning. “I should get these coffees to Scarlett before they cool. She wanted to meet about the day’s schedule.”
I balanced the coffee cups as I pushed open Scarlett’s office door with my hip. I caught sight of her before she noticed me - standing by her desk, fingers fumbling with her usually pristine blonde hair that had somehow escaped its neat twist. A few telltale strands curled around her flushed face.
My giggle made her spin around, looking endearingly guilty as she hastily smoothed her hair back into place. “I brought coffee,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite my amusement.
“My hero,” Scarlett muttered, giving up on the twist and settling for a sleek ponytail instead. She gestured toward the sofa rather than the more formal chairs by her desk. “Come sit with me for a minute.”
Once we were settled with our coffee, Scarlett’s professional demeanor softened. “Graham’s had the cameras disconnected in both our offices,” she said, nodding toward the ceiling. “Claimed intellectual property concerns because of our high-profile clients.” A small smile played at her lips. “So we can actually talk freely in here.”
I felt some of my carefully maintained composure start to crack at those words. At the chance to just… talk. All the worry and fear I’d been holding back threatened to spill over.
“Which is good,” Scarlett continued, her voice gentler now, “because this meeting isn’t about work. It’s about you.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “I can see something’s bothering you. Are you okay?”
The simple question, asked with such genuine concern, was like a key turning in a lock. My eyes filled with tears as weeks of worry and confusion spilled over.
“It’s Rory,” I whispered, my voice catching on his name. “He’s so distant lately. The others keep saying I’m imagining things, that he’s just busy with the case, but…” I wiped at my eyes, frustrated by the tears that wouldn’t stop. “Christian and Stewart, they still send sweet texts, check in, make time. But Rory… it’s like he’s pulling away and I don’t understand why.”
Scarlett listened, her hand steady on mine, letting me work through the words tangled with emotion.
“And then there’s Reeves,” Scarlett said carefully, watching my reaction.
My face shifted from distress to irritation. “God, don’t even get me started. He’s constantly hovering, finding excuses to be near my desk when he comes here, touching my shoulder…” I shuddered slightly, remembering his unwanted touches. “It’s like he’s trying to… I don’t know, work his way in somehow?”
“Actually,” Scarlett leaned back, cradling her coffee cup, “the guys and I were talking about that last night. About whether Reeves might be trying to… well, become part of your relationship? We weren’t sure how that would even work.”
I stared at her for a moment before letting out a startled laugh that was half sob. “That’s not… that’s not how this works. At all.” I shook my head, gathering my thoughts. “We’re not some kind of… collection that just adds pieces when they look interesting. We’re a family. Like any committed relationship, just with more than two people.”
My voice strengthened as I continued, drawing on the certainty I still felt about this, at least. “Christian, Stewart, Rory, and I - we built this together. With trust and time and love. It’s not about just picking up strays to join us.” I wiped away the last of my tears, sitting straighter. “When people find out we’re poly, they sometimes think it means we’re just… Available. Open to anyone. But we’re as committed as any married couple. Just… there are more of us.”
Scarlett nodded thoughtfully. “Like me and my guys.”
“Exactly.” I managed a small smile. “It’s about family, not a revolving door.”
“What if…” Scarlett hesitated, picking her words carefully. “One of them wants to…” She grimaced, clearly struggling with how to phrase it. “Ugh… you know, have you thought about Rory’s distance? Do you think he’s thinking about…” She couldn’t quite finish the sentence.
The color drained from my face. My coffee cup clattered against the table as my hands began to shake. “Leaving?” The word came out as barely a whisper, giving voice to my deepest fear. “That’s… that’s what I keep…” The tears started again, but these were different - raw, primal. “That’s what I’m terrified of.”
I curled into myself, arms wrapping around my middle as if trying to hold myself together. “We’re not… we’re not just four people who happen to be together. We’re like… like a single unit. Each of us is a vital part of the whole. If Rory left…” A sob caught in my throat. “It would shatter everything. The whole structure would collapse and I don’t know if we could…”
I couldn’t continue, the tears overtaking me completely. Scarlett wrapped an arm around my shoulders, letting me cry out weeks of fear and uncertainty.
“Have you considered,” Scarlett said softly after my sobs quieted, “that it might be about the case? About Jenny?” She squeezed my shoulders gently. “Maybe he’s just taking it all really hard. You know how personally the guys take cases involving kids.”
I wiped my eyes, considering this. “Maybe. Everyone’s been affected by Jenny’s kidnapping, but…” I twisted my hands in my lap. “Christian and Stewart are just as involved, working just as hard. But they still make time, still stay connected. Rory’s the only one who’s completely pulled away.”
I stood, moving to the window. Below, I could see people going about their normal workday, unaware of the darkness lurking at the edges of their world. “What if…” I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. “What if it’s not just about the case? He’s the only one being distant, the only one who seems… different.”
The thought that had been haunting me for days finally surfaced: what if there was more to Rory’s distance than just work? What if it meant something worse? The cold weight in my chest seemed to grow heavier as I stared out at the city below, wondering if somewhere out there, the man I loved was slipping away from us, and I didn’t know how to stop it.