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I blinked at him. As much as I had daydreamed about going out and showing him off as my boyfriend, I had already resigned myself to our covert meetups being the closest he could offer me for the foreseeable future. “But how? People would see us.”
“So we go out of town. Far away enough we won’t run into anyone who could recognise us.”
“Like where?”
“Somewhere quaint, quiet… We could have dinner, stay at a bed-and-breakfast, make love all night, sleep in all morning.”
“Sounds perfect. When are we going?”
“Soon. As soon as possible.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being serious, or if this was just a flight of fancy, but I let myself believe it could be a reality.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Ipoured the dregs of tea from the teapot into my cup. Across from me in the cafeteria, Neil sipped from his espresso mug with economical movements. To my right, Petra nibbled her almond croissant. I swept stray crumbs off the table into a serviette, then adjusted my legs under the table, accidentally knocking my knee against Neil’s. His stern expression didn’t change, but I felt him tense at the contact. I suppressed a smile.
Neil had suggested regrouping over morning refreshments to discuss work matters that arose during his absence. After the recap, he placed his cup down on his saucer with a decisive clunk. “I think that about catches me up on what I missed over the past week. Unless there’s anything else?”
He raised his eyebrows at Petra and me. I shook my head, but Petra jolted upright. “Oh! Um, well…” She fiddled with her scrunched-up serviette. “I’m not sure if this matters, but we did get an odd call asking for you on Friday.”
Odd call? She hadn’t told me anything about this.
Neil leaned forward. “Go on.”
“So this man—Daniel Ling, I think he said his name was—rang asking to speak with you. Well, I told him you were away on personal business. Then he started asking all these questions about where you’d gone and why.” Petra’s voice climbed in pitch as she spoke faster. “I tried not to give him any details, but he was very persuasive. He said he was your boss.”
Neil massaged his temples. “I see.”
Petra’s eyes rounded. “Sorry, was that wrong? Should I have refused to talk to him?”
“Don’t worry. Daniel Ling is the president of Zelthia Group. Thank you for telling me he called.”
Petra nodded, placated.
Neil sipped the rest of his coffee in thoughtful silence, a vein on his forehead throbbing.
“I’m just going to nip to the restroom,” Petra said, getting to her feet. “Back in a sec.”
I watched her depart, then angled myself towards Neil. “So, I’m assuming it’s a problem that Daniel was sniffing around for information on your whereabouts?”
Neil pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s certainly not ideal.”
“I wonder what Petra told him.”
“I dare say not much. She can’t tell what she doesn’t know.”
As Petra returned, Neil rose. “We’d best get back. Lots of work piled up over the week, I’m sure.”
Murmuring our agreement, Petra and I gathered our belongings.
We arrived on the twentieth floor to the sight of a massive bouquet dominating James’s desk. Blue hydrangeas, white roses, and baby’s breath burst from blue wrapping paper with a teddy bear attached, and a metallic blue helium balloon proclaiming “It’s a Boy!” in silver cursive lettering.
I wondered who on earth that was for. Then I noticed Neil’s reaction. He turned rigid, the colour draining from his face. My stomach dropped like I’d missed a step. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Neil shouldered past me. “What is that?” he asked James, who was hidden behind the bouquet.
James beamed. “They just got delivered for you, Mr. Kingston. Aren’t they lovely? I didn’t realise you’re a new dad. Congratulations!”
