Page 127 of Love to Loathe Him

I don’t know what to do.

I have that important meeting today. The one where Sir Whitmore and his team are coming into the office to negotiate. The one Liam’s been harping on about for weeks, the one he’ll kill me if I miss.

Liam’s not going to understand. Not over a cat.

I’m halfway to the underground when I realize I just can’t do it. I can’t go into the office and pretend everything’s fine. I can’t go into work knowing Winnie is missing.

I pull out my phone and shoot off an email, my heart racing as I hit send.

Something has come up, I won’t be able to come into the office today. Apologies for the short notice.

I call the NSPCA, the local vets, anyone who might be able to help.

But nothing.

Liam

I glare down at Gemma’s email. Is this a joke?

“Ollie, out. Now,” I bark.

“Yes, boss,” he mutters, scurrying out like a scolded puppy.

I slam my office door shut, the sound echoing my mounting frustration. What the fuck is Gemma playing at? This meeting is fucking crucial.

She’s meant to be presenting on Whitmore’s post-acquisition HR concerns. I’ve got a team of ten from TLS coming in, including the old man himself, and Gemma decides to go AWOL? Unacceptable.

I dial her number, each unanswered ring cranking my jaw tighter. Just as I’m about to hurl my phone back on the desk, Rosie knocks.

“Sir, shall I escort them to the boardroom?”

“Yes,” I growl, barely containing my rage. “Tell them I’ll be there in a minute.”

I try Gemma again, and this time she picks up. “What the hell is going on?”

“I’m so sorry. Winnie’s missing,” she stammers.

“What? Since when?” I grit out.

“Last night.”

I feel my blood pressure skyrocket. “Gemma, cats leave home for days. You’re blowing off this important meeting because your cat decided to take a stroll? It hasn’t even been twelve hours.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just worried.”

“Think about this rationally. The cat’s not even away a day. This is beyond unprofessional,” I seethe, my voice low. “I need you at this meeting. You are presenting, goddammit. Do you understand the magnitude of what’s at stake here?”

“I know. I know it’s unprofessional. And I’m sorry,” she says, her voice small.

“Gemma, I have ten people from TLS in there waiting for you to dazzle them. Get your ass to this office right now.”

I hang up before she can respond, my patience completely obliterated.

My staff don’t let me down last minute. Not for something like this. Not ever. That’s not how this works.

I went out on a limb here. I made her vital to this meeting because I see her value. This is the meeting about people, and she is meant to be driving it. I stuck my neck out to put her inthat position because she’s not technically meant to be in such a strategic role. And now she’s not bothering to show up.

This is my issue. She’s unable to control her feelings to see the bigger picture. Same way when she’s pushing back on the charities. Throwing out a huge meeting because her cat has been missing for twelve hours? Are you fucking kidding me?