Page 113 of To the Chase

No. No, Tore wouldn’t do that. Not over me not coming over.

Would he?

I thought of how terse his final text had been, but that was just Tore. He wasn’t exactly flowery with his words, but…

Had I miscalculated?

Hadhe really been so unhappy with me, he’d felt the need to deliver this swift blow to me and my income?

I almost gaslit myself out of that thought, but it wasn’t like this was the first time he’d bypassed me to make a decision about my work, mylife, without stopping to ask me what I wanted. Tore, the man I was starting totrust, had gone around me and hadn’t even had the decency to tell me himself.

I was blindsided. Gutted. Pissed off to high heavens.

I swiped at my cheeks angrily and yanked off my apron, tossing it onto the counter, so very done.

His delivery might have been shit, but it had gotten the job done. Message received, loud and clear.

Chapter Forty-two

Salvatore

Icheckedmywatchfor the third time, then pulled out my phone to confirm I hadn’t somehow misread the hour.

I hadn’t.

Frowning, I left the conference room, first checking the hallway, then walking to my office.Empty. As I’d expected.

I hurried back to the conference room. It was still just as empty.

Where the hell was Bea?

I’d last spoken to her only twelve hours ago, and she had explicitly mentioned we’d see each other this morning. If she’d intended to cancel, she would have told me.Surelyshe would have.

I pulled out my phone again, checking for a text. A missed call. Anything.

Nothing.

Me:Where are you, Beatrice? Are you okay?

I stared at the screen, waiting for her reply, but it never came. Standing here, doing nothing, wasn’t right. I felt like I was missing something. Something I should have seen but didn’t.

“Paul,” I called out, moving toward his desk.

Helooked up, his brows lifting. “I’ve got the slides prepared. Is there anything else you need me to do before the meeting?”

“Where’s Bea?”

His mouth opened then closed. He looked around his meticulously organized desk like she might be hiding behind a spreadsheet. Then his brows knit in confusion. “She’s not in the conference room?”

“If she were, I wouldn’t be at your desk asking you where she is,” I replied tightly.

He frowned. “I haven’t heard anything from her today. It’s strange she isn’t here. She’s always on time. Let me give her a call—”

“No.” I held up my hand. “No need. I’ll do that. Please let the team know I’ll be missing the meeting today. When it’s over, send me a report of what was discussed.”

He shot to his feet. “You’re missing the meeting?”

I didn’t answer. I was already striding toward the elevator.