Through the Floorboards

9

It had been a whole two days of nothing from Travis—no text back or visit, nothing to show any indication he had seen the article or interview. I had told Lilliane that I wasn't going to bring it up if he wasn't going to; if he really was hurt or had seen it, he would have confronted me. I know what he's like.

She, on the other hand, was very much against this and wanted me to make the first move and apologise, but what he doesn't know for now won't hurt him.

This particular morning, there was something about the birds chirping, my coffee being correct, and just the atmosphere that made me decide to take public transport to work instead of my car. I decided to take a nice stroll from the apartment to the bus stop and then a walk from the destination bus stop to my work building. I just had some prep in my step.

As I tapped my ID card onto the barrister, I got a text. I looked down at my phone as I tapped the monitor to usher a lift to my floor.

Bossman: My office when you get in.

I frowned down at my phone, a little confused as to why he needed to see me. It was either to gloat about the article about Travis, as he seemed pretty happy the day after the article was released, completely opposite to my reaction.

I didn't think he needed to speak to me afterwards. I mean, I was concentrating on the article for the main trial; I hadn't got any new news for him to be updated on.

Yesterday was the first day Danielle was back on the stand. She was being grilled more about her past relationships, and it was the first day they started talking about her relationship with her dad and how that had affected her relationship with Jonathan.

Due to my article, Travis's witness testimony and him taking the stands were pushed forward to today, which is why I was also in early, but it could also be why I was so chirpy. I was going to see Travis again after two days of nothing.

As I made my way through the office and to my seat, I saw that my boss's door was closed, which meant someone was in there with him. I placed my bag and coat on my chair and stepped to the side so I could see who was in there with him, but I got nothing.

As I made my way towards his office, his door swung open, and there exited a very tall and booted Travis.

"Travis?" My voice cracked as I was a little confused as to why he was here talking to my boss so early in the morning before taking the stand.

I thought I was going to get a reply, but he looked at me with a dull look, and while I carried on walking past him slowly, his presence was replaced by that of my boss, crossed-armed and frowning.

"Spencer, step in, please," he said as I nodded, stepping in and taking a seat as he closed the door, made his way to his chair, and sat down.

"What's up, boss?" I said with a little chirp in my voice as he shook his head and rubbed his eyes as he took a deep breath.

"I don't know how I am going to be able to say this; you are one of my best journalists and writers. Over the years, you have produced some of the best articles, even if they were repetitive and journalistically boring." He took a deep breath and sighed even heavier.

"I am so lost; what's going on?" I said this as he shook his head.

"I have to drop you from this case; I will be giving the remainder of this case to someone else as it has come to my attention that you are emotionally and romantically connected to the family and would then be giving a biassed article," he explained as I let out a chuckle.