Desolation // l.p.

Chapter XXXII

I grab my coffee from the barista as he hands it over with a smile. His warm expression is welcoming and I automatically understand why Starbucks hired him. I take a sip from the cup, the French Vanilla cappuccino instantly stops the shivers caused by the dreary day outside. It may be the middle of July, but the rain outside mixed with the wind is enough to make it feel like autumn.

I leave the coffee shop and wait to cross the street to Ryan & Dunning. The rainfall isn't as heavy as it had been when I first left home, it's steadied to a light drizzle now, nothing too unbearable to walk across the street without an umbrella. When the crosswalk light changes, I walk amongst the crowd. A man with his hood up and headphones in is to my right, a business woman talking on her cellphone to my left. One thing I have always loved abut this city is that someone always has to be somewhere and everyone is always on the move.

I pull on the glass door to Ryan & Dunning, greeted by the woman at the front desk who greets me every morning. I have been here for a month and I'm still not positive on her name. I think it may be Rebekah or something like that. I know it's starts with an 'R'. I go straight to my office, avoiding Ashley and Alex the same.

Alex, this morning was gone by the time I woke up at six o'clock. After lying awake for hours I finally fell asleep around three, only to have to wake up three hours later to an empty bed and having to get up for work. I'm not sure why he didn't wake me, I wouldn't have minded if he did. I'm just assuming that he went home for some clothes and a shower so that he could get ready for work himself.

I look at the stack of manuscripts sitting on my desk, a long day of reading is ahead of me and I am grateful for it. It's a good distraction to get away from the mess that my new job is bound to become with this merge that is going on. I set down at my desk and pick up the first one, looking at the title. "Two Days Longer" is the title and the description talks about a woman who is kidnapped and the experiences that she undergoes.

I manage to get through two chapters of it when someone knocks at my door. I am hesitant to put it down though, so far it is phenomenal. "Come in." I murmur as I mentally mark where I'm leaving off. Ashley's head pops in my door and she gives me a wary smile. Her makeup is smudge under her eyes and she has dark circles around her eyes. I find myself wondering what she did after  left the restaurant last night.

"Hey, Mr. Ryan wants to see you in his office. He says it's important." her energy seems low, it almost seems like I am not talking to the same woman who I've become friends with over this past month.

"Okay." I nod, I want to ask her what's wrong, but I'm hesitant as she looks like she doesn't want to talk about much of anything.

"Now." she adds when I don't move to get up and I nod again, standing this time and tossing the manuscript I was just reading carelessly onto my desk. It's infatuating plot forgotten momentarily from my mind.

She doesn't say anything as I walk behind her towards Mr. Ryan's office. Her heels click on the floor, her walk isn't as fabulous as it usually is. Her feet seem to almost b e dragging and she keeps rolling her ankle. It's unusual because she is one of the most talented women that I know who can walk in heels so easily. "Just go right in." She comments as she takes a seat at her desk, her head falls into her hands and I want to console her but I know if Mr. Ryan is expecting me than I shouldn't waste anymore time.

I walk past her, knocking on Mr. Ryan's door before entering. He is in the middle of a conversation when I enter. To my dismay it is Mr. Payne sitting in the chair across from Mr. Ryan, the two of them talking about Mr. Payne's office that will be available for him during the merge.

"Ms. Fletcher, good morning." Mr. Ryan greets me ecstatically. Liam turns around in his chair but I avoid looking at him, expecting that Mr. Ryan called me in here for a task, and not just to say hello.