Chapter 51
Cassandra glanced back at Ryan, still trying to figure out what was going on in his head. But now that her anger had cooled, reason crept back in. He was her boss, after all.
Was her attitude just now a little too harsh? What if he suddenly decided to fire her on a whim? She figured she had to swallow her pride and play it safe, since she was still working here.
“Mr. Scott, I was a bit blunt just now. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just really don’t want to work overtime. It’s just one of those adult meltdown moments, you know? Hope you understand.”
Ryan let out a dry laugh. “Cassandra, you really don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
Ryan leaned back with his hands on the bed, tilting his head lazily as he looked at her. “Never mind. If you don’t remember, forget it. Go on.”
Cassandra walked out, baffled. While waiting for the elevator, she bumped into Janice coming
out.
Janice’s face lit up. “Hey, Cassandra! Are you here to see Ryan?”
“Technically, he called me up.”
Janice grinned. “Say no more! Got it! You two take your time. I’m heading down to the bar for a bit. There’s no rush. Take all the time you need!‘
Janice shot off like a whirlwind, catching the elevator and vanishing in a flash.
Cassandra watched the elevator numbers slowly tick down in disbelief. She was on the 64th floor. Just going down to the lobby would take nearly three minutes. And if anyone else got on or off, the wait would drag out even more.
“Cassandra,” Ryan called out to her again.
Cassandra rolled her eyes, ready to force a polite smile on her face for her boss–slash–VIP client. But before she could, Ryan grabbed her wrist. He pulled her right back into the room.
She was shocked. “What are you doing?”
She watched in alarm as the bedroom door got closer and closer, panic rising in her chest.” Ryan, have you lost your mind? Your girlfriend was just here. She’s downstairs at the bar. I can go get her for you…
“Snowball’s gone.”
Cassandra froze.
Chap/51
Snowball was her old Westie. It was already 15 years old, and its health had been failing for a while. It was kept alive only by the constant IV drips at the animal hospital.
“How did it happen so suddenly?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m taking you back to Hannover now.”
“The elevator is outside…”
“There’s a private one in my room. It’s faster.”
They went straight down, got in his car, and headed to the airport. By the time they were sitting on the plane, it had been less than 40 minutes since they left the hotel. A flight from Stokelle to Hannover took about two hours.
It was a late–night red–eye, and the cabin was chilly. Ryan asked the flight attendant for a blanket and wrapped it snugly around Cassandra.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already called friends in Hannover. We’ll go straight to the animal hospital to check on Snowball as soon as we land.”
Cassandra nodded. She had always known that with Snowball’s age and health, this day would come sooner or later. But still, it all felt so sudden.
Just today, she had been telling Daisy that once Snowball got a bit better, she’d head back to Hannover and bring it over to Stokelle to care for it. Daisy had even joked about letting Snowball cameo in her next film.
How did it happen so suddenly?
She felt gentle fingers running through her hair, warm and careful. “Do you want some water?
Cassandra shook her head.
“Then try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we land,” Ryan said.