As I enter the kitchen, a thin ray of sunlight shines off a familiar brass statue that is now sitting on the island. Something I swear wasn't there when I came home last night.
Though, to be fair, I don't remember coming home.
But obviously I did, since I woke up in my bed. And the clothes I had picked out for the event, that had been carefully stored in my closet for weeks, were now strewn about the living room. So the question is, what happened yesterday? When did I get home? And how?
Honestly, I don't know.
Looking at my phone, ignoring the statue that's somehow haunting me, I calculate how much time I have before my ride comes to pick me up.
Ah, shit!Somehow I must have lost track of time, because I only have fifteen minutes before the warning alarm goes off.
*Guess it's peanut butter toast for breakfast.*
Picking up my purse, I toss in my phone as I walk into the kitchen. Two slices of bread in the toaster, I chug a quick glass of juice.
My alarm finally goes off as I finish spreading the peanut butter on the toasted bread. Shoving it into my mouth, I stop by the island, glaring at Sentinel.Better not forget this...
No, leaving it behind is not an option, no matter how much it tries to stay here.
Chapter 12
Kaitlyn
The weight inside my purse settles against my hip as I sling the strap over my shoulder. A comforting feeling, one that means the statue should still be inside. Especially since I had held my purse in a death grip the entire way here. With the way my luck's going, the zipper would have somehow come loose and the statue would have fallen out along the way to the office.
Warm humid air heats along my skin as the lobby's glass doors close behind me. A phone rings from the unattended reception desk.She's probably running late again.
I roll my eyes as I walk past, ignoring it as the call goes to voice mail.
Further into the office a few coworkers look my way as I walk past row after row of cubicles, their hushed whispers stopping whenever I get close. I do my best to ignore them but I can't help but feel a sense of unease. Though, it doesn't take long to realize what has everyone's interest.
Theclick click clickof keys being pressed on a keyboard greets me as I enter the antechamber, right outside Josh's office.A sound that shouldn't be possible, except it was, since someone was sitting at my desk.
"Janine?"
Josh scowls at me, his arms crossed over his chest, as he exits his office. "Well, do you have it?"
"Of course..." I unzip my purse, walking over to my desk. My hand reaching in, wrapping around Sentinel.
He nods, refusing to come further into the room, "Good. Hand it to Janine and then grab your things."
Confused, I set the statue down. "Grab my things? What do you mean?"
Janine watches us silently, a grin spreading across her face.
Josh scoffs, rolling his eyes as he answers, "You were seen stealing company property. I have no other choice but to let you go."
"Let me go..." I don't know why I keep repeating what he says like some sort of parrot. And it's not like he's speaking a foreign language.
Of course, he can't help but continue talking, now that he has an audience, "Honestly, I wanted to have you arrested as soon as you entered the building, but Andre'ah talked me out of it." He sighed, as if not calling them had been such a great loss to his pride.
"Since this is your first offense, because of our history together, and you did return the statue to me, I'm going to forgive you," he continues, his eyes devoid of any true emotion, "We'll keep this between us. My father doesn't need to know the details, just that you wanted to leave so you can start fresh somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?" He's got to be kidding. "But I have nowhere to go."
Josh just shrugs his shoulders, "Not my problem. Just make sure you're moved out of the apartment by next week so it can be cleaned and ready for Janine to move in."
"How can you do this?" I whisper, my throat tight, tears threatening to fall, "You had me give up everything to be here."