It’s still dark and the streets are eerily quiet. I’ve always found that the time between four and five thirty in the morning to be the most desolate hours outside. Life seems to literally stop between these ninety minutes. My feet carry me mile by mile down the Chicago Lakefront path. I run for miles, feeling my lungs sting with the cool Lake Michigan air. At this hour, I only pass a few other runners.
Turning around after five miles, I push myself harder on the way back. While I feel exhaustion begin to set in, the adrenaline from running keeps me moving, and I make it back to the house at about five forty-five. That clocks me at just over a seven-minute mile. While I should be happy about these running times, all I can think about is Saige. I need to give her space while still letting her know that I have no intention of going anywhere.
I shower and head into the office, finding it fairly quiet at seven o’clock in the morning. I catch up on the work I put off yesterday, and I make a few client calls to some of our past and prospective clients in the United Kingdom. By the time my calls are done, the office is abuzz with activity and I walk the floor, anxious to see Saige.
My stomach drops when I find her desk empty, but I glance at my watch to see that it’s eight fifteen. She’s out getting her coffee with Rowan. Suddenly, my stomach calms, and a small smile tugs at my lips.
On my way back to my office, Joyce shoots me a look of annoyance.
“Yes, Joyce?” I wait for her to respond.
Joyce has worked for me for more than ten years. I can read her moods like a book, and she’s in a doozy of one this morning. I shove my hands into the front pockets of my suit pants and wait for her to dish out her disappointment in me. I’m curious what it is today. Yesterday, it was that I needed a haircut. The day before, it was that I hadn’t returned my mother’s calls. Last week, it was that I needed to start dating. If she weren’t such a damn good administrative assistant, I’d fire her for being too much like a mother instead of an employee.
“I need ten minutes to meet with you regarding the client cocktail party.”
“Throw some time on my calendar.”
Her voice grows agitated. “No. I’ve tried that. You’re too busy. I need you this morning. Now! I need to finalize details, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
I chuckle. She’s feisty, which is why I like her. She gets shit done, which is why I keep her employed. “Fine. Let’s do it.” I nod toward my office. After I take a seat at my conference table, Joyce follows me in with her notebook and folder. We very quickly decide on the invitation, the catering menu, and the open bar. I trust her to make these decisions on her own, but she’s more comfortable believing that I’ve made the decisions, so I let her tell me what she thinks, and I agree with her. It’s how we work.
Fifteen minutes later, she smiles, satisfied with my answers, and proceeds to leave. As she reaches my office door, she quickly turns around. “Oh, Mr. Hamilton, I forgot to tell you. Mr. Perez would like you to call him; something about his meeting with Ms. Phillips last week.” She raises her eyebrows and offers me a concerned look before exiting and closing my office door behind her.
I stifle a groan. Mr. Perez is the neediest of all our clients, which is why I assigned Saige to his account. His desires and the level of attention he needs are beyond what I would call normal, and Saige is the only one I know who would make him happy. Annoyed, I make a note to call him later.
I click on the company instant messaging system to send Saige a message to come and see me. But when I see her profile, I find that she is still offline. Frowning, I glance at the clock on my screen. It’s after ten in the morning. She’s always online immediately after she returns with her coffee. I dial her extension from my desk and there’s no answer. Pulling my cellphone from my suit pocket, I dial her mobile, waiting impatiently while the call rings, but again no answer.
“Dammit,” I hiss under my breath. I pound out a quick text message asking her to call me as soon as she can. Without a second thought, I grab my car keys and shut down my computer.
“Joyce! Please clear my calendar this afternoon. I have to take care of some unexpected business, and I’ll be out of the office.”
“Yes, sir,” she answers calmly, clicking away at her computer. “Is everything okay with your mother?” She looks over the rim of her glasses curiously. She’s knows damn well this is about Saige.
Shit. My mother. I still haven’t returned her call from last week, and she’s left me multiple voice messages. I nod once. “Yes. Everything is fine with my mother. This is work related.” I shoot her a stiff smile and leave quickly, anxious to get to Saige’s condo.