Sharpies and sticky notes

In Which She Goes On A Witch Hunt

"What happened to your meeting? Where's Ryan?" Cassandra asked as she pulled me out of the near empty boardroom. He hadn't shown up to a meeting that was scheduled to start 30 minutes prior. The only people in the room were me and my team, and only two people on behalf of Ryan and his company. Strangely enough, one of the people from Silver Cartel Strategies was Ryan's own personal assistant.

 It had been four weeks since Ryan stopped showing up to our meetings. Six since the confrontation at my apartment. Even though so much time had passed, I still refused to let myself consider how he'd found out where I lived. Nor had I allowed myself the opportunity to consider how I felt about him after what he'd said. It would only confuse my feelings for Jackson, whom I'd warmed up to after a few dates.

"I don't know, Cass, but this is the third meeting with me he's missed. I can't do this. We're coming close to the launch date of their new websites and social media pages, but I have no idea whether or not I'm working in the right direction."

"He's been acting weird in recently, but he always showed up to meetings with me about the structure of their new offices. I always felt like I was late because he was in the boardroom every time I got there even though I always showed up 15 minutes early."

"I don't get it," I said, crossing my arms. "Does that mean it's only me he's avoiding? This meeting was supposed to start half an hour ago. One would assume that as the head of a company that's doing so well, he'd appreciate the value of time."

Before Cass could respond, Ryan's personal assistant Aiden peeked his head out of the office and said: "Miss Lancaster? Mr. Matthews sends his apologies. He won't be able to attend today's meeting."

"From his recent pattern of behavior, I gathered as much, Aiden. Thank you." I replied, trying not to cast my frustration onto Aiden. "Where is he?" I asked with a sigh. Although I was frustrated, I couldn't take it out on Aiden. It wasn't his fault Ryan was wasting time.

"I have no idea, Miss Lancaster." He said, a slight blush tinting his cheeks. That blush informed me that Aiden knew where Ryan was, but he wasn't willing to tell me.

"Where is Ryan?" I asked him a second time, failing to hide my annoyance.

"I don't know." He said, his head lowered.

"Aiden, I'm going to ask you one last time. Where is your boss?" I paused for a second before continuing. "Before you answer me, think hard about your answer. If you're about to lie to me again, get your people, and leave, because you obviously know where he is, and I will not stand here to be lied to and have my time wasted. You may be willing to play this game with Ryan, but I sure as hell am not about to play when I have work piling up onto my desk as we speak."

"Considering that your boss is the one who suggested we meet today, and specifically requested a three-hour long consultation, I think it is well within my rights to get an honest answer to the question of where he is."

He took a second before typing on his phone for a few seconds and then nervously waited. Presumably for a reply from his boss. When his phone chimed, he looked at it before sighing and mumbling an apology and turning away from me.

My quarrel wasn't with him, so I gathered my stuff from the boardroom and made my way back into my office where I packed my stuff up.

"Where are you going?" Cassandra asked me.

"In case you missed it, I have somewhere to be for the next two hours. If Mr. Matthews thinks that not showing up to the meeting renders it null and void, he has another thing coming." I said, on my way to the door.