Page 137 of Time Stops With You

With nowhere to turn, I tuck my tail between my legs and ask for Jenna.

“Jenna turned in her resignation earlier this week.”

“She quit?” I gasp at the receptionist’s grave nod. “Are you sure?”

Jenna had seemed hell-bent on getting together with Cullen. I could see the obsession and hero worship in her eyes.

The receptionist confirms the news.

My throat tightens and the uneasy feeling I’ve been having for a while haunts me. “Do you know when he’ll be back from his business trip?”

“Business trip?” The receptionist’s eyebrows fly up, but she recovers quickly. “Oh, right. The business trip. No, I don’t have any updates. Is there anything else?”

Her twitchy smile sends alarm bells ringing in my head. She seems nervous. Does she know something about Cullen?

“Where exactly did he go for his trip?”

She blinks rapidly. “I’m not sure.”

“Don’t you work here?”

“Yes.” She pins her lips together.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Glennice.”

“Glennice, where is Cullen?”

“I don’t know.”

“What happened last week? Why is he suddenly on a business trip?”

Her eyes fly to the ceiling. She trembles slightly. “Please, I don’t know.”

I consider pressing her to tell me, but I hold back. Harassing her will only make her more uncomfortable and, if Cullen told her not to tell me anything, she might lose her job. But what is so big of a secret that it’s got this woman shaking in her boots?

“Thanks for your help.”

She smiles tightly.

I slink back up the stairs, at a total loss. Should I call Sara or Richard Sullivan? No, that’s crossing a line. Cullen and I aren’t together. What right do I have to interrogate his personal assistant or his business partner?

Besides, if even the receptionist has been sworn to secrecy, his most trusted colleagues won’t tell me anything.

Is Cullen in the hospital?

The thought fills me with dread. It would explain why he’s suddenly transferring shares. Did he disappear to die?

Panic swells in my heart. He wouldn’t be that cruel, would he?

Unable to stop myself, I find the contact sheet Cullen left with me and dial Sara’s number.

“Hello?” she says.

“Sara, hey. This is Nardi.” I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans. “I’ve been trying to reach Cullen, but he hasn’t been answering my texts.”

Sara’s tone remains upbeat. “Yeah, he’s been busy.”

---