Page 75 of Handle with Care
Needless to say, I get very little sleep.
Chapter Thirty
The next morning, I’m surprised to discover I arrive at work before Will.
I set down my bag and coffee in the boardroom. I’ve worn my khaki cotton sport jacket and my best white button-down shirt with navy trousers, with shoes so shiny they could reflect the whole museum. When I check my email, I see the invite for the 9:00 a.m. meeting, and when I discover the meeting’s in the director’s office, my stomach drops. Dread takes its place.
It’s also unsettling when it’s two minutes to 9:00 a.m. and there’s still no sign of Will before I head up to the executive offices. I knock on the director’s closed door.
“Come in,” the director calls.
With trepidation, I open the door. I’ve never been in the director’s office before. He’s sitting at his round table to the side of his room, away from his desk, with Lily. The director, Miguel Simonsson, is silver-haired, an elegant man with black-rimmed glasses and a suit to match the look, though the jacket is on the back of his chair.
“Please, sit down.” The director gestures at one of the two empty chairs at the table.
I slip inside, leaving the door open a crack for Will. And I sit, doing my best to keep composed despite freaking out inside. They’re both solemn.
At precisely 9:00 a.m., Will shows up, also in a suit, no tie, looking amazing in terms of wardrobe, but absolutely wrecked otherwise. And he’s wearing his glasses instead of his contacts. He looks bleary-eyed, glassy like when we were stranded with his migraine. I blink in alarm.
“Please, Will.” The director nods at the remaining empty chair.
“Thank you.” Will shuts the door, and he sits down too, not looking at me.
The usual urge to fidget comes. It’s all I can do to keep from sitting on my hands. Or staring at the side of Will’s head as I wish he’d look over.
The director looks from Will to me and back again. “I am very sorry to hear about the loss of the Vivienne Westwood exhibits. I understand that Lily, the Security team, and the technicians made an extensive search yesterday and into the evening to locate the missing collection.”
I gulp.
“Unfortunately, they weren’t successful. The lender is a big supporter of the museum, and this is a significant problem. I understand you both have made efforts to locate the collection. And that you both delayed in telling Lily what had happened.”
We’re deathly quiet.
I can’t even hear the sound of anyone breathing because we’re all holding our breath. The only sound is the ticking of the premium clock on the wall behind Miguel’s desk, its red hands carving out each second of time we spend in the hot seat.
“I’m very disappointed with the loss and in the delay about telling me what happened,” Lily tells us. “Time is of the essencewhen any exhibit is considered lost. It’s vital for our security procedures.”
There’s a long moment of silence. I give Will a sidelong glance, but he’s frozen in place.
“I’m very sorry,” I offer into the quiet. “We both are.”
“Yes,” Will agrees instantly. “Very.”
Pretending to have more courage than I’m feeling at the moment, I continue. “We didn’t realize. We wanted to come to you with a solution rather than a problem. We hoped it was only a momentary mix-up between the paperwork and the spreadsheet. We didn’t intend to be deceitful. Far from it, I promise. We knew how busy you were, Lily, and we wanted to take care of things for you.”
Lily, for her part, looks weary.
I glance at Will as he removes his glasses enough to rub his eyes. He nods, looking positively green.
“We need to advise the lender of the loss today and follow up with our insurance providers. And of course, the show installation must continue. We are now behind schedule with yesterday’s extra work. However, I understand the deliveries proceeded without incident, thanks to your efforts, Dylan.”
I chew my lip.
“That’s enough for the moment.” Miguel looks at Lily and then at us. “Please, continue with your workday.”
Will and I both rise. I’m desperate to talk to him, to get out of the director’s office, to ask him how he’s feeling, aside from crushed like I am. He really looks unwell. All I want to do is take care of him.
“Will, please stay a moment,” Lily tells him.
