Page 98 of Not On the Agenda

“You look upset.”

I glanced up at Vanessa, whose brows pulled together in concern. I heaved a sigh and glanced back at the laptop screen in front of me.

“I wouldn’t necessarily label it as ‘upset’,” I hedged, chewing the inside of my cheek. “More like annoyed and a little confused.”

“Hayden?” she guessed, and I nodded.

“She’s disappeared again,” I said, desperately willing the dark thoughts to recede long enough for me to think clearly. “And I can’t help but think it has nothing to do with business.”

“You mean, it’s not because she runs an economic empire?” Vanessa clarified, but I was too worried to roll my eyes at her sarcasm.

“It’s bugging me,” I murmured, the discomfort in my chest twisting slightly. “I keep wishing she’d just walk through the door.”

“Why don’t you just go see her?”

I glared at Vanessa. “I’ve asked you and Joe to cover for me every time June’s needed help,” I deadpanned. “I can’t ask you to cover again when your kids have recitals coming up and Joe gets meaner in the fall.”

“We have to go through this shit every time.” She sighed, rubbing her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Listen, we’re family. You wanna go and confront your girlfriend about ghosting you? Go, I can handle the store for a few hours.”

“She’s not my- whatever, I can’t just leave, Vee,” I argued. “I have to help out at June’s tomorrow and it’s already cutting it close.”

Vanessa said nothing as she rummaged in her back pocket and fished out her car keys. She grabbed my hand and pressed the keys into my palm, all the while staring wide-eyed at me.

Daring me to argue.

“I don’t wanna hear it,” she whispered. “Just be back in time for closing because I need to feed the gremlins.”

I knew better than to argue, as much as I yearned to do it. I couldn’t shake the desperate urge to just see Hayden with my own eyes; see for myself that she was okay.

At least, as okay as she could be.

Vanessa saw the defeat cross my brow and beamed at me, triumph bright in her eyes. “Atta girl,” she said, giving me a gentle shove toward the door. “You can tell me all about your makeup when you get back.”

She paused and seemed to rethink her words. “On second thought,” she said, a slight frown marring her features, “don’t. I don’t wanna hear your sex stories.”

I laughed a little and left, my thoughts drifting to Hayden as I drove through the city.

As much as I tried, I couldn’t figure out why she’d pull away again unless there was something I’d said or done. Those thoughts chased me as I walked into the massive head office, grinning absently at the security guard as I passed him. He nodded, waving me on. I smiled at the memory of Hayden’s reaction the first time I’d visited her at her office.

The trip up to her office on the top floor was much the same. The elevator remained mercifully empty apart from a frazzled intern who’d muttered to himself all the way up to the sixth floor.

“Hello, Marina,” I greeted Hayden’s assistant, keeping my voice quiet because I didn’t want Hayden to know I was there just yet.

“Oh!” she glanced up, her pretty round eyes lighting up pleasantly. “Hi, Frankie. Here for Hayden, I’m guessing?”

“Is she free right now?”

Marina sighed, her lips tugging into a glum frown. “She’s been holed up in there all day,” she said. “Nothing will get her to come out except meetings.”

“Let me give it a try,” I said, the confidence in my voice ringing somewhat hollow. I swallowed. “I can’t promise she’ll come out though.”

Marina lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Anything is better than her refusing coffee.” She pouted, glancing at the still-steaming mug on her desk.

“Is that for her?” I asked, pointing at the mug. Marina nodded. “I’ll take it to her.”

I picked up the mug and carefully carried it to the closed door, knocking on it twice.

“Not now, Marina,” came Hayden’s muffled voice. She sounded tired.

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