Succulence (Succulent Trilogy #1) by Lauren Lashley Read Free Book Online

worry. Stacy made too much money to mess it up here at GemTech. Something just wasn’t right. I was concerned, but there wasn’t much I could do until I had her address or heard from her.
     
    ****
     
    I was coming from my lunch break one afternoon when I passed by Dean’s office and saw Stacy speaking to him. The energy between them looked serious. She seemed so tense and Dean’s face was stern, so I didn’t make my presence known. I just quietly made my way back to my desk and continued working. I guess they heard me, because within minutes the door was closed.
     
    Dean’s glass was frosted, and the office was soundproof, so whatever they discussed would be kept between them and God. I was a little bummed; I hoped to overhear what was going on, but truth be told, I was busy as it was.
     
    GemTech was getting ready to launch a new medical app that would revolutionize the way hospitals conducted business, and we needed to prepare a bunch of documents for the marketing department’s art team, who would design our promo materials for social media. Furthermore, I would be traveling over the next few weeks to help present the new app at exhibits, so I was looking up hotel booking in the cities I’d be staying at. I had trips booked to San Diego, Las Vegas and New York.
     
    Stacy emerged from Dean’s office after a prolonged period. She seemed to be out of it. She was dressed attractively, but there was a bit of a frown on her face. Her frame seemed a little more gaunt than usual. I tried to get eye contact, but she kept her head down and focused on her work. I took it as a cue to leave her be and focus on the press releases and media appearances the company wanted to send out and coordinate in Dallas as well as the upcoming cities on my agenda.
     
    Engrossed in my work throughout the afternoon, I’d check Skype occasionally to see if Stacy was online. She was at her desk and working, but she was not logged in. If she was, she was invisible.
     
    I sent her a message anyway: I missed you. I hope all is well. I look forward to catching up with you…
     
    She didn’t respond, but when I passed her to go to the restroom, she looked up at me and smiled weakly. Her smile then collapsed into a worried expression as she furrowed her brows and resumed her focus on the computer.
     
    When I left that evening, I noticed Stacy was still at work, as was Dean. As I turned out the lights in the main portion of the office, I heard Dean call Stacy to the office. She stood up, rolled her eyes and smiled at me. “See ya later, sweetie,” she said before heading in to see what he wanted.
     
    I made it all the way to my car when I realized that I had left my cell phone on my desk. I don’t know how I managed to do that; I’m usually really careful because I tracked my appointments and deposits via apps on it.
     
    Leaving my phone wasn’t an option. I didn’t have any appointments, but I also didn’t have any other means of contacting my parents or getting in touch with anyone. I didn’t have, or even need, a house phone.
     
    Cussing myself for my airheadedness, I made my way back into the building. At this time, only security was present. It was afterhours, and nobody would be left in the building if they needn’t be there.
     
    The entrance to my department was dark. All the lights were out. I tiptoed towards my desk, grabbing my phone. It was on the desk where I had left it. Thank God maintenance or anyone else hadn’t snatched it up!
     
    I checked a couple of alerts briefly. A few men were interested in appointments for the evening, but nothing seemed interesting. I had been working hard enough the past week, so while I would have loved the extra money, these men would have to wait.
     
    “To have the option to say no. That’s a wonderful thing,” I muttered to myself.
     
    Making my way towards the entrance, I noticed Dean’s office light was on. I wondered what he was still doing at work. Dean never likes to