"Where to, boss?" Johnny asked.
"Home."
Johnny instinctively knew home was where Sarah Walker was and started driving. Mid-drive, Damien asked, "At what time did you drive Sarah home from the company today?"
"I didn't drive her home today," Johnny said. "She said the weather is nice, and she'll walk home. Later, the Housekeeper Lee called me to drive the old Mr. Sterling to the graveyard and do some errands for him, so I stayed at the old mansion until evening. I just returned to pick you up."
"Why did he call you? Don't they have enough men at the Sterling manor?"
"Two guys are sick. One had to go because his wife is giving birth... It's a mess today."
Damien breathed out and looked at his phone, seeing a missed call from his grandfather. He called back.
"You're finally calling. I could have died," Don said.
"But you're alive. So, tell me why you called earlier?"
"When are you coming home?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tonight. Penelope is here."
"Tonight I'm busy." And he hung up.
When he arrived home, he entered the house, threw his coat on the sofa, and sat down.
"Good evening, dear," Mrs. Blue said.
"Good evening, Mrs. Blue. Is Sarah already asleep?"
"Sarah is not here," Mrs. Blue spoke, surprised that he didn't know.
"She's not home?" A sign of worry was in his voice, which cracked slightly.
"I called her an hour ago asking where she was, and she told me she's going to spend the night at her friend's house. I even told her that you were coming tonight and that I'd prepared a lot of her favourite foods for dinner, but she said she already ate and hung up. Did you two have a fight?" Mrs. Blue asked, slightly worried.
Damien then took his phone out of his pocket and called her, but she didn't pick up.
"She's probably asleep by now. I'm sure she'll call you back when she sees your missed call," Mrs. Blue said.
"Did she tell you who the friend is? Where that friend lives? Anything else?"
"No, but she was calm on the phone, and I could sense in her voice and the way she spoke that she didn't want to come home today."
"That'll be all. You can go to sleep, Mrs. Blue."
Damien opened his app and wanted to find her location, but she had switched the phone off. She clearly didn't want to be bothered. He threw his phone on the bed next to him and placed his head in his hands, frustrated. Did she remember something? Where did she go? Damien fell asleep on the couch in the living room.
The morning came, and Sarah woke up. Matilda was already waiting with breakfast on the table.
"Good morning," Sarah said.
"Good morning, my dear. How did you sleep?" Matilda asked.
"Like a baby."
"Let's have breakfast before you leave."
Sarah hurriedly ate, hugged Matilda, thanked her, and took a bus to work.
Confrontation
Damien had nightmares all night. He dreamt of losing Sarah. When he woke up, it was already morning. He took a shower, changed his clothes, and went to Sterling Designs. He sat in the car in front of the company for an hour before finally seeing Sarah arrive. Now he could breathe easier. He got out of the car and called her name. "Sarah!"
She turned around and saw his tired face. She came up to him, and he grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her firmly. She took a step back.
"My colleagues will see us, Mr. Sterling," she said.
"Mr. Sterling?" he repeated, hurt.
"We are in front of your company. You are the boss and I am your employee. I don't want others to misunderstand."
"Sarah? You know we're not just boss and employee, but way more than that**...**" He was hurt by her remark.
"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." She was disappointed and clearly didn't want to have this conversation with him now.
"I'm sorry. Where were you last night? Why didn't you call me back?" He sounded desperate, his lips shaking.
This was the first time Sarah had ever seen him like this. Was he worried about me? She thought.
"My phone died, and I forgot to bring a charger with me. I have to go to work now; I can't be late."
"I'll come pick you up after work. Wait for me."
"Okay, I'll wait."