my office. The meeting is set for twenty minutes from now, and if I know Susan, and I do, she’ll be twenty minutes late. So, we have about forty minutes until she graces us with her presence.
Tennessee makes her way inside. Immediately my gaze catches her ring and I grin. I’m glad she didn’t try to hide it from the office today. I love seeing it on her finger.
“Make sure you bring your phone and iPad today. I’d like you to set up your phone to record the entire meeting.”
She nods, hurrying back out of my office, no doubt to grab her things. When I have everything that I need, I begin to make my way out to her. Today’s meeting will be in the largest conference room that the building has.
It still won’t fit all of the employees, but I’m going to have all of the management staff inside of the room and hopefully they’ll be able to send news traveling down to everyone who needs to hear it.
News that is of me opening up a new office and offering everyone an immediate job.
It’s no doubt going to be a stressful day, but somehow this stress doesn’t even compare to what I feel about Helen being gone and Hansen not calling me with an update. No news with him, in this situation, doesn’t necessarily mean good news.
I don’t think I’ve been this worried about another person since Laurent took off on a backpacking trip around Europe when he was twenty years old. He shaved at least ten years off of my life with that stunt.
“Landry?” Julie asks.
Tipping my chin, I look down at her. Lifting my lips in a grin, I jerk my chin. “We’re almost in the clear,” I say.
She snorts. “Ding dong, the witch is gone.”
Tennessee appears next to me, her iPad and phone in hand. “Have you heard anything?” she asks on a whisper.
“I haven’t, honey, I’m sorry.”
She nods her head, inhaling a deep breath and squaring her shoulders. Together with Julie at our side, we make our way toward the conference room. It’s not a long journey, it’s just one floor beneath us, but the ride on the elevator is silent, no doubt all three of us locked inside of our own heads.
When we walk inside, I notice that Bash is already set up in the center of the long conference room table. He lifts his head, his eyes finding mine. I see the moment he notices Tennessee’s ring as we approach. His lips form a thin line and he shakes his head once.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I say.
He snorts. “I’m sure you don’t. But if I were you, I would have her take that gigantic beacon off before Susan arrives.”
Tennessee’s breath hitches. “Oh, I didn’t even think about it,” she murmurs.
I watch as she quickly and shakily removes her engagement ring. I can’t help the wave of anger that slides through me at the sight of her taking the ring off of her finger. Holding out my hand, I clear my throat and dip my chin in silent instruction for her to place the ring in my palm.
When she does, I close my hand tightly, dipping my chin, I look down into her eyes. “This will be the one and only time this comes off of your pretty finger.”
My words leave zero room for argument. Tennessee doesn’t take offense to my harsh tone, instead her lips curve up into a grin. She leans forward, touching her mouth to mine in a soft and quick kiss.
“Sounds like a plan, baby.”
It’s only the second time she’s called me baby and I find that I love it. Each time has been a gift and I know she’s meant them. She doesn’t do throwaway nicknames and that is one of the many things that I love about her.
Shoving the ring in my pocket, I clear my throat and take a seat out for her. Once she’s securely tucked in, I sit down in the seat between her and Bash. The room starts to fill up with employees and I can’t help but notice that every single one of them looks worried and nervous.
Not only is the room full of people, you can taste their anxiety at the same time. Laurent appears about five minutes late, as is his way, and takes the seat next to Tennessee. He doesn’t say anything to her.
Shifting my gaze to him, I wonder which way he is going to go. He