Chapter 39

Nolan Mercer winked at me and then invited me to Sunday brunch. What does that even mean?

As I ride down in the elevator, I feel like I'm having an out-of-body experience. Surely what just happened didn't really happen. It can't have happened.

Nolan Mercer can't have just told me it's okay that I'm single-handedly responsible for making the heir apparent to the family empire renounce the throne and that there will be no consequences.

I take out my phone and call Thomas. Straight to voicemail. Is his phone off, or has he blocked me? Why would he block me if he loves me? If he told his father he's in love with me?

I barrel into the lab and talk to no one as I head straight for Maria's station. "I need your phone."

She turns to me with a perplexed blink. "Morning, boss."

I gesture impatiently for the phone.

Raising both eyebrows, she hands it to me. I copy Thomas's number from my contacts and press call. Voicemail again. He didn't block me. His phone is off. Why is his phone off? Is he okay?

He must be; his father saw him just last night and didn't seem in the least worried about Thomas's well-being. He seemed proud.

Thomas, Thomas, Thomas… what are you up to?

I give Maria back her phone with a short, "Thanks," and head into my office.

My first instinct would be to get out of here and go search for Thomas. But his father made it clear where my place is, exactly here making sure we beat the competition out of the park. And I don't want to push my luck by making a sex tape at work, then persuading the chief's son to quit, and also slacking off at my job.

As welcoming as Mr. Mercer—Nolan??!—appeared to be, I don't think I can get away with leaving the office in the middle of the morning to embark on a manhunt. Especially since I have no idea where to look.

So, I try to focus on work. But every time I glance over at the desk next to mine, where Thomas used to sit, all I can think about are his soulful eyes and the hurt in them the last time we saw each other.

Somehow, I make it through to the end of the day. As I get out of the office, the first thing I do is call Thomas. But his phone is still dead.

I go home, missing him.

I eat dinner, missing him.

And I sit on the couch staring at the black TV screen, still missing him.

Missing him is like a physical pain, it's a constant throbbing ache in my chest, a hunger that can't be satiated, a fire that can't be extinguished.

I can't sleep, I can't rest.

I'm a throbbing, burning mess.

I need something. A piece of him. Even something small would do. If I had a voice message on my phone, I could at least fall asleep listening to his voice. I could even do with one of his notes.

My brain snaps. Of course! The thing he left for me in my drawer at the office. I never checked it. And it's Friday night. I'm not waiting until Monday morning to find out what it is. In a complete sense of déjà vu—after all, going to the office after hours put me into this mess in the first place—I pull on shoes and a coat and practically run out of the house.

Outside it's raining and freezing but I don't care, I don't go back for an umbrella. I sprint toward the subway station, adrenaline pumping through my veins, turning me superhuman. There's a train already waiting on the tracks. I leap inside it a moment before the doors close.

I count the stops in my head, willing the train to move faster. When we finally reach the right station, I dash out of the train and take the steps two at a time, my heart jackhammering in my chest.

I burst into the office building, my breaths coming in quick gasps. The night guard looks up at me in surprise, but I ignore him.

My shoes squeak against the polished tiles as I hurry toward the elevators, pressing the call button impatiently. When the doors finally open, I jump inside and punch the button for the basement. One floor down, the elevator dings and I step out, running across the lab in a last mad dash toward my desk.

I reach my office, push the door open, and find Thomas inside, crouching next to K-2P.