The Publicist's Plight (Book I in The Harrison Inc. Series) | ✓

Chapter Twenty Nine: Heart of Steel

    It's been six hours since I've had contact with Sebastian last.

I've slept and showered the remnants of yesterday away down the drain. My skin is red and sore from how hard I've scrubbed the dirt and sweat off of my body. But somehow I still feel unclean.

After showering, I step out and wrap a towel around my body. The mirror is a perfect representation of how my brain feels right now: fogged. Cloudy. I defog the mirror with my hand, but in my reflection I don't see anything worth praising.

I get dressed in casual attire for the day—flats, a pair of jeans and a sleeveless blouse. I check my phone after applying my makeup and doing my bun. Sarah texted me, telling me to meet her and Lucas in the library.

"Okay," I reply. I'm hesitant to continue. "Has Sebastian talked to you?"

"No. Why?"

"No reason. I'll meet you in ten."

"Ok."

And before I lock my phone, she responds: "I hope he's alright. Last night was horrible."

I walk downstairs with my things. Loretta is at the table with a roll of gauze and ointment by her side.

"C'mon. Gotta make sure that bandage is changed frequently," she says kindly.

I sit down at the table and watch her re-bandage my foot in silence. I'm sure she heard about what happened last night. But discretion seems to be in her nature, because she hasn't asked one question, not even when I first came here. She just told me to rest and shower, assuring me she'll wash the sheets and blankets since I slept before I bathed.

When I make it into the main house, there's an eerie feeling—a feeling from earlier in the morning. I check my phone to avoid the plaguing heaviness but I can't bring myself to reply to anything. I open emails and old messages but don't respond. Even Garrett sent me a text earlier, apologizing for the fiasco that unfolded. I remember his talk with Sebastian and teeter between replying and ignoring the message.

I walk into the library. Lucas and Sarah are sitting on the couch, staring in opposite directions in silence. I set my coffee cup on the coffee table and stare at both of them. They turn and look at me, like they didn't realize I was in the room.

"Hey."

"Good morning," Lucas replies. Sarah just smiles.

I sit down in the chair by the end of the coffee table. The only noise around comes from the ticking clock on the wall and the horses neighing outside.

"Um...I don't know if we should get to work," I say.

"Me neither. I think we need a couple of days," Sarah says, rubbing her eyes.

"We can prep without him," Lucas proposes, standing up. "I think, when he's ready, then we'll be ready, too."

"Wait, he's not coming?"

Sarah shakes her head, "No. I knocked on his door before you came in and he said he didn't feel up to it today."

I feel sad, strangely. This would be the first official time I would be working without him. But not only that—I can't help the worry dancing around in my mind. But at the same time, I can't bring myself to express it.

"I guess I'll make a few calls. See if anyone would be interested in Sebastian. We still sticking with the conservatives or..."

"No," I tell Sarah. "Yesterday didn't go well at the Collingwood house."

"Then what do we do?"

"Um...I don't know. I'll think of something."

"You know what? Just lay off for a bit. You've done a lot already and yesterday was a load for both of you. Lucas and I will figure something out."