Chapter Sixteen
I stood at the coffee machine in the staff lounge pouring my second cup of coffee for the morning. Between clients, I simply dashed out of my office for a moment; but of course, Oliver would be there at that instant, my first sight of him since the weekend.
"In my office, Ms. Nightengale," he said nodding toward the end of the hallway.
"I have an appointment in five minutes, will this take long?" I replied.
"I was told that your ten o’clock canceled," he informed me.
"Has it?" Curiously convenient, I thought.
"Yes, it has," he confirmed.
I kept the warm coffee mug in my hand, perhaps in self-defense if I needed something to throw in anger, or something to soothe me should he bite so boldly that I needed comfort.
"I’m recommending a leave of absence, Cassandra, or
