Chapter 300 The afternoon sky was a canvas of vibrant hues, with the sunset painting the glass facades of skyscrapers in brilliant strokes.
Caleb trailed behind Curtis as they exited the conference room and walked past the Human Resources office, where a few female employees were huddled around something, their whispers and giggles filling the air.
Curtis, ever so detached, glanced over, his steps suddenly veering towards the commotion.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe women, engrossed in their little circle, didn't notice the approaching figures until Curtis' shadow loomed over them.
He looked down to follow the line of their attention and spotted a tiny kitten, barely the size of a hot dog, hiding under the desk and scarfing down a piece of meat with desperate hunger.
"Since when did we start hiring cats?" Curtis' calm and out-of-nowhere comment surprised the crew, making them all jump up as the kitty bolted for a corner.
"Mr. Richardson!" They exclaimed in unison, a mix of surprise and slight fear in their voices.
"Is this your doing?" Curtis' expression was unreadable, sending shivers down their spines.
Quick to defend themselves, one of the women explained, "It's not ours, sir. It must've followed someone into the elevator from the street and found its way here." "Riding elevators?" Curtis raised an eyebrow. "Smarter than sof the employees." Caleb, aware of Curtis' allergy, intervened, “Let's get it out of here. Mr. Richardson is allergic to cats. We can't have this happening at the office." One of the women, her voice trembling but determined, spoke up, "Mr. Richardson, may I please take it hafter work? I've been feeding it for days, planning to adopt it. It always eluded me, but now that it's here. I'll make sure it doesn't cause any trouble and I'll clean up." She was visibly frightened, barely able to meet his gaze, yet for the sake of the kitten, she dared to make a request.
Curtis sneezed twice, accepting a handkerchief from Caleb and covering his nose.
He looked at the kitten, now a bundle of fur tucked away in fear, not understanding the enchantment these creatures held over people The woman thought she had overstepped, waiting for a harsh rebuke, but Curtis, in a rare 1/2 1024 Chapter 300 display of leniency, said, "Don't let it happen again." Leanne was wrapping up her day when she received a message from Caleb. Amy, having barely touched her lunch due to an urgent call from Ruben, was famished and browsing. through a popular BBQ joint's menu on her phone.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"I'll make a reservation. It's always busy there, and we'll have to wait at least half an hour." Leanne handed Amy a protein bar from her drawer, "Have this for now. It'll take us half an hour to get there anyway." Amy, saving her appetite, declined, "I'm saving room for BBQ." As they put on their coats, Amy eagerly began picking out dishes, "How about smushrooms?" "Sounds good to me," Leanne agreed, checking her messages.
Caleb had sent a photo of a cat sitting on a dining table in a Crystal Cove Villas living room, its eyes wary En and alert.
Leanne zoomed in on the photo, recognizing the cat she had nurtured from a scrawny stray to a healthy pet "En over two months. She was puzzled. The cat was supposed to be with Mathew, the old man from building twelve, not here.
She typed, "Why is it there?"
Caleb, suddenly distant, didn't reply but forwarded Curtis' contact m instead, which was a information instead, clear shift from his previous attentiveness.