Chapter 14

I didn't leave the building. I merely headed to the cafe downstairs and sat by the window. … The meeting upstairs started officially, but the entire atmosphere was rather strange. As time ticked by, the most important part of the meeting could not proceed because X had not arrived. Almost two hours had passed. The server had cast me several curious glances, perhaps thinking why I would sit there alone for so long with a cup of coffee. Finally, my phone vibrated. It was a call from Albert. I calmly picked up the phone and said, "Hello?" He asked with a hushed but anxious tone, "Ms. X, where are you? The board has waited for you for almost two hours. They are starting to get restless." I stirred the cup of coffee that had long cooled down. Feigning surprise, I asked, "Waiting for me? Mr. Grant Senior, I arrived a long time ago." "You did? Where are you?" Albert sounded perplexed. "I'm inside the cafe of your building downstairs." I paused for a while before saying aggrievedly,