Page 81 of Rooster

I can't help but think that no matter what I do in this situation, it’s going to end up being the wrong choice.

Chapter 29

Morgan

I can't determine when the sense of foreboding settled completely inside me, but a hint of it started the second I woke up alone in Robert's bed.

I chalked it up to disappointment in being unable to snuggle in his arms before facing the day.

Then I went to the conference room, and although I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was wrong, the entire interaction seemed off, a little stilted. There felt like there was distance between us that didn't exist before I fell asleep in his arms.

Being a woman, of course, I overanalyzed things, which led to internalizing things. The realization that I'm not as healthy and the whole image of my self-worth was just an additional hit to my psyche that I didn't need today.

I don't think I've ever been disappointed by not being a person's number one priority, but I felt a tinge of that this morning when he didn't drop what he was doing because I wanted to spend time with him. That disappointment made me realize just how egotistical it was to even expect that from him, despite it not making me feel any better about myself.

I figured it would be good to go to work and put a little distance between us because how I feel about the man is unprecedented, and it makes me a little uneasy.

Work has absolutely sucked. I guess I could've still called in even though he told me he would be busy all day. I could've easily taken the day for myself, but the sting of his rejection motivated me to get showered, dressed, and ready for the day.

My irritation grew slightly when I went to the conference room to tell him bye, only to find it empty. It felt like a slap in the face, and I overanalyzed that on the entire drive to the office in the silent SUV because Bandera didn't seem interested in talking to me this morning either.

While at work, I got no messages from Robert. As the day progressed, I grew incredibly annoyed, thinking that he might've been watching me on camera in silence. Although I couldn't do anything about the cameras in the office, I placed a sticky note over the camera on my computer screen, knowing how juvenile it was.

My feelings were hurt, and I didn't understand why.

The drive back to the house was just as silent as the morning drive in, and by the time I climbed out of the SUV, I was vibrating with the irritation that had been growing inside of me all day.

I have no idea why I've let myself get so worked up today, but the annoyance I let settle for the day with no contact from him is still swimming inside me when I get into the house. I arrow toward the conference room without a single clue as to what I'll even say to the man when I see him.

I know the level of self-toxicity I'm dealing with. I know the man told me he was going to be busy today. I know that I've formulated a lot of shit in my head, created all these scenarios with very little evidence to base them on, but that doesn't change my mood one bit.

I deflate the second I enter the conference room and find it empty.

Maybe not seeing him when I'm wound so tight is the best thing. I know confronting him for literally doing nothing just because I seem to be in a mood I can't control isn't exactly sane.

When I turn to head toward the stairs with every intention of sulking in my borrowed room, I find Robert standing across the room, halfway between his office and the kitchen, watching me.

There's no smile on his face when he spots me. If anything, he looks more than a little disappointed at the sight of me.

I fight the urge to run my hands over my hair or swipe at my face in fear of something being on it.

"Hey," I say, my voice weaker than it should be, considering how irked I was just a minute ago.

"Morgan," he says in a way that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "We need to talk."

As if summoning the entire household, the echo of loud boots swarms around me as every person who lives here except Kaylee walks toward me.

"Please," Bandera says, swiping an arm, indicating that he wants me to go back into the conference room.

"What's going on?" I ask even though my body is turning to obey his command without thought.

Bandera pulls out a chair for me, and my entire body shakes as I step forward to take a seat.

"Did something happen to Kaylee?" I ask, barely managing to keep a sob from bubbling up my throat.

"Kaylee is fine," Heathen assures me, his face not giving a single hint as to what's going on. "We just need to have a chat."

"A chat?" I ask as I settle into the chair. "No one has spoken, and it already feels like an interrogation."

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