A nagging worry began to coil in her mind. What could have delayed him? The possibilities spun around her, each one darker than the last. He never broke his word, and the unease tightened its grip on her. Esme stood up, determination flooding her veins. She needed to find him.
Esme picked up the landline, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed the office. The weight of the moment settled heavily on her shoulders, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. The phone rang, each tone echoing her rising anxiety until a cheerful voice broke through the tension.
"Hello, this is the front desk!"
"Can you tell me if Mr. Ray has returned?" Her voice was steady, but inside, a storm was brewing, each passing second intensifying her unease.
