Chapter 80_ Lost Binder

The blinding light of the morning was coming through the windows and filtered across Arya's figure on the bed as she opened her eyes slowly, and she immediately held her temples when she felt her head felt like it was about to split in half. She glanced at the space beside her and rubbed her hands across it; it was cold, which showed that Kane hadn't come back last night, and she couldn't feel his warmth on the bed.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her phone buzz with an incoming call, and she grabbed it from the nightstand and answered groggily, “He-hello?”

"Hey, sweetie, how are you holding up? I hope you feel better than you sound.” Chloe's concerned voice came over the phone.

"I feel terrible. Probably close to how a zombie feels when it gets back from the dead.” Arya replied, and Chloe nodded, even though Arya couldn't see her.

"I know the feeling. But try not to eat anyone, alright? Did you at least make peace with Kane?” Chloe asked, and Arya shook her head with a sigh.

“He’s not here. He didn't come back last night," she said.

"Where is he?” Chloe asked, and Arya's eyes darted to the wall clock as she muttered a curse.

"Shit, I’m late for work."

“Alright, I won't take up your time. But let me know if there’s any news,” Chloe said.

"I will. Thanks, Chloe." Arya said as she hung up and rushed to the bathroom to take a shower before getting dressed and heading to the hotel’s garage. She jumped into her car and headed to the office.

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At the office, Arya plopped down in her chair and massaged her temples, feeling as if there was a drill in her brain and she could barely hold it together.

“Wild night, eh?" Martina remarked as she approached Arya's desk.

“Wild doesn’t even begin to describe it. And since my head is about to explode, if I were you, I would stay away from the splatter zone.” Arya said, and instead of keeping her distance, Martina giggled at her words.

"What if we can avoid the explosion with a few pills?” Martina said with a smile.

"That would be awesome. Do you have something with you?" Arya asked, looking up at Martina, who nodded and walked away for a few moments before returning to her. She placed a couple of pills in Arya's hands along with a bottle of water.

“There you go. These are little miracles. You’ll feel much better immediately.” Martina said, and Arya flashed her a sincere smile.

"Thanks, Martina. You're a lifesaver." Arya said as she took the pills and drank the water afterward. Martina walked away, and Arya, still seated at her desk, was trying to resist, but she felt sleepy, pale, and the world kept spinning around and around.

Marco came out of his office and clasped his hands together, gaining the attention of the managers and Arya as he demanded silence. He said, “I just received a call from our client Al-Hakim. He’s coming over for an unscheduled visit.”

"When?” Lewis asked.

"This afternoon. So we don't have a whole lot of time to impress him. And this means moving your mouths less and making your asses march. Have I been clear?” Marco said.

“Yes, Boss.” Lewis answered, and Marco nodded in approval, looking at each of the managers in turn until his gaze fell on Arya.

“Arya, where’s your usual enthusiasm?” Marco asked, and Arya pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I…I’m a little under the weather today,” Arya replied, and Marco came closer to her to take a good look at her.

"I can see that. Why don't you take the morning off and get back to the hotel? I want you at full throttle for the presentation this afternoon.” Marco said.

"But —-"

“No ‘but.’ Just do what I say. Let’s go, we don't have any time to waste.” Marco said, and Arya nodded as she gave a last check to all the material perfectly collated in the binder. Satisfied, Arya took a cab back to the hotel, and as she entered the room, her amber eyes glanced around, but there was still no sign of Kane. Sighing to herself, Arya climbed onto the bed and removed her phone from her handbag to set an alarm for thirty minutes early before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

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Arya had just arrived back from her nap when she strode forward inside the building, and she saw Marco barking orders at everyone to ensure everything was fine when Al-Hakim came.

“Come on, Martina! Less coffee breaks and more work. I want all that data ready for Al-Hakim when he arrives,” Marco said.

“But I was just —-”

"Now, Martina." Marco yelled, and Martina nodded.

“Alright, alright… Jeez.” Martina murmured and walked away while Marco turned to Lewis.

“And the same goes for you, Lewis.”

"On it, Boss.” Lewis said, hurrying away.

‘Finally, things seem to work the way they should,’ Arya mused silently before making her presence known, and Marco turned to face her.

Oh, Arya, you’re here. We are almost ready, and you are the icing on the cake I was looking for. With your expertise and personal touch, we can bring this contract home; I feel it,” Marco said, making Arya smile warmly at him.

"Thanks, Marco. You are way too kind."

“I can assure you, I’m just fair. Would you hand me the binder with the presentation? I want to make a final check before the meeting,” Marco said, and Arya nodded as she walked to her desk.

“Of course, it's—” Arya trailed off when her eyes went to her desk, where she had dropped the binder in the morning, and it was no longer there.