Chapter 14

The day of her twenty-ninth birthday was upon her and if Savannah had been hopeful of resolving things with Tobias by now, she had been severely mistaken.

She had barely seen him in the week following his return from San Diego and there had been no further interaction between them. Of course, with Briony as her boss, and a buffer between them, there was never any real reason for her and Tobias to meet.

Not even on the pretense of fixing a Word template.

Either Candace was now well versed in these things, or Tobias wanted nothing more to do with her. With a sinking heart, Savannah suspected the latter. If he had so desired it, he could have found an excuse for summoning. Her flimsy attempt to find him alone had been thwarted and in the process she’d discovered that he’d most likely met with a woman for a dinner date. She had no choice but to let it rest.

“Tobias is supposed to be joining us,” Briony announced, “we’ll give him a few more minutes otherwise we’ll continue without him.” How could she really let things rest when there was always the possibility that she might see him around?

Like today.

Savannah had been looking forward to this first proper meeting with the three of them but as she sat in the conference room, just her and Briony, she felt nervous knowing that he would turn up at any moment. She tried to contain herself.

She had made more of an effort with her appearance today, not only because it was her birthday. She had upped her game since she’d started here a few months ago and these days she chose her outfits with more care; she also had a few more clothes to choose from, having splurged at the sales. She wore light make-up and made an effort with her hair, today more so because of this meeting and the chance that Tobias would be there.

Her only plans for today were a movie with Jacob tonight. She’d wanted to do that over the weekend instead of a school night but Jacob had insisted. He said her birthday was as special as his and she couldn’t say anything to that.

Briony had bought her a box of chocolates with an extravagant hand-made card that probably cost as much as the chocolates. “Are you sure you can’t do drinks today?” Briony asked.

“I promised to take Jacob to watch a movie tonight. We’re watching ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks.’”

Briony pulled a face. “That was your choice, was it?”

“No. It was my choice to stay in but Jacob insisted we do something.”

“Enjoy.”

“They’re really funny,” Savannah insisted. “Have you heard them sing?”

“The last time I saw a chipmunk it was on the National Geographic channel. I don’t do chipmunks. Or kids’ movies.”

“Then you’re missing out on a magical time.”

“There are plenty of other magical times to be had,” Briony murmured under her breath, but loud enough for Savannah to hear. “Don’t you think about dating again?” Briony asked, making Savannah feel conscious all of a sudden. “Don’t you get lonely?”

This wasn’t a conversation she particularly wanted to have right now when the risk of Tobias walking in was sky high. “I don’t have time to get lonely,” she replied. She hadn’t been lonely until Tobias had left his indelible imprint on her lips that day and then continued to steal into her dreams at night. Though her financial troubles were now held at bay and she was settling into her new job just fine, she still felt uneasy. Only this time it wasn’t so much the lying-awake-at-night-worrying-about-debt type of uneasy. This was more a tightening-of-the-stomach-in-anticipation of seeing Tobias kind of uneasy. It was worse than being in high school and experiencing for the first time the highs and lows of having boyfriends.

She hadn’t worried too much about being single or dating until Tobias Stone had stolen into her thoughts. The more he kept away, the more she was drawn to him.

“But when you’re watching TV, when Jacob’s asleep?” Briony asked, frowning. “Don’t you miss having someone around?”

“Not really,” she lied. Lying was turning out to be a normal thing for her these days. How could she ever tell people what had happened between her and Tobias? “My life is pretty full on.” Briony would never understand. “Friday night is going ahead, is it?” she asked, changing the subject.

“At least that’s something to look forward to,” said Briony, puffing out her cheeks. “Candace mentioned The Oasis—some new rooftop bar she went to.”

“Who invited her?” Savannah asked, bristling. Briony turned beetroot red.

“You didn’t!” Savannah shot back, heat rising to her face. The last person she wanted to spend an evening with, especially celebrating her birthday drinks with, was that plastic mannequin. She wasn’t sure how they did things here and had no idea whether she was expected to foot the bill for everyone, but she didn’t like the idea of visiting a place that Candace had suggested. “I thought it was only you and me and that I was finally getting to meet Max.”

“Chloe and the others overheard, so I kind of invited them along. I had to!” Briony exclaimed when Savannah gave her a scathing look. “And, er…Matthias is coming, too.”

“Matthias!” Savannah hissed. She doubted whether any of Briony’s co-workers had overheard and whether Briony, whom she knew liked a good night out, had simply gotten carried away and asked everyone on the 21st floor. “I’m sorry. Look, if it helps we all contribute towards the pot. And because I now feel so bad for inviting so many people, the first round of drinks is on me.”

Savannah felt her gut clench. This was fast turning into something she wanted to avoid. “I wanted it to be a small celebration”, she said, louder than she had intended, hoping to make her point heard. But the door opened and Tobias walked in. The icy look he gave her, told her that he’d heard. Heat pinched her cheeks and she glanced quickly at Briony before staring at her notepad.

She had been toying with the idea of asking him a few days ago, but with interactions between them almost non-existent, she’d slowly talked herself out of the idea. Maybe Briony would ask him now. She’d asked everyone else.

As he hovered around the door, not taking a step further, Savannah crossed her legs, wondering where he would sit around the circular six-seater table.

“I’m in a conference call and I can’t get out of it. I’m sorry but you’ll have to continue without me.”

Briony seemed to take the news in her stride. “You’re impossible to get hold of these days, Tobias.”

“I’m sure you can manage without me.” He replied smoothly, not even looking her way once. “Was there anything in particular you wanted to discuss?”

Briony shook her head. “We’re fine. Savannah has compiled a report on that new startup in Seattle,” Briony looked at her. “You did, right? And she’s gone through their company reports and—”

“I haven’t finished it yet,” Savannah whispered, hating the sound of her suddenly meek and mouse-like voice. “I have to put the charts together and then you can have it.” She stared at Tobias but those metallic blue eyes that had once burned into hers so passionately now seemed to barely register any recognition. “That’s fine,” he said, almost dismissively. “Whenever you’re ready.”

He turned to Briony again. “I have a list of the next few companies I’d like you to look into.”

“Let me have it and we’ll get started,” she told him.

“Will do. I have to go.” And he vanished as fast as he had appeared.

“When you’ve done—” Briony turned to her and started at the same time that Savannah spoke.

“You didn’t ask him—”

“Ask him what?”

“To the drinks on Friday night. You’ve asked almost everyone else on the 21st floor.”

“You already said I was asking too many people.”

“Why not him?” She blushed, hoping that Briony wouldn’t catch the nervous note in her voice. If she did, she cleverly hid it. “I would hate for him to think that I had purposely left him out,” she explained, “when it looks as though I’ve asked everyone else. It wouldn’t be right. Getting this job has been life-saving, and I would hate for Tobias to think I’m ungrateful.”

“Fair enough,” replied Briony. “I’ll ask him. Just make sure you get the report to him as soon as it’s finished.”

“Do you want me to run it by you first?”

“No, you seem to have grasped the idea well. All the others looked fine. Please make sure he gets it today.”

A chance to see Tobias in his office? Adrenaline started to pump through her veins at the opportunity.

She went over the report more times than was necessary and it was just as well he didn’t need it in a hurry.

Later that afternoon the time came that she was ready to hand it over to him. With butterflies dancing inside her chest, she made her way to Tobias’s office only to have her excitement sink to the floor when she saw his door wide open. She stared at the back of Matthias’s head as he sat in the chair facing Tobias. The two men appeared to be laughing about something and the moment she appeared by the door, the laughter stopped.

“Ah, it’s the birthday girl,” exclaimed Matthias, looking over his shoulder at her. . “Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you,” she said and saw Tobias lift his head and turn his full attention on her as she stood nervously in the doorway, looking like an unsure twit. She wasn’t sure whether she should come in or not.

“How many years is it?” Matthias continued, pushing her into further misery. “Twenty four, twenty five?”

“It’s rude to ask a woman her age.” Tobias chimed in smoothly, rescuing her.

“Savannah won’t mind, will you?” Matthias turned his chair to the side slightly, so that he could see her better. She still hung around the door, not daring to enter. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said, wishing she’d come much later or much earlier, instead of sitting around worrying about the right time to see him. She’d built the visit up to be something big and as it had now turned out, she wasn’t going to get to ask him anything. “Here’s that report you wanted.” She walked towards his desk and handed it to him.

“I hear we’re helping you to celebrate your birthday on Friday night. Is that right?” Matthias boomed, giving her a shit-eating grin.

“I guess,” she replied, hating Briony with a passion at that very instant. She stole another glance at Tobias who seemed immersed in the report. “You’re both more than welcome. You too, Tobias,” she said, making a pointed reference to him even as he seemed to be doing his utmost to avoid eye contact with her. He looked up briefly and muttered a ‘Thanks’.

So much for her chance to catch him alone. She’d hoped to get an idea of how things were between them—but it was plainly obvious to her now—there was nothing between them. “Let me know if anything needs changing,” she mumbled, as she walked out.

“I’d better be off,” she heard Matthias say as she walked out of the door. “What time on Friday?” Matthias asked, walking quickly to catch up with her.

“I’m not sure,” she replied in a dull voice. “Briony has all the details.”

“I’m more than looking forward to it,” Matthias said, casting his eyes over her blouse and making her cringe. “We finally get to have that elusive drink and celebrate your new promotion.”

“It’s hardly a promotion,” she managed to utter. “Friday, then,” she replied, walking away quickly.