Chapter 34

Chapter 34 SummaryTony waited in the Hyatt’s lobby for Jennifer, planning to share a relaxed lunch before flying her home. When she arrived, cheerful and composed, the day seemed set for a pleasant ending to their time together. But as they walked toward the restaurant Jennifer had suggested, Tony’s phone rang, shattering the mood. The Austin Police told him that his employee, Steven, had been found brutally attacked, with multiple broken bones, and was now in the hospital asking for him. Shocked and distressed, Tony immediately told Jennifer he needed to leave for Austin.Jennifer was understanding and encouraged him to go, though she tried to hide her own disappointment. Their farewell was warm and lighthearted; she even echoed his earlier playful line about “always collecting,” but once Tony’s cab disappeared, she was left questioning her feelings. Was it compassion for his situation, or something deeper developing between them?Trying to refocus, she called her company’s travel agent to book a flight home, only to find that every flight to Chicago was full until the next morning. Resigned, she checked back into the same hotel room she had just left. The sympathetic desk clerk offers a restaurant discount to ease the inconvenience.Settling back into her room, Jennifer called her boss, Neil, to give him an update. He wasn’t happy. The CEO of IBU was arriving that evening for a rare interview, and Jennifer’s absence meant he’d have to do it himself. Despite his grumbling, Jennifer teased him about his dislike for “corporate politicians” and urged him to handle it. Their call ended on a lighter note, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that both her professional and personal lives were becoming more complicated every day.