Ella’s P. O. V.
“Thank you.” I took the steaming mug from Daniel before he sat down at the table in front of me.
“What are you doing up so early?” He asked.
“I’m a morning person.”
He scowled.
“No thanks.”
I faked a smile as I took a sip of my coffee. I couldn’t tell him I hadn’t slept. My bed would have fit four of
me comfortably. It was so large that it swallowed me up.
It was cold and empty.
Because I couldn’t sleep, I had been up most of the night catching up on the schoolwork I had missed. I was also contemplating over the hundreds of sheets of paper I had combed through in Cain’s office. I was beginning to lose confidence in the fact that we would find my grandfather.
“Why are you up so early?” I asked him, trying to distract myself from the pit my thoughts were dragging me into.
“I have to be for work,” he explained, yawning.
“It’s only seven o’clock.” I said. “It’s not so bad.”
“I hate it,” he groaned.
“You don’t like your job?”
Daniel scoffed.
“I like this job only marginally more than I like being homeless.”
I laughed hearing this. “What do you do?” I asked
He shrugged. “I guess you could say that I’m Cain’s right-hand man.”
“Which means?”
“I don’t really do anything because Cain likes to do everything himself.”
“That sounds boring,” I said.
Someone walked into the room behind me before Daniel could reply. We both turned to see Jai coming through the doorway. He was only in sweatpants-his chiseled, tattooed chest on display.
Jai froze as he saw me and Daniel sitting at the table.
“Why are you walkin’ around without clothes on, man?” Daniel asked, disgusted.
“There’s a girl here.
Jai looked at Daniel in exasperation.
The door at the other end of the room opened and we all turned to see Cain walk in.
I felt my stomach knot at the sight of him.
He raised an eyebrow at Jai as he walked over.
“I’m going to go change,” Jai said as he awkwardly backed away.
Cain took a seat across from me as Daniel stood up.
“Well, I have to go and… make sure my plants are watered,” Daniel said, excusing himself awkwardly.
Both Cain and I looked at each other in disbelief as Daniel exited the room and closed the door behind him.
We both sat silently for a moment as I took a sip of my coffee.
“How did you sleep?” Cain asked, finally.
“Good,” I lied, nodding.
“You?”
“Fine.”
I took another long sip of coffee.
“Have you thought any about your grandfather?” He asked.
“It’s all I can think about.” I admitted. Well, that and you, I thought.
“I have a few things I have to get done today outside of the office,” he said.
“You’re more than welcome to be in there as long
as you’d like, though. I’ll probably check in throughout the day.”
I nodded. “Sounds good.” I took a sip of my coffee and sighed.
“Can l ask a favor?”
Cain nodded.
“Is there anyway you could put me in touch with someone who is good with computers? I have a few ideas for some leads I could check, but I need someone who is tech savvy.”
Cain nodded again. “I think I know of someone who can help.”