Chapter 158: Afraid I'll Lose Interest?

I raked my fingers through my hair, completely frazzled. I'd overslept and was late for work. God knows how much my manager would dock from my pay. I scrolled through my contacts and found her number, ready to call and explain. Before I could hit dial, another name flashed across my screen: Arthur. My heart thudded like a drum. Was he calling to demand why I wasn't in the office yet? What was I supposed to say? That I overslept? Like that would ever fly with Arthur. The phone kept buzzing. I took a shaky breath and answered, bracing for impact. "Hello, Mr. Sandlin…" My voice came out small, tight. "You're awake?" I froze. His tone wasn't sharp or angry. It was calm. Gentle, even. My chest tightened. For a second, I thought I'd imagined it. Arthur, speaking to me like that? No way. "Mr. Sandlin, I'm sorry. I overslept this morning." Better to apologize first before he snapped. Maybe it would soften the blow. "I'm the one who turned off your alarm," he said. "I gave you the day off. Stay