Chapter 77

"Kristen speaking," I murmured into the receiver and held it with my shoulder to my ear while my fingers busily typed orders into the computer on the table.

"Kristen ."

I knitted my brows, my fingers pausing as I tried to filter the voice.

"Dija?"

From the other end, a hum I recognized aroused from pity, filtered into my ears.

"You are a strange man, Kristen ." She paused for a while, and I was left to ponder why she had called my office line instead of the usual personal number she was used to. And how the hell had she even gotten my office number anyway? "I didn't receive your call or text."

I looked at the cup of coffee I met on my table that morning—courtesy of Edith. I had not even taken a sip from it, but I badly wanted to. I don't know why it feels like a good coffee makes the day better.

"I was expecting your call," I said. "You walked out of here really mad the other day."

She exhaled. Then her voic