Chapter 33

• NATALIE'S POV
• The noontime rush started to populate the restaurants around me. The bustle in the air above my desk made all the clattering dishes and humming voices busy, even as I continued to stare down at paperwork. My mind refused to quit wandering—even as Brandon's warning about Arlys wouldn't quit echoing—and my chest held this overwhelming knot that tightened into something constricting.
• At the knock on my office door, I drew breath, trying to push the anxiety right back down. My heart jumped, and a reflex wave of dread washed over me. I hadn't expected anyone, and surprises weren't exactly welcome after everything that had gone down.