Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 33

Chapter Thirty–three: I’ll Take My Chances

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Cassienne didn’t need to say a word before everyone in the room already knew who the caller was.

The moment her phone started ringing on the table, her heart skipped painfully. She did not even need to look at the screen, but her eyes still dropped there on their own, almost like they were drawn by habit. The name on the screen burned into her chest.

Her fingers curled slowly into her palm. For a brief moment, she thought of ignoring the call. She had every right to do that. After all, they were no longer married. They were officially divorced, and she had promised herself that she would no longer allow him to disrupt her peace.

Still, something inside her hesitated.

Dreston was not the type of man who called without a reason. If he was reaching out now, then whatever it was must be important. Or at least important to him.

The room suddenly felt too quiet.

Cassienne stood up slowly, picked up her phone, and accepted the call before she could overthink it. She pressed it firmly to her ear and walked away from the lounge area of her office, creating a small distance between herself and the others.

“Hey,” she said, her voice calm, even though her chest felt tight.

“Hi,” Dreston replied on the other end. His voice sounded familiar, too familiar. “Can we meet tonight, if it won’t be too much for you?”

Cassienne stopped walking.

Tonight?

She turned slightly and glanced back toward the sitting area. Corren, Merrick, and Daisy were all looking at her. They were trying to pretend they were not listening, but she could feel their attention on her. The awareness made her uncomfortable.

“If tonight is not okay,” Dreston continued quickly, “we can reschedule to tomorrow morning. We can meet in my office. It’s important. Please.”

Cassienne frowned deeply.

Dreston had never said please to her before. Not when they were married. Not even when he was wrong. Hearing that word now made her uneasy. Whatever this was, it was serious.

“What is this all about?” she asked finally.

“It’s personal-

“I think you’ve forgotten something,” she interrupted sharply. “We are officially divorced now.”

There was a pause on the other side of the phone.

“It’s nothing like that,” Dreston said quickly. “Believe me. I just need to talk to you about something very important. That’s all. Can I come see you?”

“No,” Cassienne replied immediately. “We’ll meet tonight. Send me the venue and the time. And it better be something worth my time.”

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Chapter Thirty–three l Take My Chances

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She ended the call before he could respond.

Cassienne stood there for a few seconds, her chest rising and falling slowly. Then she straightened her shoulders, fixed her posture, and turned back toward the others. She walked to the table and dropped her phone gently on it, as though nothing had just happened.

“I’m sorry for the interruption,” she said calmly, returning to her seat.

No one spoke.

“So,” Cassienne continued, forcing a small smile, “where were we?”

Corren cleared his throat. “I think your idea is better,” he said after a moment. “We’ll go with it.”

Before anyone could add anything else, Cassienne’s phone buzzed again.

The sound was sharp in the silence.

All eyes dropped to the phone at the same time–Cassienne’s included.

The notification was impossible to miss.

My heartbeat

2 messages

Cassienne’s fingers stiffened, but she did not reach for the phone. She simply looked away from it and lifted her

gaze.

“Okay,” she said, breaking the silence. “Since we’re clear on that, what’s our next move?”

Merrick exchanged a look with Corren before speaking. “I think we should continue this discussion tomorrow,” he suggested gently.

Corren nodded in agreement immediately. “Yes. Tomorrow is better.”

Cassienne stood up. “That works for me,” she replied. “If that’s all, I’d like to go home now.”

The moment felt awkward, thick with unspoken thoughts. One after the other, the men stood up and left her office. They did not say much. They respected her space. Seeing her ex–husband’s name on her phone told them enough. She needed time alone.

Outside her office, Merrick and Corren walked down the quiet hallway together. Most of the staff had already left for the day. The building felt empty.

Corren suddenly stopped walking.

“I’ve been wondering about something, Merrick,” he said.

Merrick stopped too and turned toward him.

Corren glanced around the hall briefly before his eyes returned to Merrick. “Can you define your relationship with Miss Rhodes?”

Merrick narrowed his eyes slightly. The question caught him off guard, but he understood it almost immediately. People often misunderstood his closeness with Cassienne.

Before Cassienne married Dreston, they had been very close. She was a genius–far more advanced than anyone her age in the tech world. That brilliance had drawn Merrick to her mind, not her body. She had helped countless

Chapter Thirty–three It Take My Chances

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people online solve complex problems. Many knew her only as a mysterious “problem solver.”

Merrick knew her real identity. He knew her digital signature. He was the one who had once invited her to work with him, long before she married Dreston, before he joined Coralreach. He had wanted to build something great with her.

But Cassienne preferred to work alone, hidden. He respected that.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Merrick said finally. “Cassienne is my very good friend. I love her like a little sister. Nothing more.”

Corren studied his face carefully. “So if I went for her, I wouldn’t be stepping on your toes?”

“No,” Merrick replied calmly. “But I would advise you not to.”

Corren frowned. “Why?”

“Because Cassienne can never love anyone except Dreston,” Merrick said softly. “I know that because she is my best friend.”

“She’s divorced,” Corren argued. “That doesn’t mean she can’t fall for someone else.”

Merrick laughed quietly. “You saw her phone,” he said. “Who keeps their ex saved as ‘My heartbeat“?”

Corren smiled faintly.

“I don’t want you to suffer,” Merrick continued. “I saw what Florence did to you. Cassienne will break you even worse. She’s not the right woman for you.”

“I understand your concern,” Corren replied. “But I’ll take my chances.”

He turned to leave, then paused at his office door and looked back at Merrick!

“That woman will be mine very soon,” he said firmly. “I promise you that ”

Then he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Merrick sighed. He shook his head and smiled. But inside, he knew that Corren would get hurt again.

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