Without a moment''s hesitation, Orion snatched up the car keys and ferried Quinn to her workce. He navigated the city streets with a swift precision, his primary aim to ensure her timely arrival and to sidestep the impending rush hour. As he handed her a carton of milk, he confessed, "I had initially nned to treat you to breakfast, but I hadn''t realized you were still employed. I had you pegged as a student."


    epting the milk, Quinn pressed her lips together in a tight line before taking a tentative sip.


    Unfazed by her silence, Orion carried on, "It seems we''re more alike than I thought. People often mistake me for a college student, even though I''m already 25."


    His revtion caught Quinn off guard. She stole a quick nce at Orion, who was focused on the road. From his casual attire and easy-going demeanor, it was hard to believe he was 25. Perhaps it was the youthful air about him that had led her to assume he was a mere college student.


    Anticipating her unspoken question, Orion volunteered, "Aside from what you''ve seen, I also spend my time volunteering at an orphanage. And yes, I do have a regr job. I work at a pet supplypany, a ce where one can find everything they need for their pets. If you ever decide to get a dog, let me know. I can get you a discount on dog food."


    Quinn offered him a half-hearted smile, jotting down a note about Orion''s age, his job, and the potential discount on dog food.


    Catching a glimpse of her notes, Orion chuckled, "Are you writing that down to hold me ountable? Don''t worry, I won''t back out. Our dog food is top-notch."


    Quinn smiled in response, tucking her notebook back into her bag.


    Throughout the drive, Orion chattered away, seemingly undeterred by Quinn''s silence. He had a knack for ceaseless conversation, spilling one story after another, regardless of herck of response. It had been a while since he had such a quiet listener, and he relished the opportunity to engage with Quinn, who neither interrupted nor contradicted him.


    In the course of the journey, she learned much about him - some tales were amusing, others less so.


    Eventually, they arrived at the towering edifice of Kennedy Enterprises. Orion nced at the clock, "Perfect timing. It''s 8:50 AM. Your shift starts at 9, right?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Quinn nodded in confirmation, thanked him with a wave, and headed into the building.


    Inside, the atmosphere was tense. The usual office chatter was conspicuously absent, reced by a palpable sense of unease. Quinn rode the elevator to the top floor, which was eerily deserted. She approached Alexander''s office and knocked, but there was no response.


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    Suddenly, Kyle materialized behind her, startling her slightly. "Quinn, Alexander hasn''te in yet today."


    She turned to face him, her expression nk. She made a few hand gestures, then reached for her phone to type a message.


    Anticipating her question, Kyle said, "I''m not sure when he''ll arrive, but you might want to check at Thunderbird Canyon. Do you need a ride?"


    Quinn was about to ept his offer when she remembered his harsh words from the day before and his decision to delete her contact. It didn''t seem right to ept his help.


    Kyle added, "He''s probably at home resting. He hasn''t slept for two days, so he won''t being to the office today. If you wait here, you might not see him."


    A flicker of skepticism crossed Quinn''s eyes. If he had just deleted her contact that morning, it seemed unlikely that he was asleep.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! She typed a message to him.


    Quinn: [No need, I''ll wait here for him.]


    Seeing her determination, Kyle didn''t press further. "Alright then, I''ve got other things to attend to."


    She nodded, signaling that he could proceed with his day.


    Before leaving, Kyle handed her some documents to input into thepany''s internal system, a task that required a slightly more sophisticated procedure than usual. He showed her the basic steps, primarily how to input Alexander''s schedule, and set her up with an ount that had limited ess to just a few features.


    Quinn settled into her office, inputting the data she''d been given. The task was simple, but she felt unusually listless at work that day. Perhaps it was the result of a restless night.


    Every so often, she would nce up at the door, only to find it still closed. As the day wore on, she realized that Kyle''s prediction hade true - Alexander didn''t show up until the end of the day.