Chapter 108
~ Clinton ~
The next day at work, the weight of yesterday's chaos still lingered like a shadow across my desk. I leaned back in my leather chair, the city skyline stretching endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of my corner office, and dialed Trudy's number.
The phone barely rang twice before she picked up, her familiar voice warm and steady as always.
"Guess who called me last night," I said, skipping the usual pleasantries.
"Your father?" she guessed, a hint of amusement threading through her tone.
"No, not him." I paused, letting the moment stretch. "It was Annie-bell."
"Oh…she called you?" Trudy's surprise sounded genuine, but I could hear the undercurrent of satisfaction she tried to hide.
"Don't act all surprised, Trudy. She told me you gave her my phone number." I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I pictured Annie's face—younger, softer, the little sister I'd once protected with everything I had.
