Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“The signal will be sporadic as they pass through the timelines. I’ll send a link to your computer in the office.”
“Thank you, Magnus.”
Sadie disconnected the phone call and waved her thanks to the camera before retracing her steps to the elevator. She didn’t have anyone scheduled for training or an hour-long interview. Just in case her Daddy was accessing a view of her through the cameras as Magnus had, she’d put herself together a bit more.
She waited until she was alone in the apartment to listen to his message:
Cookie,
I need you to be brave for me. We know the threats against you will never end as long as that man is after you. The only solution is to make sure he is locked away or eliminated. Magnus will look after you. You can sleep in our bed or on the couch in the basement where Magnus hibernates.
Try not to worry. I know that will be hard to do, but I want you to try. Be good and stay where Magnus can monitor you. He won’t let anything happen to you.
I love you, Sadie.
Ten minutes later, she wore a black-and-white tunic over her black pants and two matching black slip-ons. She pasted a determined smile on her face and went to work. There was a looming resort opening that she needed to prepare for even though key members of her staff were missing…along with her heart.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Waking up on the surprisingly-comfortable cot Magnus had set up for her in the shadows away from his computer, Sadie hugged all four penguins. She’d brought them down from her playroom and they were hogging her bed. She kissed each one as she greeted them. By this time, they’d all shared their names with her and were settled in happily with her childhood stuffie.
“Good morning, Edgar, Thomas, Peter, and Samuel.” She had known the other penguins would have formal names to match the tuxedo worn by all of their species.
“Good morning, Sadie,” Magnus called. He sounded as wide awake as he’d been last night when he’d ordered her to bed.
She tossed back the covers and ran toward him. “Any news?” she asked.
“Nothing new. Remember, the flights were long to get to your old home. Give them some time.”
“It’s hard to wait,” she bemoaned.
“I know. There’s oatmeal for breakfast,” he said, pointing to a large insulated server and dishes.
She wrinkled her nose. “Oatmeal. That’s not very exciting.”
“But healthy for Little girls. The chef hid some brown sugar in the mix of extra additions.”
“Oh. That’s totally different then....”
She paused by his side, wanting but not wanting to ask a question.
“They’re all fine, Little girl. No change in their biometrics.”
“Biometrics?” she echoed.
“I can track their heart rate and a few other things. The team is fine. In fact, they got more sleep than I did last night.”
Sadie waited to feel the stress ebb out of her shoulders. It didn’t happen. Even knowing they were okay now didn’t help her relax. She would be on edge until her Daddy held her in his arms.
“I guess I should go get dressed.”
“Eat first, Little girl. Your Daddy will be angry if you don’t take care of yourself,” Magnus quietly reminded her.
“Okay. Can I leave my stuffies down here today?”
“I will watch over them,” Magnus promised.
“Thank you.”
Walking slowly to the waiting serving dishes, Sadie wrapped her arms around herself. He needs to be okay. I need him home.
Maybe she should spank him for making her worry. A giggle escaped her lips at that visual image popping into her brain. Not wanting to forget to tell her Daddy that, Sadie ran back over to grab her phone. She opened a new note and made a to-do list.
#1. Spank Daddy
Giggling again at the thought, she ladled the hot, creamy oatmeal into her bowl and added cranberries, brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon. Sadie sat at the table and took a bite. She looked around at all the empty seats and felt even more alone. To her surprise, Magnus stood and came over to help himself as well. He sat down to eat with her.
“Aren’t you going to have brown sugar and all the yummies?” she asked.
“No, Little girl.”
Silence filled the room as they ate. Finally, Sadie grabbed the oatmeal ladle and started talking about what she planned to work on that day. Holding it out to Magnus when she was done, she waited as long seconds passed by. To her delight, he took the ladle with a sigh.
“Whoever started this should be banned from the dinner table,” he muttered. “Today, I’m going to keep track of five guys and watch over the resort to make sure everything continues on schedule. The grand opening is coming up.”
Sadie reached out a finger to touch the ladle and asked, “What will you do when it opens?”
“I’ll continue to gather intel down here and keep the system updated. Don’t you need to be at the desk in a half hour?”