Chapter 4 Chapter Four: The List
By mid-morning, Rowan had taken control of the expo prep. Not officially. No one had asked her to. But they didn’t have to. She pulled up a fresh spreadsheet, already structuring it in her head. Columns, categories, contacts, deadlines.
Jess leaned over her shoulder. “You’re doing the thing again.”
“The thing?”
“The ‘if I don’t do it, it won’t get done right’ thing.”
Rowan didn’t look up. “It’s not a thing. It’s a fact.”
Jess laughed. “Fair.”
Rowan titled the document:
Expo Prep – Materials / Vendors / Contacts
Her fingers moved quickly, filling in the basics.
Booth setup.
Display materials.
Backup inventory.
Shipping timelines.
Everything had a place. Everything made sense. That’s why she liked this part.Her cursor paused. Then, almost without thinking, she added a new section.
New / Unverified Vendors
Jess tilted her head. “What’s that for?”
“Just in case,” Rowan said. “There are always a few companies we haven’t worked with before. Easier to track them separately.”
Jess nodded. “Smart.”
Rowan typed the first name.
Blacke Industries
The second the letters appeared on the screen… Rowan froze. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard. That feeling again. Stronger now. Like a pressure behind her ribs.
“Rowan?”
She blinked, looking up. Jess was watching her.
“You, okay?” Jess asked. “You kind of went quiet.”
“Yeah,” Rowan said quickly. “I’m fine.” She looked back at the screen. At the name. For a split second, she thought the letters shifted. Not changed. Just… moved. Like something behind them. She blinked hard. Normal.
“Okay…” she muttered under her breath.
Jess frowned slightly. “You sure you’re good?”
“Yeah,” Rowan said, forcing a small smile. “Just need coffee.”
Jess perked up immediately. “Same. Let’s go.”
Rowan stood, grabbing her cup. But something made her hesitate. She looked back at her screen. The spreadsheet was still open. Unchanged. Except… There was a new line under Blacke Industries. She hadn’t typed it. She knew she hadn’t. Her stomach dropped as she stepped closer.
Status: Pending Confirmation
Rowan’s pulse quickened. “I didn’t…” she whispered.
Jess called from the doorway, “Rowan?”
Rowan stared at the screen for one more second. Then forced herself to turn away.
“Coming,” she said. She walked out. Tried to ignore it. Tried to be normal. But as she reached the break room…. Her computer screen, left behind at her desk…. Updated again. The cursor blinked. Waiting. As if expecting her to come back.
