Allyson's POV
"We're running five minutes behind schedule, Allyson. Five entire minutes," Lisha hissed from the doorway, her voice sharp with irritation. "And your precious protégé is nowhere to be found. Are you seriously telling me this is happening right now?"
My eyes stayed glued to my phone screen as I pressed redial once more. The device felt slick in my sweaty palm.
Lisha's bitter laugh echoed behind me. "This has to be some kind of sick joke. I knew from day one that Reagan would crash and burn. I warned you he wasn't reliable. But you defended him. You promised he'd come through. And look where that got us."
The phone rang exactly once before switching to that familiar automated voicemail greeting.
Again.
That mechanical voice asking me to leave a message was becoming my personal nightmare. Each repetition sent my pulse racing faster, panic clawing its way up my throat.
I ended the call and immediately dialed again. Same result.
