~Catherine's POV~
I took a deep, shaky breath and finally dialed Mark's number. My finger hovered over the screen for a second before pressing call. He answered after the second ring, his voice familiar and calm.
"Hey, Catherine. Did Emma give you my message?"
"Yes, she did," I said, my voice a little tight. "I'm sorry for not showing up at the cafe today, something... something just came up." It was a weak excuse, but it was all I had.
"No worries at all," he replied, sounding genuinely unconcerned. "But, you have to make sure you show up at the gala tonight. It's really important, more than the cafe meeting."
"Is it about that rebranding thing you mentioned last week?" I asked, trying to focus on the practical details.
