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“Why did you pay?” I ask.

“Because you still owe me dinner, remember?”

When did I ever agree to that? “Dinner?”

“Don’t look so worried. I’ll let you pick the place tonight.”

“Tonight? No, no, no. Wait. We said lunch. This lunch.” I tip my index finger on the table. “On me.”

“Lesson learned. Don’t let strangers pay for your lunch. And don’t owe anyone anything.”

“I can’t tonight. I have too much work to do.”

Connor studies me for a moment. “Okay, no problem. When do you have time?”

“I could… probably do… Friday night.”

“Friday? That’s quite a while from now.”

“Hmm… maybe I can’t—”

“Fine, Blue. Friday.” His jaw clenches.

Blue? That’s the 10th time or so. He’s really set on using this name for me.

“The IT team is expecting us, right?” Connor closes his suit jacket, switching into professional mode.

“Yes.” Just like that, I’m left reeling from his whiplash-inducing changes in demeanor.

This can’t be anything more than a working relationship with someone my father hired.

Chapter 11

Connor

Mary leads me down the shiny hallway of Wempton’s head office, navigating the maze-like corridors like a pro while keeping a noticeable distance from me. Whatever ease we shared at lunch earlier is now deleted.

“Here we are.” She stops abruptly in front of a door marked ‘IT Department’. “Let me introduce you to our head of IT.”

As she opens the door, the familiar hum of computers fills my ears. At the center of the room stands a tall man dressed in a charcoal gray suit, his thinning hair combed neatly over his scalp. The epitome of a model employee. Lifting his gaze from his work, he smiles at Mary and narrows his eyes upon seeing me.

I take it back. I don’t like him.

“Mary, what brings you here?”

Mary?

“Richy, this is Connor Milton, our new cyber security consultant.”

Richy… extends his hand towards me. “Ah, yes. Your father had already mentioned. A pleasure to meet you. I’m Richardson, Head of IT.”

I return the gesture. “Likewise, Mr. Richardson.”

“You’re quite the expert, I heard.” He studies me.

“Her father hired me for a reason.”

“Yes. Everything you need will be provided by Richy,” Mary says.

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