Page 10 of Atlas
Being alone with Mr. Robertson made my nerves act up, and I rambled, “Let’s hope he doesn’t turn into a zombie that sues you.”
“Brian is a gifted scientist, but also a bit of a character.” Mr. Robertson crossed his arms. “Would you call yourself a person with high morals?”
“I would like to think so. Not that I’ve lived a perfect life, because I made my share of bad decisions, but I’ve matured.”
“The test you did with the recruiters showed there’s a bit of a rebel in you.”
I scratched my collarbone. “Did it? I can’t imagine why. I’m a good person.”
“Did you ever cheat?”
I scratched my collarbone again, feeling like a sudden rash was spreading. I needed this job and couldn’t screw up. “Nooo.” It didn’t sound confident or convincing.
Mr. Robertson leaned closer, engulfing me in a scent of expensive masculine cologne that made me want to close my eyes and take a deep sniff. For a moment, his eyes transfixed me. They had a light brown color with specks of gray in them that reminded me of the bark on the large elm tree from the back garden of my childhood home. God, I had loved that tree.
“Be honest, Miss Fisher. You never cheated in a game, on a test, or kissed someone else when you had a boyfriend?”
I wet my lips, my mouth feeling dry. “No, I never cheated in a game or on a test unless you count letting others look at my results. The part about cheating on a boyfriend…” I cleared my throat; my eyes fixed on his shoulder. “I was very young, and we weren’t that serious, or at least I didn’t think we were.”
“Hmm.”
Mr. Robertson’s lack of response made me raise my gaze to look at him. There was a heaviness to his energy like he’d seen it all.
“I’m a trustworthy person, Mr. Robertson. I’m sorry if the agency got the wrong impression of me.”
“I should clarify that the reason we asked to see you is that we’re looking for a bit of a rebel.”
That surprised me, but I straightened up.
“Some of the experiments we do here require…” He tilted his head with a thoughtful expression. “Well, it requires someone bold, and I wonder if you’re that person.”
“Oh, I’m very bold. Some would call me a daredevil.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, absolutely. I like to challenge myself. Once, I dove into the water from a five-meter platform. And I’ve driven on my cousin's motorcycle. As a passenger, not by myself, but still,” I rambled while trying to find more things that would impress him. “Also, when I was in college, there was a professor that we all thought was incredibly attractive, and I asked him out.”
Mr. Robertson raised his brow, and there was a small tilt of his lips. “Brave! How did that go?”
I scratched my arm. “Not good. It was a Christmas party, and I was a bit drunk. Did you know that a professor isn’t allowed to date any students at his college? It doesn’t matter that she’s not in his class.”
“I can’t say that I’ve given it much thought.”
“Maybe you didn’t have any attractive professors?” I suggested before stopping myself. I could have smacked my forehead. “I’m sorry, I tend to ramble when I get nervous. I’m not sure why I told you about his rejection.”
Diane came back in and took a seat. “What did I miss?”
“Just that Ms. Fisher is a very bold person who once hit on a professor at her college.”
Diane’s eyes lit up. “Me too.”
I could have kissed her. “You did?”
“Yes. Our flirt was all secret and exciting. Oh, such good memories.”
Mr. Robertson shook his head and looked down with an amused smile. “Maybe I should have become a professor.”
I was so relieved that they hadn’t judged me that I laughed and joked, “Good thing that you didn’t. There’s no need to torture the poor girls.”
