Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
She looks at me and something flickers behind her eyes, but it’s hard to decipher what it means. It’s not the same heat I’ve come to expect from her.
“I appreciate that,” she says. “Really.”
I don’t push further. Not yet. Instead, I pivot to business, which seems like the safest course of action right now.
“I’ve got a confidential project that I need help with,” I say. “It’s extremely high-profile, and I need the best brain in the company on it.”
She straightens a little, and I don’t miss the flush of her cheeks at my words. “Okay. What kind of project is it?”
“It has to do with signal interference,” I say. “We’ve got a client dealing with some serious jamming issues. They’re working in a secure environment, but the area is saturated with interference. They need a program that can identify suppression points, override encrypted jammers, and reestablish clean connections in real time.”
Her brows draw together thoughtfully as she considers this. “That sounds like a nightmare.” She laughs, sounding a little nervous.
“You’re the only one I trust to do it,” I say, and it’s the truth.
She hesitates for a moment, seemingly taken aback, before she speaks again. “So, it’s like a high-grade anti-jamming tool?”
“Exactly.” I nod. “Do you think you’re up for it?”
She leans back, her fingers lightly tapping her thigh. I watch her think, her gaze drifting to the windows behind me like the answer might be hidden there.
“There’s already a base-level protocol in our system,” she says slowly. “The company developed it two years ago for secure building transmissions. It wouldn’t take much to modify it into something stronger and more aggressive. It would need a rewritten signature database, a modular input analysis script, and probably a dynamic frequency response algorithm to adjust in real time. It would be a challenge, but I can definitely handle that.”
I nod, pleased. “That’s good to hear.” I smile. “Also, Lyra, I want this handled quietly. You’re the only one allowed to touch it. Like I said, I need someone I trust, and only that person.”
She seems to bristle at that, and her gaze sharpens slightly. She looks suspicious, and for a moment, I’m worried that she may say no.
“Why so secretive?” she asks carefully.
I meet her eyes. “Because too many hands on this can fuck it up,” I say, which isn’t a total lie. “Plus, this client is extremely important to this firm, and they require the utmost discretion. The job needs to be perfect.”
Her mouth tightens just a bit. She still looks somewhat suspicious, and it rattles me in a way I can’t name.
“All right,” she finally answers. “I’ll start putting together the framework.”
“Today,” I say.
“I can start now,” she replies. Then, after a breath, she adds, “Is there a deadline?”
“As soon as humanly possible.”
She rises from the chair, and I do the same, walking her to the door. My hand brushes her lower back out of habit, and she doesn’t move away, but she doesn’t lean into it either. When she looks up at me, her eyes are cool and quiet.
“I’ll let you know when I have something functional,” she says.
“Thank you.”
She holds my gaze for a moment longer, then gives a brief nod and leaves without another word.
The second the door clicks shut behind her, I sink back into my chair and stare at it. Something’s not right. I’m not stupid enough to think it’s all about the boss-employee dynamic. That ship sailed the second we kissed for the first time, and it was obliterated when we slept together. The shift in her energy isn’t just about professionalism. It’s something deeper. And maybe that’s why it bothers me so much.
I thought I had her figured out, but she’s thrown me a curveball. I need more insight, so I pull out my phone and hit Alek’s contact.
He picks up after the first ring. “Hey, boss.”
“I need you to keep an eye on Lyra,” I tell him without any preamble.
He pauses for a moment.
“Okay,” he answers slowly. “Do you think she’s in trouble or something?”
“I think something’s bothering her, and I don’t know what it is. She’s been distant. Off. I want to make sure she’s not getting pulled into something.”
“Do you think one of Rurik’s men approached her?”
“I don’t know,” I say. Honestly, that thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. “Maybe she’s doing something stupid on her own, but she’s definitely keeping something from me. Whatever it is, I need to know.”
Alek sighs softly on the other end. “Not to overstep, but are you sure you want to do that? It would erode all of her trust if she finds out.”
“I’m not doing it to spy on her,” I say. “I’m doing it to keep her safe.”
He pauses again, considering.
“All right,” he finally says. “I’ll pull someone to follow her discreetly. I’ll keep it low-key for now until you say otherwise.”