Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“I don’t use too much either. I alternate swimming laps with weight training. But the dry sauna and free shampoo in the showers are nice perks.” He smiled.
We walked side by side a few doors down to the office, waited for the elevator, and rode it up together. I had no idea why I wanted to shake him off so badly. Jack was a nice guy, a good catch even. He was handsome, had a great job, seemed to have good manners. Yet when the doors opened at my floor, I had to work at not frowning as he followed me off.
“Going to make the good stuff with the fancy machine,” he told me. “Want me to make you one while you settle in?”
“That’s okay. I’ll do it in a bit. But thank you.”
Ten minutes later, he returned with two cups anyway. And then proceeded to stand around chatting for another ten minutes. When my phone rang, I was glad to have an excuse to bring our conversation to an end.
“Excuse me.” I smiled. “I need to answer that. But thank you again for the cappuccino.”
“No problem.”
I blew out a breath before picking up my phone. “Sutton Holland.”
“I thought he was never going to leave.” Jagger’s deep voice made all the little hairs on my arms stand at immediate attention.
I looked around. “How did you know someone was at my desk?”
“I came down earlier and saw him standing there. I managed to stop myself from telling him to go do some damn work and returned to my office instead. But I did need to speak to you, so I checked the camera to see if it was safe to call.”
My eyes darted to the ceiling. “What camera?”
“Turn to your right.”
Oh my God. He’s watching me right now. My eyes locked on a globe-type fixture on the ceiling. I opened my mouth to ask if that was it, but Jagger beat me to it.
“You got it. Pretty blouse, by the way. Blue looks good on you. It’s my favorite color.”
In a moment of temporary insanity, I briefly debated opening my legs for the camera. I was wearing a skirt and wondered what he would say.
“What are you thinking right now?” Jagger asked.
At least I thought the debate had gone on in my head, but apparently it wasn’t the only place. I looked up, speaking directly to the camera. “Why?”
“Because the devil just made an appearance on your face.”
“Jesus.” I laughed. “That’s some high-def equipment you have.”
He chuckled, and the smooth sound flowed over me, making me warmer than a blanket. “It is. How did you feel on Saturday morning?”
I’d almost forgotten about the delivery. “Good, thanks to you. It was very thoughtful of you to drop off the meds and gym pass.”
“You’re welcome. I was in the neighborhood.”
For some reason, I suspected that might not be the truth. And his watching me made me feel bold. I looked directly at the camera again. “Where?”
“Where what?”
“You said you were in the neighborhood. Where did you go?”
The line was quiet for so long, I was beginning to think he’d hung up. But then I heard his chair creak. “One of the analysts who was going to be part of the team that tests the new algorithm has the flu. So there’s an open spot if you want to spend a week at the whiteboard.”
My eyes flared. “Really? Not watch them do the testing, but be an actual part of it?”
“If you feel you’re up for it. I recommended you to Will Twible who heads up the algorithm-engineering division, so you have the spot, if you want to participate.”
I nodded my head fast. “Yes, yes. I definitely want to. I’m so excited.”
“I can see that.” I heard the smile in his voice. “You’ll have to sign a mountain of legal papers that promise your first-born child if you violate our NDA since you’ll be working with proprietary information. But they’re starting at eight, so you should get going. Testing is being done in the quant lab, down on the seventh floor.”
“Okay!”
“I’ll have legal meet you there with the paperwork so you can get started.”
“Perfect.”
“And I’ll make sure to send someone other than your new friend. He seems to know where you are at all times better than my eye in the sky.”
I smiled. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“You’re welcome.”
I was about to hang up when I remembered he’d never answered my question. I lifted the phone back to my ear. “Jagger?”
“Yes?”
“Where were you going on Saturday when you stopped by my apartment?”
He was quiet for a few beats. “You’re winning, Ms. Holland. But don’t push your luck.”
CHAPTER 14
* * *
Sutton
The testing team worked through lunch. And dinner, every day.
By the time Friday afternoon arrived, I had probably worked eighty hours. The whole algo team had, and I was in my glory. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so full of energy, so full of passion. It made me realize how incredibly down I’d been for the last year and a half. I’d let everything that happened with Brendan really take its toll, and it felt good to take back control.