bChapter /bb296 /b

I bwatched /bas the tiny mechanical insects flew from the trunk of my car, buzzing toward the mansion. Each carried benough /bexplosive power:

teal insects to bbring /bdown a supporting wall. Together, they would reduce the entire structure to rubble, erasing any evidence of what had bhappened /binside.

I walked calmly back to my car as the dronespleted their mission. By the time I reached my vehicle, the night sky zed borange/b, the shockwave rumbling through Princeton and reaching all the way to New York. The mansion copsed in on itself, bing a fiery grave for what remained of Shadow’s east coast operation.

I slid into the driver’s seat, looking at the stupid round–headed robot sitting in the passenger seat. The little LED lights in its eyes Blinked at me, almost expectantly.

Ethan’s voice came through again: “You’re back.”

Something in his voice–even knowing it was just a recording–soothed the savage rage that had been driving me all night.

I studied Maxi’s ridiculous appearance and felt a sudden urge to mess with him. “Call me ‘master,” I ordered.

The robot immediatelyplied in Ethan’s voice: “Master.”

The incongruity of Ethan’s smooth, authoritative toneing from this cartoonish machine almost made bme /bsmile.

“What else can you call me?” I asked, starting the car.

“I can call you ‘bossb,/b‘ mander,‘ ‘chief,‘ ‘ma’am,‘ ‘honey,‘ ‘darling,‘ ‘sweetheart’-‘

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”

As I drove away from the scene, my phone rang. The real Ethan.

“Was that explosion in Princeton’s outskirts your doing?” he asked without preamble.

Of course I’d be his prime suspect. Hearing his actual voice after listening to robot Ethan call me ‘honey made me feel strangely conflicted. A rush of irritation washed over me.

“How is that any of my business?” I snapped, and hung up.

The next morning, I parked my car outside Ethan’s office building and sent him a text. I knew he was in the middle of his quarterly investment meeting–the kind that typically ran for hours with all those Wall Street suits. I figured I’d wait a while, maybe grab coffee across the street if he took too long.

I hadn’t even finished checking my emails when I spotted him pushing through the revolving doors, scanning the street until his eyes locked bon /bbmy /bcar. Well, that was fast.

He moved with purposeb, /bhis expensive suit jacket fluttering in the November wind. I could see the moment he spotted bme/bb–/bhis pace quickened, and a barely perceptible smile tugged at his lips. fn267e The source of th?s content is findnovel/fn267e

bHe /bslid into my passenger bseat/b, his eyes finding mine Instantly. Without a word, he leaned over and kissed meb, /bbhis /blips firm against bmine/b. I didn’t bpull /baway. In fact, I kissed him backb, /bjust slightlyb, /benough to feel the warmth bof /bbhis /bmouth against mine.

8:20 Tue, Sep 30

When he finally broke the kiss, I said calmly, ‘You can go upstairs now.”

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“You called me down here just for this?” he asked, his green eyes searching my face. There was a hint of confusion in his expression, but

mostly pleasure.

“Problem? 1 raised an eyebrow.

“Not at all. I’m honored. Touched, even.” His lips curved into a smile. “But isn’t it a bit much to drive all the way here just to satisfy ba /bpersonal craving?”

I looked him up and down, taking in his impable suit and perfect face. “With your looks, Mr. Haxton? Worth it.”

Heughed softly. “Well, if this mutually beneficial arrangement works for you, I’m avable anytime. I can evene to you if the drive is inconvenient.”

Before he got out of the car, he leaned in again, cing a gentle kiss on my forehead, then my cheek.

“I’m going back to work,” he murmured, his voice low. “Drive safely.”