The hostess led Tricia to the private room next door. Standing at the threshold, she took a moment to smooth her hair and touch up her lipstick, confidence radiating from her every move as she pushed open the door.

    Her gaze fell on the blurred figure behind the folding screen–tall, broad–shouldered, unmistakably young. She tucked her hair behind her ear and stepped out from behind the screen, her smile charming and practiced. “You must be Mr. Selwyn?”

    The man didn’t turn around. He picked up his ss, his tone cold and amused. “It’s been years, and you haven’t changed a bit. Looks like failing to be Mrs. Howard hasn’t dulled your skill at chasing men.”

    Tricia’s smile faltered.

    That voice-

    The man turned. The moment she saw his face, she stumbled backward, nearly losing her bnce. “Finnick Vinterberg? You… How is it you?”

    “What’s wrong? After you climbed aboard Zoe’s ship, did she not tell you I was back in the country?i” /i

    Tricia’s face drained of color, her body recoiling instinctively.

    To her, Finnick Vinterberg was the devil in disguise. She’d been fooled by his appearance once before, and the torment–physical and emotional–he’d inflicted on her was something she’d never forget.

    Finnick strode toward her, and the closer he got, the harder she trembled.

    He stopped just in front of her.

    Tricia’s knees buckled; she copsed to the floor, pleading, “Don’t—”

    “You’re still just as terrified of me,” Finnick remarked, a note of boredom flickering across his face. He didn’t spare her another nce. “Don’t tter yourself. I’m not interested in used–up women. I have conditions for my sponsorship.”

    Tricia clenched her fists, biting her lip. “What do you want me to do this time…?b” /b

    Finnick sat down on the sofa, crossing his long legs. “I want the nanomedicine technology.”

    Tricia froze. “You… you’re insane. You want me to-”

    b17:13 /b

    “What, is there actually something you’re afraid to do?” Finnick nudged her chin up with the toe of his shoe. “Do you need me to remind you of what you are?”

    Tricia’s face went from pale to ghostly white. “I’ll do my best.”

    “Don’t make me wait too long.” He uncrossed his legs. “Get out.”

    Tricia scrambled to her feet and hurried out of the room, forcing herself not to look

    back.

    Once outside the club, she copsed into the driver’s seat of her car, pounding the steering wheel in frustration. That lunatic Finnick–he’d barely returned to the country and already wanted her to steal nanomedicine technology. She’d finally earned Professor Aldridge’s trust–was she really supposed to throw it all away for him?

    She pressed both hands to her forehead, her nerves raw and frayed.

    Suddenly, a n flickered to life in her mind.

    b*** /b

    Meanwhile-

    Charlotte was workingte again. Before she knew it, it was already nine o’clock.

    The researchb was almost empty by then. She tidied her workspace, switched off the lights, and headed out. At a dimly lit corner, a sudden figure startled her so badly she let out a yelp.

    “Am I really that scary?”

    The familiar voice calmed her nerves. She looked closer–it was Judd Carstairs.

    “What are you still doing at theb?” he asked.

    “Workingte…” Charlotte steadied her breath. “You too? Didn’t go home yet?”

    “Forgot something. Came back for it.”

    She couldn’t help butugh. “Even Professor Carstairs forgets things sometimes?”

    Judd raised an eyebrow. “Why, am I not allowed to lose track of things?”

    “Doesn’t seem like you.”

    “What do I seem like, then?”

    They walked side by side down the corridor. “Sharp, calm, and rational.”

    Judd’s eyes dropped. Rational, huh… If this counted, then yes, maybe he was a little

    17:13

    too rational.

    “I’ll drive you back,” he said.

    “But didn’t you need to pick something up?”

    “It can wait.”

    ***

    Judd pulled up outside Charlotte’s hotel. As she unbuckled her seatbelt, he suddenly

    reached out a hand.

    She turned to him, puzzled.

    His hand hovered in the air for a second, thennded on her shoulder–just a brief pat. “Don’t bete tomorrow.”

    She nodded, stepped out of the car, and walked toward the hotel lobby.

    Judd watched her go, then nced at his own hand, shaking his head at himself. “Who do you think you are, fixing her hair like you have any right?”