“Fixing slides,” Caleb says slowly, his gaze holding mine.“I kept having to do them over and over again.Eve’s a hard taskmaster.”I feel the heat creep up my neck.Jerk.He’s doing this on purpose.He wants to see my reaction.
“Maybe if you had done it right the first time,” I bite back, refusing to be tormented like this, “I wouldn’t have asked you to do it again.”
“And again,” Caleb mouths, his eyes laughing at me over my retort, but mostly at my predicament.
“Well, she is a perfectionist,” Flora agrees.“But you should really let the man rest.”
Caleb nearly chokes, and I resist the urge to kick him.It’s one thing to let everyone know we’re ‘dating’ but like this?I’ll strangle him with his own tie!When he looks at me, the intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch, but I can see him fighting back laughter at Flora and Steven’s misinterpretation.
“Don’t be such a miser,” he continues, his voice carefully controlled even as his eyes dance with mischief.“Besides, I seem to remember you being very...appreciative of my efforts.”
Flora looks at Caleb sympathetically.“Just get him a sandwich, Eve.He looks exhausted.”
“I wasn’t—” I start, my face burning.
“Yeah, just get the man some food,” Steven adds, nodding at Caleb.“He does look really tired.And don’t make him work so much.He needs a break.”
Recalling how he wouldn’t give me a break in the early hours of the day, I clench my jaw.Caleb just snickers.Putting my hand on his shoulder, I lean forward, my voice low, “You’re testing my patience.”
His grin widens.“Make sure you hold on to it.”Out of sight of everyone, he puts his hand around my waist, running it over the curve of my hip.
“Caleb,” I hiss warningly.
“You’re blushing.”His grin turns absolutely wicked.“It’s cute.”
I grab his hand and twist it.He immediately groans.“Stop being so violent, Eve!”
“Stop being a pain in the ass,” I retort before letting him go.
“Sorry.”He rubs his wrist.“But that’s a hard ask.Don’t forget my sandwich.”
I narrow my eyes at him.“Fine.Whatever.One sandwich.”
His low chuckle follows me as I head toward the elevator, while Flora calls after me, “Get him some of those energy drinks, too!He needs his strength after pulling an all-nighter!”
I grab my wallet and head for the elevator, but halfway down I realize I forgot my phone.By the time I get back upstairs, retrieve it, and make it outside, I’m about ten minutes behind schedule.
That’s when I see Joshua.He’s not smoking.He’s standing near the corner, checking his watch like he’s waiting for someone.I’m about to call out to him when a black sedan pulls up to the curb.
I freeze.The windows are tinted, but one rolls down.Joshua leans down to talk to whoever’s inside, his posture cautious as he glances around.I immediately step into a door’s arch, out of sight.He reaches into his jacket and pulls out something small—looks like a flash drive—and he hands it through the window.
Something about the exchange puts me on edge.The video Caleb showed me flashes through my mind: the figure in dark clothing breaking into our office, moving like they knew exactly where they were going.Someone with access.Someone who worked here.
The car drives away, and Joshua straightens up, looking around nervously before heading back toward the building.I wait until he’s inside, then follow at a distance.
“Joshua!”I call out as I catch up to him in the lobby.“That was quick.How was your smoke break?”
He startles, his hand flying to his chest.“Eve!You scared me.”
“Sorry.”I study his face, noting the slight sheen of sweat on his forehead despite the cool weather.“I thought you went to the roof for your smoke break.”
“I did.I mean, I was going to.”He’s talking faster than usual, his words tumbling over each other.“But the roof door was locked.”
“Locked?”I keep my voice light, curious.“That’s weird.It’s never locked.”
“Well, it was today.”He shrugs, but there’s tension in his shoulders.“So I just stepped outside instead.”
“Makes sense,” I agree, even though my mind is racing.“Well, I’m heading to the bodega.Want anything?”
