Stone's gaze flicked to Quentin. Something passed between them—a look I couldn't quite read.
Warning? Concern?
"Why don't we step into another room?" Stone gestured to the door. "Give you some privacy for this conversation."
"Actually," Quentin said, "I'll sit in."
Stone's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's not standard procedure."
"I'm aware."
Another loaded look between them.
"Fine. Then we might as well stay here." Stone's tone suggested he didn’t like it, but he wouldn't argue in front of me.
Stone moved to the other side of the table facing me. Quentin sat beside me. Close enough to watch my every move. Close enough to feel the heat from his body.
This is bad. But also good. I was so screwed.
"Let's start simple," Stone said, pulling out a tablet. "Tell me about your high school.” Stone looked at me like it was a gotcha question. “You graduated from Saint Veronica’s Academy in Jamaica Estates?”
“Yes.” I held back a smile. Because this was a private Catholic all-girl’s prep school, a place most of my close female relatives had attended. I’d been there asJulia Russell,so none of it was fake. I’d been on the honor roll and set some track records, too. Fancy that. “I learned discipline there, although to be honest, being separated from the boys as a teenager wouldn’t have been my first choice.”
Stone asked pointed questions. I gave careful answers. Quentin sat beside me, occasionally interjecting, his presence both reassuring and deeply unsettling.
Every time our eyes met, I remembered:I'm here to investigate him. Possibly kill him.
Every time he smiled at something I said, I thought:What if he's innocent?
And every time Stone's gaze sharpened with suspicion, I realized that he knew something was off. He just couldn’t figure out what.
"One last question," Stone said finally. "Why this job? You could work anywhere. Why here?"
"Because Vitality Ventures is a growing business. I want to be part of something ambitious. Something that matters. And I’m ready for a new start. A new beginning."
It wasn't entirely a lie. If I was going to spend a month investigating someone, at least the company was interesting.
Stone studied me. “You running from something, Miss Russell?”
I met his gaze without flinching. Perfect. This was my chance to sell it. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to some of that. I was in a relationship a while back. It ended about six months ago, but it took me a little longer to admit that I needed a change. A big change. When the agency listed this job, I jumped at the chance.”
Stone nodded, like he’d finally gotten to the bottom of things. "Thank you for being honest, Miss Russell." His brows dipped. "I hope you don’t mind me asking, but will this person be a problem in the future?"
I raised a brow. “If he’s a problem, he’s my problem. Nothing for you or Mr. Vanetti to worry about.”
Stone’s brows rose. “I see.” He glanced at Quentin. “That’s all I have for now.”
“Good. Thank you, Stone.” Quentin stood, and motioned to the door. "I'll walk you out.”
"That's not—" Stone started.
Quentin pinned him with a look. "I'll walk her out."
Stone's jaw tightened, but he nodded.
In the elevator, alone with Quentin, the silence felt thick. Heavy.
"Stone doesn't like me," I observed.
