She glances at Theo, who is leaning back in his chair, chin resting in the crook of his hand. He remains silent.
Anya nods once. “All right. Before I move on, just one more thing. My two junior engineers are ready to make their first site visits. Kaori will visit Medusa’s Fury and Jared the Mystic Quest. I sent you the proposed dates this morning.”
My pulse gives a small, unexpected jump. A site visit. My first one. I keep my face neutral, but inside, my brain is already sprinting ahead. I’llfinallybe seeing what I’ve been working on in the flesh.
“I got them, and everything looked good to me,” Theo says.
“Fantastic. I’ll email out the details and CC you,” Anya says. He nods. “Kaori.” She gestures to me. “Take it away.”
“Thanks.” I stand and pull up my slide. “I reviewed the outstanding documentation against the current schedule. Everything we need for sign-off is accounted for.”
Theo nods. “Good. That’s exactly the point we want to be at before this goes any further. Make sure that checkliststays updated once we’re on-site. Billings, where are we on the Escape From Weisshorn timeline?”
While Leon connects his laptop to the projector, I sit back down. That’s it? There’s no follow-up? Nothing I’ve overlooked? Everything is fine? I glance at Theo again, half-expecting him to stop and circle back to me so he can dismantle my report for sport. But he doesn’t. He’s focused on Leon and moving the meeting along.
Across the table, Derrick and Andy lock eyes with me, both of them wearing the same“are you seeing this”expression I feel on my face.
It’s good to know I’m not the only one thinking this is weird.
Throughout the restof the week, Theo’s good mood continues.
I don’t get the chance to interact with him much outside of our morning meetings, but the office buzz fills in the gaps.
“...He provided lunch for the entire floor three days this week. And not just pity pizza, either. We’re talking actual catering. Yesterday it was a build-your-own taco bar with four types of salsa. Today it looks like an ice-cream bar.”
“... The office door was open and Julie swore she heard him singing AC/DC. Singing!”
“... offered free tickets to everyone for the Miami Open tennis tournament.”
Over lunch at Mamma Lina’s on Friday, I pick Leon’s brain over it. He doesn’t offer much insight at first except to say, “Everyone has their theories.”
I tilt my head. “And yours is?”
Leon chews slower than usual, eyes drifting toward the corner booth where the subject of our conversation is camped out with his laptop and a plate of gnocchi. After he swallows, he says in a low voice, “I don’t think he’s a different person, Kaori. And I don’t think this good mood is as new as everyone thinks it is. I think there are two very simple things at play here.”
“Go on,” I say, abandoning my fork.
“One, he hasn’t had to set foot in an airport for seven days. He’s actually well-rested for the first time since he arrived in Orlando.”
“And the second thing?”
Leon looks back at the corner booth, his expression softening with a rare moment of genuine respect. “Riverton has always done nice things anonymously. He just always made sure to fly under the radar—like he was afraid that being nice would ruin his reputation.” He turns back to me. “I think he finally realized he doesn’t have to hide it anymore.”
I nod, letting that settle.
Then Leon changes the subject, clearly deciding that’s enough emotional insight for one day. “You all set for your site visit tomorrow?”
“I think so,” I say, reaching for my water. “I didn’t get a chance to touch base with Anya, but her email said to be at the office by seven.” I wrinkle my nose. “I assumed it’d be during the week. And maybe not at the crack of dawn.”
Leon chuckles. “Theo likes the quiet and getting an early start. He always does the visits on Saturdays if he can.”
I frown. “Theo? No. I thought I was with Anya.”
Leon winces sympathetically. “Hate to break it to you,kiddo, but Anya’s in Gainesville this weekend. It’s the official college visit with her son at UF.”
My stomach drops. “That’sthisweekend?”
“Yup.” The “P” pops as he smacks his lips together.
