“How do you mean?”
“You’ll keep the same distance as the last few days,” I say. “I’ll watch my step. When Lucie and I go after the key, I’ll make it seem like I’m just trying to get under her skirt.”
“But—”
“But, what?” I cut him in a steely tone, conveying mymind is made up. “You’re one of our best. Between the two of us, we have years of MMA training, field practice, great instincts, and great aim. Lucie will be safe. I’ll be safe.”
Anders inhales and opens his mouth, preparing to object. Our gazes lock. I can see his resolve melt away under my icy glare. As much as I hate pulling rank on him, he’s left me no choice.
Anders shuts his mouth without uttering another word. Too candid to lie that he thinks I’m right, he opts for silence.
Good. I’m OK with that. Mission above all else.
I am confident I can protect Lucie and myself from Kurt’s minions. The fact that it was me, and not my over-dependable, over-competent, overtrained, overachieving older brother who was picked to retrieve the first key has nothing to do with anything. The pressure to prove my worth isn’t clouding my judgment. I do not—I repeat, I do not—burn to show my family what I’m made of.
Rolling my shoulders back, I nod to Anders, and bound to themétro.
8
LUCIE
“Is that sort of thing common at MINDFUCH?” I set down my fork and knife and gaze at Aurélien and Camille.
Aurélien, who’s almost as new as I am, gives me a comical don’t-ask-me-I’m-clueless look before turning to Camille.
She waves a hand in front of her mouth to show that she’s chewing.
We wait.
She slows down into bovine chewing mode, moving her lower jaw so slowly you’d think she had all day to finish her meal.
The truth is, we have ten minutes left to our lunch break, and I’d love to get an answer before we return to our cubicles. I glance at the coffee counter at the other end of the cafeteria. Seeing as I’m done, should I dart over and grab a coffee? Should I ask if Aurélien and Camille want any? Or would I be committing a gaffe? Maybe I’m supposed to wait for Camille to finish so we cango all together? Aurélien, whose plate is as empty as mine, isn’t making any move to stand up.
This is my third day at MINDFUCH. I’m still learning the dos and don’ts of company etiquette. What’s certain is that people rarely buy lunch off-site, given that the agency’s cafeteria serves cheap and surprisingly decent food.
I look around. One of the walls sports a god-awful mural representing a “slice of life” at MINDFUCH. The scene is set in this very cafeteria. Staffers hang around, eating and chatting, or move between the tables carrying colorful trays laden with food. Judging by the oversize lapels and the flared hemlines, the mural was painted in the seventies. That means the agency has been around for at least half a century.
It’s odd that I’ve never heard about it and neither have any of my friends and family… Then again, if my first assignment is any indication of how useful and relevant MINDFUCH is, then I shouldn’t be surprised.
Which brings me back to the question I asked Camille, who’s currently micro-masticating her last forkful. Next to me, Aurélien sucks up the remains of his Orangina with a loud slurping noise. He shoots me an embarrassed look.
My increasingly desperate gaze travels back to the coffee counter. The double doors next to it swing open. In saunters the too-cool-for-school Max Delaroche, his phenomenally good looks turning heads all over the cafeteria.
He halts by our table. “Lucie, will you join me for a coffee?”
I check the time on my wristwatch. My lunch hour is up. Besides, wouldn’t it be rude to abandon my lunch companions? A big part of me is stoked that my new boss is willing to socialize in a more informal setting than mycubicle or his office. But another part of me screams,Danger! Danger! It’s a trap! Do not move!
While I can’t believe how quickly I got over Jerome, I fully intend to keep my vow to never, ever get involved with a coworker again. Even a colleague with an equal pay grade! Things change, and before I can saymerde, he may get a promotion and become my boss. In Max’s case, he is my boss already. And, let’s face it, he’s as hot as a man can be.
“It’s to discuss your assignment,” he says.
Ah, the assignment!That changes everything.
“Great.” I pick up my tray and rise to my feet. “I can’t wait to discuss it.”
Skirting a circle of caution cones that mark a spill, I scoot to the tray racks by the wall and leave my tray before heading to the coffee counter.
Max is already there. “How do you take your coffee?”
