Page 207 of Damsel in Disguise

The world shrinks into equations, old research, and the same recursive structure that started this entire academic disaster between us. The one he intentionally broke during my first lecture, and I was arrogant enough to challenge.

His notes are infuriating.

Half the calculations jump three steps ahead as though everyone else in the world should naturally keep up with the inside of his mind.

“This assumption is wrong,” I say, drawing a line through one section. “The entire assumption depends on a variable that was never properly measured.”

“It survived peer review.”

“Then the reviewers were wrong too.”

“They are internationally respected engineers.”

“Well, with all due respect, I’m willing to offend them.”

A quiet sound escapes him. Not quite a laugh. Just close enough that I catch myself looking at him.

His attention is already back on the documents. Silence settles between us.

He’s watching me, not the equations.

“You disagree?”

“No.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

He lowers his eyes to the papers again. “No reason.”

I shake my head and reach for another file.

Gradually, I find myself explaining alternatives, sketching calculations in the margins, and arguing over possibilities that may never even be tested.

Alistair argues back.

He challenges my reasoning.

He dismantles my assumptions.

He forces me to defend every conclusion.

The conversation becomes familiar. Somewhere along the way, I forget that I’m supposed to be careful around him.

So I try to observe him. And each time I do, a strange feeling settles over me.

I study him while pretending to read.

His suit is immaculate.

His glasses sit perfectly where they always do.

His posture has not changed once.

Yet something about him refuses to settle into place.

He isn’t distracted. He isn’t careless. However, once every few minutes, I notice him glance at his wristwatch—the one he always seems to wear ever since I first saw him on the internet.

I continue talking. Not long after, he does it again.