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“Of course.”

“I’ll be right back,” Blaire adds.

She leaves the conference room with her phone already in her hand.

The door closes behind her. I look toward it for a moment longer than necessary. Five weeks should be good news to me. But the look on Blaire’s face tells me the extension has created a problem that has nothing to do with the Whitcombe project.

I really want to know exactly what is waiting for her back in California.

Blaire comes back into the conference room several minutes later with her phone still in her hand. She looks composed again, but not relaxed. Clara and Edward are already gathering their files, and Helena has ended the video call. The meeting is effectively over.

"I'm sorry," Blaire says as she returns to the table.

"I had to rearrange a few things."

"No problem," Clara replies.

Edward closes his folder.

"We'll circulate the revised timetable once Geneva confirms the document transfer," he says.

"Thank you," Blaire replies.

A few minutes later, the others leave. Blaire stays behind long enough to check another message on her phone. I wait. She looks up.

"What?"

"You look like you haven't eaten."

Her expression shifts slightly.

"That's your observation?"

"It's one of them."

"I'm fine."

"You've been going nonstop for most of the day, I imagine."

"So have you."

"I'm aware."

She slides her phone into her bag.

"I have things to sort out tonight."

"I figured."

I hesitate for only a second.

"Have dinner with me."

She looks at me, and for the first time since she came back into the room, I have her full attention.

"When?..Tonight?" she asks.

"If you're hungry?" I reply.