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“This is amazing.” Heather flipped through the glossy brochure. “The Council will love these.”

“They might even throw a little more money our way,” Vegas said. “With all the new business, we need more matchmakers.”

Ivy jumped up, unable to endure the tension she felt any longer. “I need to get out of here.”

Heather looked at her. “If you want to, you can join us for movie night. There’s always plenty of food.”

“That’s not my style.” Ivy turned toward the door.

“Not cool enough for you?” Vegas asked.

“You got it.”

Avril glared at Ivy. “It’s cooler than secretly applying to My Single Alien to find a boyfriend.”

Ivy’s heart raced as she turned slowly on her heel.

Avril shrank back in her seat.

“What did you say?”

Avril licked her lips. “That you’re not as cool as you make out you are. If you want a date, you only have to ask. We’d be happy to set you up with someone suitable.”

“I’m not looking for a date.”

Avril pointed to her tablet. “Why is your profile on here?”

Ivy moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. She tried to stare down Avril but failed. Avril continued to glare at her. She was normally so happy and smiley, so willing to be everyone’s best friend. Not this time.

Vegas stepped between them. “Ivy, let’s go talk somewhere.”

“We’ve finished talking.”

“I’ve got a few things to run by you. Let’s get out of here and find somewhere quiet.”

Ivy shot one more menace-filled glare at Avril before turning and following Vegas into a small private room next to the main office.

“Take a seat.” Vegas sat down and placed her hands flat on the desk.

Reluctantly, Ivy joined her. “Is there a problem?”

“No problem. I must admit I am curious about your application. Why didn’t you come talk to me first?”

“Because it’s none of your business.”

“Well, as manager here, it is. When a member of staff applies for a match, it changes things.”

“We’re on the same pay grade. I don’t need to run anything by you.”

“You did submit an application?” Vegas asked. “I wondered if it was a mistake. Sometimes glitches happen. It wasn’t so long ago this whole place almost blew up thanks to a glitch in the station’s code.”

Ivy forced herself to take a deep breath. “What if it was a mistake? Can you get rid of it?”

Vegas nodded. “I can. If an error has been made, or even if you’ve changed your mind, there’s no harm been done. Nobody else needs to know.”

“That lot does.” Ivy inclined her head toward the office next door. “I bet you’ve all had fun gossiping about this.”

“Nobody gossiped.”