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“Without Emely, this meeting wouldn't be happening,” Bayla said, and I looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

Did she have to talk like that? Without me, she would have far fewer problems, and I, without her, wouldn’t have that many problems either.

“Oh... Is that so?”

I turned to Miles. That was the damn moment I looked into his eyes. And I fell hard.

I had tried miserably to get used to the feeling and somehow kill it. But every time it stabbed me like a needle in my heart. One stab was enough and a storm that was not supposed to be pleasant or intoxicating exploded in my stomach.

It wasn't his gaze that burned me so often, or his scent that made it difficult for me to breathe, and it wasn't his manner that confused me over and over again.

What I felt when I looked at him was forbidden. And that was what hurt the most. That everything about these strange feelings was wrong.

Miles' gaze was enigmatic. A mysterious aura hung over him...

But maybe it was just the elegant black coat combined with his tall stature and the damn lantern light shining dimly through the windows.

Everything about him drew me into his goddamn captivation. And it shouldn't have.

“What's the news?”

Julie entered the room, pushing past Miles, who broke out of his trance and nodded to her, only to turn his attention back to me.

We had spoken our last words. Nothing was going to change on my part. I just hoped it was the same for him.

Neither of us should be here. And yet we were.

From now on, I had to be more careful.

“Emely...”

Julie's gaze was intense, her surprise not even hidden. Why should it be? No one in this room seemed to have any secrets. No one except me.

I turned to the platinum-blonde Quatura girl, who was wearing a white satin blouse and a white felt coat with grey suit pants today, giving her a certain elegance.

The Vanderwood uniform made me look smart dressed, but it definitely wasn't me. I just didn't want to cause any unnecessary stress with the wannabe director and end up on some list that could affect my academic future.

“Hey, Julie.” I tried to smile. “How do you manage to get around the dress code?”

I hadn't missed Harlow's critical glances at her. Or the fact that she disappeared into this woman's office every now and then.

Julie sighed and closed the door behind Miles, who had to make an effort to move. He looked as if his mind had drifted off to another world, just the way I felt as soon as our eyes met.

“The woman who brought this formality back to life happens to be my mentor. And as long as I'm making progress, she seems to be ignoring the fact that she can't force me into those uncomfortable costumes.”

Her mentor?

Julie strode across the room and placed her backpack on one of the dusty benches.

“Rebecca Harlow is your mentor?” Bayla blurted out, her eyes full of disbelief.

“Anything is better than Gloria Westcode.”

Julie looked at her seriously, without any hint of amusement.

I didn't know Gloria personally, but she was notorious among Senseque as an extremely ruthless player in the Quatura's own ranks. An investor and former judge in Vancouver. Father had warned us about her, and that was all I needed to know.

“Gloria is your grandmother, isn't she?”