Page 239

Chapter 31

Larissa

High Stakes

Christopher Tyng

“Director Harlow!” Jenny Bexley exclaimed, frantic. “Do you have any idea who might be behind these hacker attacks?”

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest as I stared at the man-sized television screen embedded in the wall of the DUIO training hall.

The image shrank, and Harriet Bexley appeared in the studio as more images of the parking lot disaster were shown.

“The hacker strikes again. Only this time, he's talking about games. No one knows what he could mean by that.”

She pointed to the images next to her. In her hand, she held blue index cards with the Blairville Daily logo.

“He's inciting students to vandalize professors' cars. What comes next? And how will the co-director deal with the hacker?”

Harriet's blonde perm looked like a wig. I squinted because it seemed like it really wasn't her hair. Was that a gap between her scalp and her hairline?

“We're working on finding out who's behind it.”

I looked to the side.

Bastien stood next to me, also in black workout clothes. This was because he had been training with Adrian, who was now taking a break and working out on my punching bag.

I was grateful that Mr. Killjoy was wearing a top, albeit a rather tight one that left no room for imagination. A hard-trained upper body pressed against the fabric, stretching it. And I hated the fact that he was my uncle.

But luckily, he was an emotionless asshole, which had erased any feelings I might ever have had for him.

“But that control-obsessed Quatura won't let us operate in this case, talking about human specialists she's contacted.”

Bastien stared at the picture of Harlow, which now appeared with the caption Co-Director in Loss of Control.

“What exactly does the DUIO do?” I asked, and Bastien moved his gaze to me.

His dark blond hair with gray roots was a little messy from training, but it suited him. Just like black sweatpants and T-shirts.

I tried not to stare at his arm muscles.

If this was the man from Alice's diary, then I understood why she had crushed on him.

“You'll learn more about the DUIO soon, Larissa.” He looked up, his gaze tense. “Where is Tristan?”

I bit my lower lip.

Somehow, I had managed to convince Laurent to take over my training for this week... as well as for the last eight and next three weeks.

Embarrassed, I tightened my ponytail.

Bastien looked at me knowingly. Then he sighed.

“Laurent will be here soon,” I told him sheepishly.

I was grateful that he left it at that and turned away to return to Adrian. He patted him on the shoulder and... left?

Confused, I watched him go.