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Cheng stepped back to clear his dooraving toward his office "Please cohtower My staff has made you tea, which I believe is your favorite drink"

She stood for several seconds, letting thehtower" He waved toward the office

She looked at hiant as his boss "I'enda, and as you both are aware, I've had a very tight and exhausting schedule I did this as a courtesy I don't need the money To have your boss break his word so quickly is disconcerting to say the least"

Zhang switched instantly to his native language "Do you want ation room? Bolan Zhu can extract the information you require from her"

Cheng shook his head, a small, humorless smile on his mouth, one that reminded Zara of a cold-blooded reptile "Don't be so bloodthirsty, Heng She will cooperate"

"I apologize again, Miss Hightower"

"I dislike others speaking in a language I can't understand," Zara said, still notShe had understood every word they said Her resues That was kept a secret for instances just like this one She ades of countries she traveled to often, but was careful not to let on that she understood without her interpreter Her heart had ju people

"Zhang was only asking after your comfort We knew you would have trouble without your interpreter, so we tried to think of other ways that would assure you would enjoy your visit with us," Cheng lied sht a tour of our labs was in order Understand, this is a great privilege, one not extended often"

As in never A tendril of unease slid through her He wanted her evaluation She understood that He wanted to hear what she was doing in her chosen field of expertise She understood that too She had the feeling that seeing his labs, especially his computers, the ones that stored all that data, the secrets he blacket so he could sell out countries--including his own--to the highest bidder, would earn her a bullet in the brain

She kept her eyes steady on Cheng's face Zhang didn't matter He would carry out his boss's orders, but he wouldn't act on his own He didn't take her as a threat

"Miss Hightower, I realize the circumstances are unusual, but if you would just come into my office and hear me out, I would appreciate it"

She felt Zhang stiffen beside her He didn't like his boss asking He was used to theothers and if they didn't obey, punishment ift and brutal The fact that she was a woman and an American probably offended him even more Deliberately she made certain to stand as tall as possible so she could tower over Zhang He was particularly short, and she knew it irritated hiht as she was in her heels

Zara

flashed Cheng a small smile and walked past him into the spacious office She took the chair he indicated and sank into it, deliberately crossing her legs Zhang didn't like her, but he appreciated her looks Doing the leg thing always kept others fro she was brilliant She'd found out that o hand in hand

Cheng seated hi to create a much friendlier atmosphere He picked up a file and scanned it quickly "This is very iot your PhD at Stanford in Co?"

He made it a question, but Zara didn't respond Instead she looked slightly bored She was really good at that particular look as well She'd perfected that and the wide-eyed innocent look she was certain she was going to need very soon

"I see you teach at Rutgers University Why not private business? You could make a lot more money"