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I bite back the response that I want to say “I’ll do anything for you” Instead, I say that I knohere it is, and after finding the yellow folder he described, I head for the door “I’ll be right back”

A young man, perhaps a year or two older than me, exits the elevator by the security desk and heads toward“It’s nice to see we have souard uses a handheld scanner to capture the barcode on the guy’s badge and buzzes Jess in, and the door to es I wish they could have done that for Jean instead of uard’s naht of the overhead it’s hard to make out until my eyes adjust “Michael, can I ask what’s probably a silly question? I see that Jess swiped his badge, and you were able to let him in from here Why couldn’t that happen for Jean frohs, disguising a bark of a laugh “Umm… You mean Scientist Barbie? She does not have proper clearance for the offices on this floor Jess has clearance for almost every room in the complex I cannot disclose additional information, but if you ask Mr Huntsworth, hethat would likely be a futile effort, I smile and thank Michael for his help It can’t be fun to sit at the desk for a twelve-hour shift with nothing to do but press buttons and watch security one starting tomorrow The office will be lonely; thatthe hallway,seven, and even the assistants have gone houard, and me As busy as Beck is, I know dinner will be eaten either rushed, standing shoulder to shoulder while ork, or alone in the dark atwith hi sushi like it’s popcorn between tasks, would be better than not having this time with him

I return to our office, but there’s no food and no Beck The entire office suite is eo from my desk in the lobby to his office Louder this tiht was a coat closet, has a light shining fro room,” I say to myself as I open the door The food service cart is at the botto up, and at the top of the stairs is a door, propped open, revealing the night sky

Beck comes to the top of the stairs, a blanket over his arm, and calls down, “Yay! You’re back! The food’s here, Lia I thought we could use a break from the office Come on up” He disappears fro after the final stair

The space is huge; the roof of our building is connected to the others by slis to the skywalks between the three towers Our roof is onal froht, Beck has a personal restaurant, or a close facsiht air, shi to the comfort, Beck drapes a blanket over the top of a wicker couch and pulls back a bit of azebo style tent “Welcoht’s main course is a sushi sae of hot tea or chilled spring water? Sorry I don’t have sake or wine I don’t drink on the job Please sit, Lia”

I take the spot he points to and reach for a bottle of water “This is alow fro Beck an otherworldly appearance With Beck in his suit and ine this as a date Hell, this is already nicer thanWhat are you thinking about?” The couch cushion dips as Beck sits down besidethat having dinner with my boss is nicer than all of the dates I’ve ever been on” It’s hard to think with hihts is easier than trying to co if this is his version of a date, but I don’t want to make it aard