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The CFO and the senator shook hands politely, exchanging pleasantries while Cass shot Gage a look and hissed under her breath, “Senator Edgewood is your cousin? Since when?”

“Since I was born?” he suggested mildly “His mother and my mother have been sisters for almost sixty years”

“You never mentioned that”

He shrugged, eous suit, which was a shas Which, not so coincidentally, is why I’m here”

With that cryptic coe repeated the introductions between Cass and Phillip and swung his attention back to Cass “Phillip has graciously agreed to help Fyra navigate the FDA process required to get your formula to market I caet the ball rolling Oh, and he’ll also help you grease the wheels at the patent office The sooner you get going, the sooner the leak will become a nonissue”

Cass’s mouth fell open “We’re not—I meanwhat?”

“That’s alance at Cass To the senator, she said simply, “Thank you We’re honored to have such expert assistance”

“Yes, of course” Cass nodded woodenly, her faculties still scattered “Thank you We appreciate the assistance”

And now she sounded like a parrot instead of a savvy executive Gage still fuzzled her mind

The senator smiled at Alex, and it took over his entire body, as if he was lit from within Charisma radiated froet an inkling of what the fuss over him was all about

“It’s no proble at Alex as if Cass didn’t exist “Is there soo to talk? And of course, we should include your chief science officer”

“Dr Harper Livingston,” Alex interjected, and the two of them were off, their conversation deep in the details

Looked as if Alex was h he was hardly her type They were a study in contrasts with Alex’s face bare of coseore Armani and power, and not necessarily in that order