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“Because – ”

The elevator slowed down rapidly I wasn’t sure if the butterflies in my stomach were because of the abrupt deceleration, or because of what he said next

“ – you see for a jackass like that”

Just then the elevator doors dinged open He broke our gaze and walked out onto the 23rd floor, leaving me stunned in his wake

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But I recovered quickly

I followed him out into the main lobby, past the receptionist’s desk which was adorned with flower arrangeht The receptionist was gone for the weekend, so I buzzed us through the e in my purse

Actually, everybody had left for the night The entire floor of cubicles was quiet and half-dimmed

“You sure do have it in for Klaus,” I said, picking the conversation back up

He grinned “And you don’t?”

“I have to ith him every day What did he ever do to you?”

“I had to suffer through a couple of conference calls with hiret “Forty-five et back”

“Forty-five minutes?! Try six months,” I retorted

“Which you’ll never get back You really shouldn’t be wasting your ti, Lily”

“That’s all very nice, but a girl’s got to eat”

“That she does But never take bread scraps when you could – and should – be dining out on lobster”

“I don’t knoorld you live in, Mr Brooks – ”

He looked over at me like You did NOT just call me that

“It’s Connor My friends call me Connor Klaus calls me Mr Brooks”

I couldn’t suppress my smile

“Ah, I knew I could h”

“That was a s in that easily He was char, too

“I’ll get there,” he said confidently, and grinned

“Yeah, well, I don’t knoorld you live in, Connor, but in et”

“We either make our own realities, Lily, or we accept the realities others i for you to accept a reality that includes Klaus as a part of it”

Ooooh, Mr Philosophy, I thought, annoyed Mr Mommy and Daddy Paid For My Education at Harvard and Gave Me My Million-Dollar Business Contacts