Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Fay didn't tell Sylvia where they were having dinner-she just said she wanted to surprise everyone.

Sylvia had already resigned herself to spending a small fortune that night, so she didn't ask any more questions.

Right before clocking out, she got a text from Lester.

"Want me to swing by and pick you up later?"

"No need, thanks to your generosity I just got a fat bonus-taking the team out for dinner tonight."

"So you're not gonna treat your favorite sponsor to dinner? That's just not right."

"I'm off tomorrow. I'll cook for you instead."

Sylvia typed the reply in a flash and hit send without a second thought.

Ever since she'd taken Edwin's advice, she'd become comfortable letting Lester pursue her. They weren't officially together, of course, but there was definitely an unspoken understanding between them.

Just like any regular couple, they'd chat, grab the occasional bite together, talk some more.

It was simple, ordinary-and Sylvia found it strangely comforting.

On her screen, the "Lester is typing..." bubble lingered for ages.

Finally, his one-word reply popped up:

"Deal."

grin, picturing Lester hunched over his desk, agonizing over every

interrupted by

"Sylvia! Let's get going."

Sylvia realized the workday was

restaurant is it? I'll

her snow-white coat, smirking. “No need.

her suspiciously, but most of her colleagues had

She could

couple of weird turns, then gunned it down a deserted road. Sylvia

stomach drop as the.

el.n?

Car shot

forward, and she instinctively

clutched her seatbelt. s

pushed her sunglasses up,

in a cocky, dismissive

you the one who'll go after anything

herself, then glanced sideways at Fay. "Have we met

just laughed and

she slammed

saved by her white-knuckle grip

burst out laughing. "You look kinda

you'd better come up with a good excuse. You're speeding, stopped in the middle of the road, and breaking about a dozen laws.

barely finished before a police motorbike pulled up