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."

over his desk, agonizing over every

interrupted by

"Sylvia! Let's get going."

reality, Sylvia realized the workday was over. She stood

it?

coat, smirking. “No need. Ride

suspiciously, but most of her colleagues had already paired

off. She could

took a couple of weird turns,

stomach drop as the.

el.n?

Car shot

forward, and she instinctively

clutched her seatbelt. s

pushed her sunglasses

a cocky, dismissive

than this. Aren't you the

steadied herself, then glanced sideways at

laughed and didn't

later, she slammed on the

nearly hit the dashboard, only saved by her white-knuckle

burst out laughing. "You look kinda cute when

and said calmly, "Ms. Langley, you'd better come up with a good excuse. You're speeding, stopped in the middle of the road, and breaking

finished before a police motorbike pulled up