It was nothing, really.

A phone on the table buzzed to life.

Jarrod spared it only a passing glance.

Unknown number.

He pressed decline.

Whoever was on the other end seemed to grow impatient and kept calling, again

and again.

In between flipping through The Harcourt Group's files, Jarrod simply blocked the

number.

Elodie hadn't rested for long.

Her last episode had caught everyone off guard.

There was still unfinished business at the research base-she needed to wrap up

phase one of the project.

She made her way to the hangar to test the new system.

System maintenance was a tedious process, requiring round after round of

diagnostics.

By the time she finished, evening was drawing near.

Walking from the hangar toward the data center, she crossed paths with Watts,

who had just stepped out of his car.

Ever since the incident a while back, Elodie hadn't seen Watts in some time.

Watts caught sight of her-his usually composed expression flickered with

something unspoken.

He stood there, watching her.

barely glanced up before returning her focus to the

hands.

still investigating her claim about the data

simple matter-there

had already

knew exactly what kind of person

no intention of

with a greeting,

out first. "Elodie,

had no choice but to

around; his voice

it plainly-Elodie's indifference, her refusal to even

him.

over, eyes

her. "You've been

haven't you? There's really

I'm just here

from the

turned to the side, expression

dignify that

gave a helpless shrug. "You think I set you up, don't

your suspension... all

closed the folder,

and without a trace

you did or

You're just a

politics don't

eyes darkened

turned and walked

could only watch her

now did the full weight of

A colleague?

Irrelevant?

had been almost gentle, emotionless, yet the words

left him

storm clouds gathering in

He barely noticed.

was nagging at

Patricia's call.

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