Page 26 of True Colors

I hesitate, then glance at her. “Is it okay if I say it?”

She shakes her head, just slightly.

“No. I’ve got it.”

I nod immediately, withdraw without comment.

She takes a breath. Another.

“Sto-stochastic re-regression,” she says at last.

I smile—not because she struggled, but because she didn’t stop.

“And you’re thinking of using Monte Carlo simulations,” I say, once she’s finished.

Her gaze lifts—quick, startled—like she didn’t expect me to keep up.

I clear my throat. “It’s ambitious.”

“It’s n-necessary.” Her voice firms. “N-Novagene’s th-threshold for variance has to be b-below—” She pauses. It’s deliberate, probably to give her time to gather her words. “Below f-five percent. O-Otherwise they’ll reject the e-entire model.”

She knows her numbers.

She knows Novagene’s tolerance, risk appetite, and production cycles.

She’s prepared—even if her voice betrays her.

Her intelligence has a pulse.

“You know what you’re doing.” I lean back, studying her face.

Her cheeks flush at my barely discernible compliment.

She nods, shoulders loosening with relief.

“Anouk,” I add quietly. “You can speak freely with me. And take your time. I won’t rush you again.”

Her eyebrows lift in quiet surprise. She wasn’t expecting that.

Hell, I wasn’t expecting that.

But damn—if she can deliver like this, I’ll give her whatever time she needs. We’ll just get someone else to present in high-profile situations.

“Th-thank you.”

Her gratitude hits me dead center in the chest, lighting up every guilt center I have.

Thankfully, the conference room door opens then, and several people pour in, saving me from myself.

Vijay Shah—someone I brought with me to HelixSphere from my last two rotations—gives me a questioning look when he spots Anouk already seated.

I shake my head.

Nothing to see here, folks, keep moving.

He sits next to her and introduces himself. He’s supersmart and down-to-earth. He doesn’t have the stiff professional armor that Erin has, which makes him more personable.

Anouk smiles at him. She looks relaxed—far more at ease than she ever is with me—and a sharp, unmistakable pinch of jealousy twists low in my gut.