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“As I mentioned, you’re going to be introduced as a friend of mine from my class, Steven. Therefore the first thing you need to do is hack into the University student list and add your ID photo instead of Steve’s.” She set the bottle on the table and walked along the laptops, opening them and switching them on.
Draco laughed. “That simple, huh?”
“Let’s hope so. We can use the student ID link for your Compton Finance work pass, which will be set up once we begin, tomorrow. I used mine when I started, so they’ll accept it. It just has to look like you.” She peeled open the food. “Sandwich?”
It took a couple of hours to find his way around, but Draco got into the college records and uploaded an indistinct photo of himself over Steven Smith’s. He didn’t want a decent image stored there in case it was used to track him down, later.
Throughout the afternoon she’d sat by his side, observing with interest. She also kept him supplied with coffee, water, and sandwiches. Whenever she left his side, he wondered if he was insane, entering into this. I
t didn’t exactly shatter his vow not to hack, because she was taking responsibility. Nevertheless, it didn’t rest easy on him.
He didn’t like to think about the money either, not until he had it in hand, although it would come in useful. His younger sister Sky was in London trying to get herself hooked into an art course. She’d need money. So he could certainly use the fee, but there were no guarantees he’d be around long enough to get paid. He might not be able to put his hands on the knowledge she wanted. He might be outed as a hacker, or worse still banged up like his stepbrother. Enjoy the gig while it lasts, he told himself.
“Flawless,” he told her once he was done.
“Excellent.”
At some point her shirt had slid loose from her waistband. She’d curled her legs under her on the chair. Relaxed, that’s how she looked. It pleased him.
She pulled the second laptop closer, clicked onto a desktop icon and logged in to an account. “Let me quickly show you what the Compton Finance system looks like, it’ll save time tomorrow.”
Draco stared at the screen. If she could log in remotely he could do the task from here. Restraining himself, he didn’t comment, and let her show him around the system set up, watching her fingers on the keyboard, his mind whirring as he stored away details.
“Looks pretty user friendly,” he said, once she’d done.
“Great. We can crack open that champagne.”
“One question.”
“Go ahead.”
“You said this was my home for the duration, so does this mean you’re staying with me?”
With a laugh, she gave him a knowing look. “I want you here so I know where you’re at and you don’t disappear on me.”
“I won’t disappear. Trust me.”
“I’ll try.” She studied him with interest.
Draco swore she was thinking about the same thing he was. When she got flirty it showed in her eyes, like a tell. Did she even know how sexy she looked? God, she was delicious. “You haven’t answered my question. Are you staying over?”
“I think I’ll let you settle in on your own tonight. I’ll stay with a girlfriend. Once we’re both working at Compton Finance together and we’re fully locked into the project, I’ll be here, making sure you don’t do a runner on me.”
“I won’t do a runner.” He wanted her to stay. As far as he was concerned, she was the real prize. The rest of it was just a bit of fun. “There’s plenty of room,” he gestured around. “No need to go to your girlfriend’s.”
“Indeed there is, two bedrooms.” She smiled, but she looked as if she were thinking of trying them both. “I’ll leave you alone for tonight. Let’s call it a cooling off period.”
Draco chuckled. When he first met her she seemed a bit bonkers. Headstrong, dangerously keen and eager. She was all those things but she was also determined, grounded, and thought things through thoroughly. It was quite a mix.
He pointed at the screen. “Mr. Steven Smith is much better looking now, I have to say.”
“And definitely heterosexual.” When she saw his face she laughed. “Steve is gay.”
“Oh, right.”
She stood up. “I’ll get the champagne.”
He looked back at the ID card on screen. It was too weird seeing his face with a strange name. “Do you think someone will check my background?”
