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“Nem?” Z prompted.
“I’ll agree to working in Shere.”
I was stunned by her quick capitulation, but because her eyes hadn’t met mine since that first glance, I let it go.
“SIS has been able to make a deal with Trace for the use of the property,” said Z.
I’d question why he felt it necessary to go above my head when, only yesterday, he told me to run it up my chain of command, but I was more concerned about Nem’s demeanor. What the hell had happened in their meeting? It seemed as though the fight I’d witnessed in her yesterday and last night was gone. And oddly, I found it disappointing.
“I was about to review the brief Puck prepared regarding the containers and transport vehicles, as well as Cayman’s brief on the report from the ME.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything or make a move toward her office.
“Would you excuse us?” I finally said to Z.
“Of course. Nem, we’ll speak again later.”
“Yes, sir,” she responded without looking at him.
What the fuck?Had I somehow gotten her in trouble? If so, there had to be some kind of misunderstanding I didn’t intend to let go any further.
“I was headed out for a cup of coffee. Can I bring you anything?”
“No, thank you,” she responded, at least squaring her shoulders once Z walked away.
“How about you join me?” I expected her to decline, and the fact she nodded her agreement disheartened me.
When she pressed the button for the elevator, it immediately opened. Once we arrived at the main floor, I walked past the café and out to the street.
“They’ve coffee,” she said, pointing behind us.
“I don’t want coffee.”
Her eyes widened.
“I want to know what the hell is going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Where is the person I met yesterday?”
She turned, presumably to leave.
“Don’t,” I said, hoping I wouldn’t have to resort to grabbing her to keep her from returning inside.
Her shoulders rose and fell before she faced me again.
“What happened this morning?” I asked.
“I had a meeting unrelated to the trafficking investigation. Thus, unrelated to you.”
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. There was some of the fire I’d looked forward to seeing.
“You’re ridiculous,” she muttered. “That, somehow, pleases you? I’m surprised, given you otherwise seem to think the world spins on your axis.”
“When you got off the elevator, you looked like you’d gotten your hand slapped.”
Her eyes scrunched, and I eagerly anticipated a snappy retort. Instead, she remained silent except to say, “Was there anything else?”
