Chapter 88
Nora's POV
The supervisor looked at each of us.
I raised my hand, trying to keep my voice steady. "What kind of preparation do we need?"
"Vincent will handle photography. You'll do on-site notes and write the follow-up piece. You two have been working well together, so this should be smooth." He glanced at his notes. "The event starts at ten a.m. Plan to arrive by nine-thirty for setup."
Ruby, sitting across the table, let out a small huff. "To be fair, Vincent and I have more experience working together."
The supervisor's expression cooled. "Ruby, you still haven't resolved the issue with that last interview. That's been dragging for days now."
"I've tried twice, and they keep refusing—"
"Then maybe we need to reassign it," the supervisor said. "See me in my office after this meeting."
Ruby's face flushed, but she said nothing more.
As the meeting wrapped up, I felt a strange mix of excitement and dread settling in my stomach. Tomorrow. I might see Julian tomorrow.
But quickly I wondered if this was his arrangement.
---
That evening, I was sprawled on my bed, reviewing my notes on the Rust Belt Renewal Initiative, when my phone rang. Not a text—a video call.
From Julian.
I stared at the screen for a solid three seconds, then scrambled upright, frantically smoothing down my hair and checking my reflection in the black screen of my laptop. Satisfied that I didn't look completely disheveled, I answered.
Julian's face filled the screen. The soft lighting made his features look even more striking than usual. And curled up on his lap, purring contentedly, was the kitten we'd found last time—Pepper.
"Pepper!" I exclaimed, momentarily forgetting my nerves. "She's gotten bigger!"
Julian glanced down at the kitten, a smile tugging at his lips. "She has. And her appetite's grown to match. I've had my housekeeper coming by three times a day to feed her while I've been busy."
He stroked Pepper's head absently, and the kitten's purr grew louder, vibrating through the phone's speaker. The sight of this powerful, intimidating man being so gentle with a tiny cat did something dangerous to my composure.
"She looks content," I said, trying to focus on the cat and not on Julian's face.
"She's spoiled," he corrected, but his tone was fond. "I think she's forgotten what it's like to fend for herself."
We talked about Pepper for a few minutes—her habit of attacking Julian's shoelaces, the way she'd claimed his favorite reading chair as her personal throne. It was easy, comfortable conversation.
Then I thought about today's meeting and asked, "Are you attending the Silver River Wetland event tomorrow?"
He blinked. "You know about that?"
"My supervisor assigned me to cover it," I said. "The list mentioned the federal office... so I wondered if you'd be there."
He didn't arrange this, I realized with a strange mix of relief and disappointment. It's just a coincidence.
"I'll be there in an official capacity," he said. "So we'll have to keep things professional."
"Of course," I said quickly. Too quickly.
His lips quirked. "But I'm looking forward to seeing you."
We were about to respond when I heard a knock on my door. "Nora?" Aunt Marianne's voice called. "I brought you some warm milk. It's good for your skin before bed."
I fumbled to hang up the call and shoved my phone under the covers. "Just a second!"
I opened the door and accepted the mug. "Thanks, Aunt Marianne. You should get some rest too."
She peered past me, trying to see into my room. "Are you on a call?"
"Just... chatting with a friend. I'll be done soon."
She looked unconvinced but nodded. "Don't stay up too late."
After she left, my phone buzzed with a text.
Julian: Don't want your family to find out?
I could practically hear the wounded tone in the words, and despite everything, I had to suppress a laugh.
Me: Now's not the time.
I sent it before I could reconsider the obvious implication.
His response came a few seconds later: Then I'll wait for when you introduce me to them.
I stared at the message, only then realizing what I'd just sent—those words carried an implication, the kind of thing only dating couples would do.
I didn't know what to say. I couldn't say what I wanted to say. So I did the only thing I could think of: I sent back a good night emoji and immediately threw my phone onto the bed like it had burned me.
Then I grabbed my pillow and pressed it over my face, letting out a muffled groan.
What am I doing?
---
The next morning, when Vincent and I arrived at the event venue, quite a few people had already gathered at the entrance. Spring sunlight filtered through newly green leaves, casting dappled shadows, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and grass.
Federal Inspector General Office staff, city officials, corporate representatives, and journalists from several media outlets had all taken their positions. I spotted Julian from a distance—he stood near the main stage in a dark three-piece suit, his silver-gray eyes appearing especially cold in the sunlight. People around him maintained a respectful, almost reverent distance.
But what made my heart clench was this—a young, attractive woman stood beside Julian.
She looked no more than twenty-five or twenty-six, tall and slender, wearing a well-tailored light-colored suit, her chestnut hair styled in an elegant low bun. She kept her head tilted toward Julian as she spoke, a smile on her face, her eyes carrying an unmistakable familiarity. Her hand occasionally brushed his arm, as if emphasizing a point.
An indescribable sourness rose in my chest.
She's probably just a work colleague, my rational mind told me.
But emotionally, I couldn't quite convince myself.
"Nora?" Vincent's voice pulled me back to reality. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," I quickly looked away, checking my recorder and notebook. "Let's get started."
I tried not to look in Julian's direction, focusing on organizing my equipment, but then I felt a gaze land on me.
The sensation was intense, like being locked onto by something.
I instinctively looked up, my eyes cutting through the crowd to meet Julian's.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he wanted to walk toward me.
But my mind was still unsettled by the "female companion" scene I'd just witnessed.
So when Julian's gaze locked onto me, when he seemed about to step in this direction, I turned away expressionlessly, pretending not to see him, focusing intently on adjusting the camera bag on my shoulder.
This is better, I told myself. Keep distance. Stay professional. Don't create a story.
"Nora?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind me, interrupting my chaotic thoughts.