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And he wanted to keep it that way

No one needed to know the real Mike before he could find him

Chapter Nine

The euro techno beat of the nightclub took over her brain waves within about ten seconds It wasn’t soas it was the actual syncopation of the beats and the electronic sounds that drilled a kind of thruh her body, focused all the way to a pinpoint at the tip of her clit It was e people to push bodies against each other, and in itsrhythe desire inside her A steady dose of vibrator-induced orgas of only one food group, it wasn’t satisfying While she would certainly enjoysomeone in the abstract, in reality she had that pesky proble in love with Matt Jones, or Mike Bournham, or fuckhead--whatever you wanted to call hihtclub, and she’d reluctantly agreed Still struggling to understand exactly what his role was here, she’d cooofy, temporary friend, someone to spend time with and converse with, and to break up the monotony of her non-work time Otherwise, she still viewed him with suspicion, if Mike had actually sent him here to watch over her Attraction was evident, so as this cover story really about? As her own interest in hi to boil over, she found his story too fliht? Jereed, spoiled in some ways Who had the opportunity to travel like he had for over a decade? To skip the worry of needing a paycheck and of having a steady home?

She was certainly jealous in soet her to the level ofabout Mike, she told herself Pretty soon all she would think was boo over

"There," Jerelasses of some kind of drink above half the people’s heads Mostly the women, because the men were about as tall as Jereerly, enjoying the cool bite of what turned out to be a Cos on to her, she found herself drinking the cocktail quickly, less worried about getting drunk andnumb Between thefor Mike fade a little bit ht Tactile sensations that had been so vivid she could alht now Face burning with theher pores Or ethat he wouldn’t push o, to drop whatever juhts had taken over these past few days and just be

Ever proficient at self-delusion, as the alcohol kicked in, she had to ad, that she was attracted to Jereht, it’s too soon But when? Look what Mike had done--he’d invented this entire scenario for the sake of pro her as the billion-viehore All for the sake of winning some corporate version of a bet with the board of directors Who does that to someone?

Michael Bournham On the other hand, Jereht into the h? Maybe if Mike answered a single text, voice What it shouted was one, simple answer: there was no hope

She shook her head and Jeremy shouted over the crowd, "You okay?" His head was bent down, his face screwed up with concern "The drink a problem?" he asked

She shook her head "No, I’erous for your health"

Lydia sforward this evening "Get me another drink so that I can be healthier and think less"

He saluted "Yes, sir"

"That’s ma’am," she shouted over the crowd

"Whatever"

Asses brushed against her hip and she swore a hand grabbed the edge of her breast as a throng of people crushed her into a support post at the periphery of the dance floor She looked around for Jereuys with broavy hair, he faded into the background In so regarding the job tipping herhome

No, she told herself, it’s not tiht reasons, even though I left for all the wrong reasons

Jeremy returned with another drink, a second cosed his back fairly quickly, loosening up In no sense of the word did Jereet plastered tonight froht caught her off guard She’d never asked before

"Where do you live?" she shouted

"What?" He cupped his ear

She stood closer on tiptoes as he leaned down "Where do you live?"

He thuive her souest house, I don’t know, a couple blocks froe too much"