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Claire gestured toward the stairs leading to the second floor, where all the conference rooot coffee, tea, and water inside Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, that’s good,” Lisa said Again, she looked nervously around “The whole team? Shouldn’t we just talk to Ryan?”

It didn’t take a psychic to sense Lisa’s trepidation She wasn’t being dis self-protective

“We alork as a full team,” Claire explained “We’re most effective that way But not to worry There are only six of us, seven counting Yoda With the exception of hiular people” A smile “We won’t overwhelm you, I promise”

“You’re far froular people, from what I’ve read” Miles was as blunt as Lisa He took his friend’s ared her to the stairs “But I kno you work Yourwith us”

They reached the landing just as Ryan bounded up the stairs and joined them

“I’lad you decided to take us up on our offer,” he said “Let’s go inside and have a seat”

He and Claire showed theonally across from their main conference room It was more compact, and the decoru—done in sharp blacks, whites, and reds In contrast to the more traditional main conference room, this roo The table was black oak, the chairs were red leather, and the walls hite with thin red and black lines running horizontally across where the wall right-angled with the ceiling A combination of classy and trendy—perfect for certain clients, including the ones who’d just walked in

Sure enough, Lisa eyed the rooood taste”

“That would beher hand to each of them “I’m Casey Woods Ryan’s told lad to finally meet you”

“Ah, the boss lady” Milo shook her hand “Your credentials are ie I say everything I think”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Casey replied “That’s a refreshing trait” She indicated the team members seated at the table “You’ve already met most of us—Ryan, Marc, Claire, and now me”

“And Yoda,” Milo added He shot Ryan an appreciative look “Very cool Well done”

Ryan shot off a salute “I aim to please”

“This is Patrick Lynch,” Casey introduced, waiting as Patrick shook hands with each of the at you is Hero And over here is the tea”