Mirabe nced up at the man sitting across from her at the dining table, reassuring Jessie over the phone that everything was fine before hanging up. "Did you call in sick for me?" she asked, setting her phone down.


    James gave a soft nod, "You were out like a light."


    Mirabe nodded, feeling almost full. She leaned backzily in her chair, looking much healthier than she had that morning.


    "The medical research institute is in chaos," James remarked, watching her intently.


    Mirabe shrugged. "It can''t be that bad."


    "The system got hacked, core data''s gone, and I heard a batch of new drugs got destroyed too. Besides your brother, you were involved, weren''t you? You two are quite the pair," James tapped his fingers lightly on the table.


    "Don''t be ridiculous. I wasn''t involved," Mirabe denied without missing a beat.


    If she didn''t feel guilty, then the guilt was someone else''s to bear.


    James''s lips curled slightly, and after a brief pause, he asked, "What were you two after?"


    That question piqued Mirabe''s curiosity about Nick. What was he after that he would take such risks?


    Whatever it was, it nearly turned her into a sitting duck.


    Mirabe pressed her fingers to her temples, staying silent, refusing to answer.


    James had expected this, shaking his head without pushing further. He stood up, gathering the dishes to take to the kitchen.


    His bodynguage seemed slightly miffed.


    Watching him, Mirabe found herself getting up and wandering to the kitchen doorway. Leaning against the frame, she hesitated before asking, "Are you upset?"


    James ced the dishes in the dishwasher, hit start, and finally looked at her, saying in a low voice, "Who would dare be upset with you?"


    Ah, he was being sarcastic.


    Mirabe believed in not indulging men too much. She cleared her throat and nodded, "d you know."


    James: "?"


    Mirabe shifted her stance, lifting her chin a bit, her eyes boldly meeting his. James felt a twinge of concern about his future role in the rtionship.


    He chuckled out of frustration, ignoring the dishwasher as he stepped closer to her.


    The kitchen doorway wasn''t exactly narrow, but with the two of them there, it felt suddenly cramped.


    Facing James, their eyes locked, Mirabe felt her confident stance soften unexpectedly.


    Just then, the phone on the dining table rang, slicing through the silence.


    "I''ll get that," Mirabe said, ready to make a quick escape.


    But she barely took a step before James caught her arm, pulling her back, and in


    the next moment, his arms wrapped firmly around her waist.


    They were standing very close now.