Mirabe got where they wereing from with the whole embarrassing situation; you know, those unspoken industry rules. But the attitude? Not so much. She lightly tapped her fingers on her knee, wondering if she really had a face that screamed "I''m super picky."


    "Well, since we''ve cleared things up, it''s all good," she said, waving it off, still feeling pretty upbeat.


    Even though Mirabe seemed chill about it, Joseph wouldn''t stop apologizing until J shot him a look that finally made him pause. Just as Joseph stepped aside, his phone buzzed. It was Hank. Joseph frowned, already knowing he''d probably have to quit when he got back. He ignored the call and blocked the number for good measure.


    Mirabe didn''t pay Joseph any mind. With the contract sorted, she got up, ready to head back to ss. But J stopped her, "Hey, how about grabbing lunch together?"


    Zane was about to put the contract away when he heard J asking his student out for lunch. He flinched and looked at J in disbelief. Was this guy interested in his student???


    While Zane''s imagination went wild, his student casually replied, "Do you really want to eat at the school cafeteria?"


    Zane: "!!!"


    J nced at Mirabe, having no problem with her suggestion. "Sure, but can you get me off your block list first?"


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow and, without missing a beat, pulled out her phone, tapping a few times. "Done."


    J let out a sigh of relief and, pushing his luck, added, "Can you add me on Messenger too?"


    Mirabe shot him a sidelong nce, "Aren''t you a hacker? Why bother with all these ounts?"


    "I''m just worried you''ll block me again..." Jughed, a bit sheepishly.


    Mirabe chuckled softly and eventually showed him her Messenger QR code to


    scan.


    Zane, who''d been watching all this unfold, finally snapped back to reality and couldn''t help but ask, "Mirabe, do you and Mr. Monks... go way back?"


    Mirabe didn''t deny it, her voice calm as she replied with a simple "Yeah."


    So it was true!!


    Zane''s mind was blown. This news was even more jaw-dropping than finding out Mr. Monks was the big boss at DO Group. No wonder she wasn''t fazed when he first


    ve


    mentioned DO Group, and even when the Tech Center got involved, she stayed cool and dared to


    confront Mr. Monks in front of everyone, saying he wouldn''t dare


    demand an apology. It was all


    because they already knew each other!


    As Zane pieced it all together, he gave Mirabe a look that said, "You really kept this under wraps, huh?"


    Feeling the silent interrogation from Zane, Mirabe decided it was time to go, "Professor, we''ll head out now."


    Zane waved them off, a bit helplessly.


    In no time the office was just Zane


    and Calvin. Calvin''s mind was


    spinning. Realizing Mr. Monks and Mirabe were acquainted felt like a bolt of lightning on a clear day; he could hardly stand up straight.


    Just then, his phone rang, making him jump. It was Hank, turning to Calvin after not getting through to Joseph. But Calvin didn''t dare pick up, scared Hank might discover what had just gone down. He let the caffring out, feeling a tiny bit of relief but still deeply uneasy.


    Meanwhile, Mirabe didn''t actually take J to the cafeteria. Instead, they headed


    to a cozy restaurant just off-campus.