Badass in Disguise
<b>Chapter 85 </b>
The tension in the room lingered even after Edwards’s acknowledgment. I crossed my legs, settling back into the ufortable metal chair while Ethan remained standing, his tailored suit making him look out of ce in <b>the </b>spartan military office.
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“Speaking of Venezu,” Ethan said, breaking the silence, “Perhaps during Thanksgiving break this year, or we could wait until Christmas vacation if that works better with your schedule.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Hearing Mr. Haxton’s tone, it sounds like you want me toe along?”
The corner of Ethan’s mouth twitched upward. “It would be more interesting withpany.”
“You mean it would be more interesting to watch me cause trouble,” I replied dryly, remembering the chaos that had erupted during ourst visit.
Ethan didn’t deny it. His eyes glinted with something that might have been amusement. “Any excitement in Venezu would certainly involve you, Miss Morgan.”
Colonel Edwards cleared his throat, drawing our attention. His eyes moved between us with newfound interest, like a
detective who’d just discovered a crucial piece of evidence. “Forgive me for asking, but you two seem quite… familiar
with each other.” He gestured at the space between <b>us</b>. “Yet you address each other as ‘Mr. Haxton‘ and ‘Miss
Morgan.‘ Are you not dating?”
<b>I </b>nearly choked. “Dating?” The word came out sharper than I intended.
“Mr. Haxton referred to you as ‘one of Haxton family’s people‘ on the phone,” Edwards continued, oblivious to my
reaction. “I assumed…”
I caught the sh of satisfaction in Ethan’s eyes before he masked it. The bastard was enjoying this. For a brief moment, <b>I </b>contemted how satisfying it would be to wipe that smug look off his face.
“We’re not dating,” I said firmly, crossing my arms. “We’re barely even friends. More like… neighbors.” I emphasized thest word, watching Ethan’s smile fade slightly.
“I have no interest in older men,” I added, just to twist the knife,
“Older?” Ethan’sposed expression slipped momentarily, revealing genuine surprise.
Edwards chuckled, quickly disguising it as a cough when Ethan shot him a look. His weathered face crinkled with poorly concealed amusement.
“I just vouched for you,” Ethan muttered, leaning closer so only I could hear. His expensive cologne – something with notes <b>of </b>sandalwood and citrus – briefly overwhelmed my senses.
“I’m just rifying that I’m young,” <b>I </b>whispered back. “Too young for you, Mr. Haxton. Youe from a prominent
12:21 Mon, <b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>
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family with connections everywhere. I’m obviously not in your league.”
Colonel Edwards watched our exchange with fascination, like a scientist observing an unexpected reaction in ab experiment. “Well, Miss Morgan, if you’re not involved with Mr. Haxton, my son is about your age. He’s quite handsome, if I may say so. Also serves in the military, already a brigadier general.”
Ethan straightened immediately, his shoulders tensing beneath his perfectly tailored jacket. “I’ve met your son, Colonel. Far too rigid in his thinking for someone like Miss Morgan.”
<b>62 </b>
“Rigid?” Edwards frowned, defensive pride shing across his face. “He’s disciplined. Something many young people
could learn from.”
“Miss Morgan should focus on her studies,” Ethan countered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Princeton is demanding enough without romantic distractions.”
I ignored their argument, scrolling through messages on my phone. Let them fight over my non–existent love life. It was amusing to watch Ethan bristle at the suggestion I might date someone else. Men and their territorial instincts
so predictable.
–
I noticed Ethan’s reflection in the ss cab. His jaw was clenched slightly – the only outward sign that the conversation had affected him. For someone whomanded billions in assets and hundreds of employees, he seemed unusually invested in my hypothetical dating life.
“That’s a unique watch,” Ethan said suddenly, his eyes fixed on my wrist. “New purchase?”
I nced down at Max’s gift. The retro digital watch with its scratched face and worn band was anything but luxurious. Nothing like the Patek Philippe I knew Ethan wore. The stic band had already left a slight indentation on my skin, but I didn’t mind.
“Speaking of purchases,” I said instead of answering, “what happened to your assistant? Connor, right? I haven’t seen him around.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why do you ask about him?”
–
The sudden shift in his demeanor was subtle but unmistakable, His weight shifted forward slightly, his hand moving from his pocket to rest casually at his side ready to respond to a threat. Most people wouldn’t notice these micro- adjustments, but they screamed caution to someone with my training.
“Just curious,” I shrugged, noting his sudden wariness. Was he connecting the watch to Connor somehow?
“The supplies were good,” I added, watching his reaction. “The energy bars and electrolyte drinks. Very thoughtful.”
–
Something flickered in Ethan’s eyes recognition that I knew he’d been watching me. The corner of his mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly. A tell I’d noticed before when he was caught off guard but trying not to show it.
“The watch was a gift,” I said, running my finger along its stic band. “Nothing special, but I like it. Next time, I’ll pick one out for you personally.”
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Colonel Edwards had been following our conversation with intense interest, his eyes darting between us like he was watching a tennis match. The man folder containing my filey forgotten on his desk, its contents no longer relevant to his assessment of me. He’d moved beyond official records to direct observation.
“Miss Morgan, you remind me of someone,” he said abruptly. “Someone very capable.”
“I get that a lot,” I replied dismissively, my tone deliberately bored.
“No, this is different.” Edwards leaned forward, studying me with military precision. The chair beneath him creaked with the movement. His eyes narrowed as he searched my face for something familiar. “There was this young woman once. Not much older than you. But she wasn’t ordinary.” He paused, measuring his words. “Not ordinary at all.”
I raised an eyebrow slightly but offered no response.
Ethan was watching me now, his expression unreadable.
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