“Have you asked this of all applicants?”
Silas smiles. “Yes.”
“Has anyone managed it yet?”
He nods. “One person.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. If it’s possible, then I can do it too.
“Do you interview all applicants yourself?”
He smirks. “Why? Did you think you were special?”
This man. How does he always get under my skin? Why can’t he just be sweet and kind like Ryan is? The two of them couldn’t be more different.
I grit my teeth and start to type, channeling all my annoyance into my work. This is the one thing I’m good at. I might fail at most things in life, but when it comes to security testing, I never fail.
My heart races as I type, and I barely keep from smiling. This doesn’t even feel like work. I could do this all day, just for the hell of it. I love the thrill.
Ten minutes. That’s all the time it takes me, considering everything he’s got installed. I smirk when Silas’s password is revealed, only for that smile to melt off my face when I realize what it is. Perasperaadastra. Per aspera ad astra. Through adversity to the stars. It’s the exact same phrase I have tattooed on my rib. How could it be?
I swallow hard as I look up at him, slowly turning his laptop back to him. Silas… there’s no way he could’ve known. Is he mocking me somehow? Did Ryan tell him about my tattoo?
He stares at me, and I wish I could read him. I want to know what he’s thinking. I want to know the story behind his password. Is it all just to throw me off, or is there more to it?
“You’re hired,” he says, his voice soft.
I nod, my thoughts whirling. “I… thank you, Silas.” I hesitate before asking a question I know I shouldn’t ask. “You aren’t going to make me breaking up with Ryan a requirement for hiring me?”
He looks at me, his expression entirely blank. “No,” he says, sounding… tired. “I keep my personal life and my business strictly separate. I expect you to do the same if you wish to succeed here. This isn’t an easy firm to be at.”
My cheeks heat of embarrassment. I shouldn’t have asked. All I accomplished was making myself look unprofessional. Why is it that I constantly feel unlike myself when I’m around Silas?
“Of course,” I nod, rising from my seat. I need to get out of here before I make an even bigger fool of myself.
“I’ll see you on Monday. Congratulations.”
I turn back to him when I reach his door. “See you on Monday,” I say, praying to God that I won’t. With a bit of luck, I’ll be able to avoid him at work just fine.
Luck… yeah right. When has Lady Luck ever smiled down on me?
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alanna
I’m giddy with excitement as I walk up to Ryan’s apartment, my set of keys in hand. He gave them to me last week, and today seems like a great first time to use them. I can’t wait to tell him the good news. The two of us working together is a dream come true.
I’m surprised when I walk in to find the lights dimmed and loud R&B music playing. Ryan never listens to this kind of music. It’s far more my taste than it is his. He’s the one that taught me all about classical music, and though I still don’t enjoy it, I hate it a little less.
My gaze trails over the packed living room, and I pause in confusion. What the hell? Ryan hates partying. He’s a loner, like I am. Why would he be throwing a party without even inviting me?
I walk through the crowd of dancing people, not a single person I know in sight. Who are these people? I breathe a sigh of relief when I spot Ryan standing on the balcony with some guys I vaguely recognize. I’ve only ever met them briefly, but I believe the one standing next to him is his childhood friend.
I’m about to walk out there when I hear my name being mentioned. Something about the way Ryan’s friend said my name has me pausing, my instincts alerting me that something is… off. I lean back out of view and listen, curiosity getting the better of me.
“How much longer are you going to date Alanna? She’s fucking beneath you. I get secondhand embarrassment just watching you with her.”
I expected Ryan to snap at his friend, but he just laughs. “I have to keep playing this game a bit longer. My brother would never believe I changed otherwise. He’ll believe she caused the change. He told me he wouldn’t give me shit until I cleaned up my act and stopped drinking and partying, withholding what should’ve been mine. She’s everything that asshole loves. The fucking charity bullshit, the vanilla everything. I swear, the way she fucking kisses is boring as fuck. The sex is even worse. I’ve got her believing I want her so much that I can’t last more than a minute with her, but honestly, I just can’t stand fucking her for longer than that. She’s so goddamn boring. The only reason I can get it up at all is because she’s hiding a hot little body underneath all those goddamn oversized layers she wears.”