Page 29 of Silver Fire

Maia evaded his reach, ready to scream in frustration. “Don’t! You are a great agent. Please do not throw it all away on some misconception that you are in love with me. You hear me?”

“I’m not giving up,” Braden said and stalked out of the office.

* * *

What do I do?What do I do?Sophie thought frantically, pacing back and forth in her lab. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she walked back to her office. Maia was kissing Braden. She was on his lap and kissing him. How messed up was that? Didn’t she just marry Jack? Jack McCord was one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen—well—there was Derek, but still.

Stephen walked up to her, phone in hand. “Derek wants to talk to you.”

“What? Not now!”

“Um, it’s not on hold.”

“Shit!” Sophie inhaled deeply before saying, “Hello.”

“Angel, are you okay?” Derek’s concerned voice came over the phone.

“Yes.”

“I hear there was a computer breach in your area.”

“It didn’t affect us.”

Silence.

“Sophie, you’re acting strangely,” Derek remarked. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t tell you,” Sophie whispered.

“Ah, now Angel, you’ll have to tell me because I’m not letting up.”

Sophie moved to the far corner of the lab, Stephen staring at her intently, probably noticing her erratic behavior.

“Promise not to mention anything to Jack?”

“Something wrong with the trigger design?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Well, what are you talking about?”

Sophie felt a deluge of words struggling to burst from her throat, but she was weighing the consequences. If she told Derek then it would be on his conscience whether to tell Jack or not. Not on her. Yes, that was better. Besides, he was Jack’s best friend.

“Sophie.”

“I caught Maia and Braden kissing in my office, OK?”

Silence.

“Derek?”

Silence.

“Derek!”

“Fuck! Are you sure?”

“Yes! Are you telling Jack?”

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