Page 71 of Misdirection

“Our dinner went well, and we began to see each other. I haven’t seen any red flags—and, believe me, I look for them. Especially now that I have my grandfather’s money.”

She didn’t want to feel sorry for him. She really didn’t.

But compassion still coursed through her.

Jason liked Adriana a lot. It was obvious. His hurt was real.

“What does Adriana do for a living?” Olive asked.

“She’s a consultant for an international marketing company. She says it’s pretty boring, but it pays well.”

“Does she talk about any details with you? Or is her job talk all generic, easily made-up information?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Jason studied her face without apology.

“She could be lying about multiple things. Are you sure she really works at this international company?”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen her work badge. Her office. Nothing struck me as suspicious.”

Whoever this Adriana woman was, she was good. Maybe even a professional.

A professional like Olive?

Guilt flashed through her.

How would Jason feel if he ever learned Olive was working undercover? That she wasn’t everything she portrayed herself to be either?

She swallowed hard. He didn’t need to know.

There was no reason to tell him. When this assignment was over, she’d leave. She’d make no promises to anyone while she was here—no commitments, no connections.

Remaining unattached was what she was best at.

“I can’t believe she’d do this to me.” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “Has she been using me this whole time?”

His grief seemed real, and Olive actually felt bad for him. This whole confrontation hadn’t gone the way she’d planned.

Then Jason’s gaze shifted from disbelief and hurt to anger.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket. “I need to know what’s going on. Now. And Adriana is the only one with those answers.”

As soon as Olive realized what Jason was doing, she snatched his phone from his hand. “Wait! Don’t talk to Adriana yet.”

He stared at her in shock. “Why should I wait?”

“What are you going to say to her?”

He shrugged impatiently. “I’m not sure. But it probably won’t be nice.”

“You need to think this through first. For starters, where is Adriana, and when is she coming back?”

“She’s been working in London, and she’s supposed to be back in the morning. Why?”

Olive locked gazes with Jason. “Think about this. What if she doesn’t know that you know? Could you use that to your advantage?”

He squinted. “You mean, I should play along with her charade in order to get answers?”

“Exactly.” Olive continued to stare at him as she waited for his response.

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