Page 25 of On The Beach

"Why him?"

"He was one of the founders of the company I work for. He…well, he wasn't thevisiblepartner. He did the research side of things. He had his own lab and…," I saw curiosity in Mick's eyes instead of boredom because people didn't want to hear about science usually, "he's a genius. I need him to give me permission to use one of his patents. It's vital for the success of a project."

"You gonna make a lot of money off this?" RiRi asked, her tone stiff.

I shrugged. "Don't need money…but it's important…you know for my career,andit will save lives."

"You said career first," Cato remarked.

"I'm a scientist. My career is my life, it's…," I took a deep breath, "I don't expect you to understand."

"Why? Because you're so high falutin'?" RiRi's tone was now acrimonious.

"God no," I spluttered. "No. I...I'm a nerd, okay? My life is my work. I…this is the first time I've had any fun in a really long time. I amnothigh anything. I'm just a very boring and dull person who works eighty hours a week."

RiRi rolled her eyes. "Now you make me feel like a bitch, gal."

"You're not a bitch," I stated firmly. "They call me one at work."

"You?" Cato blinked.

"I'm called Lady Freeze at work."

"You?" Mick pulled away to look at my face.

"I'm way serious in the lab. I don't drink at work," I explained. "Maybe I should."

"Maybe you should," Cato agreed.

"I just…I'm dedicated to my work."

"And your career," Mick said, and even though he'd promised he wouldn't judge me, I could hear it in his tone, a disdain for someone who was only interested in their job. I heard it often enough.

She has no life.

She's always working, and she expects all of us, too.

Does she sleep in the lab?

She needs to get laid.

She ripped me a new one because I got those numbers wrong.

And on and on it went.

"Considering your shoes, I wouldn't expect that." RiRi leaned over the bar.

If I had one vice, it was footwear. I bought them online and never returned any of them, even those that didn't fit. I kept them all and wore a few. At work, sneakers were my best choice, but when I was out and about as I was now, I packed more shoes than clothes. And since I'd lost my sandals the previous night (I couldn't find them now), that had turned out to be a goodthing.

I was wearing a pair of Aquazzura sandals, which were sexy, simple, and practical. I'd even managed to get a pedicure with Anna before I came here, so my feet didn't look like sad, dried-up, cracked-up cookies but lush and delicate, even though I'd gone with colorless nail paint. I didn't have time for a mani-pedi on the regular—but once in a while, my sister made sure I got some maintenance work done.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I wiggled my toes, suddenly self-conscious under their stares.

"Those look like sandals for someone who actually knows how to have fun.” She smirked. "Not some corporate ice queen who breathes...what is it you do again? Gene stuff?"

"Gene therapy," I said, unable to hold back a laugh. "And Iamfun…well, here I am."

Mick gave me a sidelong glance, a playful glint in his eyes. "I can vouch for that."

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