Page 14 of Embrace Me Forever

Thomas chimes in, his tone curious. “What about software security? With such advanced technology, isn’t it a prime target for cyber-attacks?”

Admiring her beautiful face, I find myself silently cheering her on, hoping she delivers the perfect response.

She acknowledges the concern. “Absolutely. That’s why QEOPA is built with multiple layers of security, includingquantum encryption, that makes it virtually impenetrable. I’ve also integrated continuous monitoring and adaptive defenses that learn and evolve with potential threats.”

Rocky fires another question about the system’s compatibility with the older fleet, and she responds calmly, her answer clearly enthralling the seasoned engineer.

Leaning back in my seat, I exhale deeply, relieved for her, yet overwhelmed by a sense of personal despair. Black and white—is that all there is to this life?

I gaze at Georgia-May, radiant as she concludes her presentation. Should I trust the hard evidence laid out on paper, or should I listen to my feelings?

Shifting forward, I rub my face in frustration. I fucking hate myself right now. Feelings? They should be anathema to any seasoned PI. Yet here I am, perhaps proving I’m still human. Whether that’s a virtue or a vice, I can’t say. Right now, it feels like my gut is dissolving, like a chocolate bar left under the sun.

While my focus has been on finding flaws in this woman, now I find myself captivated by her curves, accentuated by her tightly fitted skirt. Her blazer is casually open, revealing a hint of silk blouse beneath, with two buttons undone. After years of discipline, detachment, and dispassion, forgotten sensations are beginning to resurface, stirring something within me that feels both ancient and dangerous.

God, this is all fucked up!

I straighten in my seat, pressing my thighs together, trying to banish thoughts that are anything but professional. I told myself she might be a challenge I badly needed, sending my mind buzzing like a sniffer dog at a luggage carousel. She is a challenge, all right, but I never imagined it would be this kind. The kind that tests the very core of my morals.

The presentation wraps up, and from their expressions, it’s clear that Rob and Clayton are impressed. Kylie leads Georgia-May back to the lobby where I’m waiting.

“Thanks for coming, Ms. Williams,” Kylie says. “Blake will take care of you now.” She casts a glance at me, then gives Georgia-May an appraising look. “Between you and me, he’s got the heart of a lion. Even if he drinks tea like a kitten.”

Georgia-May’s laughter rings out, carefree and light, as if she’s shedding the last traces of nerves from her presentation. I’m not privy to what the two ladies discussed between the conference room and the lobby, but they seem to have bonded almost instantly, like long-lost friends.

And here I am, still spinning my yin-yang, deciding where I should draw the line. “Let me take you back to the airport,” I offer, striving to sound detached.

Georgia-May shakes her head. “Thank you, but I think I’ll take a cab.”

I keep my expression polite, though her decision unsettles me for two reasons. She might be hiding what’s next on her agenda, and I’m not quite ready to let her walk away. But I don’t press further. “I’ll call one for you. It’s Hartley’s usual company, so there won’t be any charge,”

Despite her relief, it’s clear the meeting has taken a lot out of her. The exhaustion is evident in the subtle droop of her shoulders and the sagging of her eyelids.

The cab pulls up, and I exchange a quick tap on the doorframe with the driver as I open the door for her. “Play some country, will you?” I quip.

“Anything for passenger comfort,” the driver replies with a familiar grin.

Out of the blue, as if releasing the burden on her shoulders one last time, Georgia-May leans into me and wraps her armsaround me in a loose embrace. But I feel her—my God, don’t I feel her.

A rush of tingling energy takes over my chest as I return the hug.

“Thank you, Mr. Blake,” she murmurs. It’s a different kind of thank you, filled with the depth of affection only a woman can give.

Eyes can lie, smiles can deceive, but genuine appreciation is almost impossible to fake. With years of PI experience under my belt, I’m accustomed to slicing through dilemmas. Yet, the more I try to analyze her, the more I struggle to regain the skeptical edge that has defined me all these years.

“Take care, Ms. Williams,” I finally manage as she releases her hug and hops into the cab.

Back in Rob’s office,I manage to shake off the unease from the encounter. This time, it’s not about Georgia-May’s cover, but my own heart wrestling with the ‘what ifs.’

The brothers, along with Rocky and Thomas, start discussing their findings.

“Damn, that was one of the best presentations I’ve seen in a while,” Rocky says. “She cut right to the chase. Where the hell has she been hiding? We could’ve used this when we launched the next-gen Pentela collection.”

Clayton raises his brows, clearly agreeing with Rocky’s point.

The engineer then turns to Thomas. “The details are more in your wheelhouse, my friend. As long as her program doesn’t sink a boat, I’m on board.”

“There’s a lot to unpack in the code, but she knows her stuff,” Thomas says. The head of IT is barely in his mid-twenties. It’s astonishing just how sharp these young people are.

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