Page 9 of Unspoken Promises

Why wouldn’t he? I guess I half expected he’d know by now I didn’t use my real name for the contest.

“You’ll need to sign these nondisclosure agreements before we can talk.”

“No problem.”

He places the papers in front of me and watches me form my signature, carefully, like maybe I’m forging the documents. I suppose it’s natural to be suspicious of hackers. I flip through the pages searching for the dotted lines when his finger lands with a soft tap, pushing the papers down flat and stopping me.

My gaze follows the length of his tanned manly hand, up a forearm of veins and pumped muscle, along the rolled-up sleeve of his dress shirt to finally meet his dark-brown eyes. I gulp and hope my irises aren’t flaring with whatever it is I’m feeling, because it isn’t professional.

He cocks a brow again. God is he attractive.

“You should always read contracts before signing.”

He must think I’m an idiot. A young, silly girl. I know I should read them. But considering I don’t care what’s inthese contracts and I’m signing them anyway, I didn’t think tolooklike I’m a professional and not some girl on the run.

“You’re right. I haven’t signed a lot of contracts.” I smile, and it goes unreturned.

“You haven’t even signed for a student loan,” he says.

It’s a comment that would start small talk for normal people, except really, he’s saying he’s already researched me. And he couldn’t find what doesn’t exist. Then again, it’s the truth. Ava Scott doesn’t have a college loan, and neither did the old me.

“I’m fortunate not to have any loans.” I beam. “By the way, I respect how you and Rio funded yourselves through college. It’s expensive.”

He holds my gaze tightly, squeezing every last drop of meaning out of what I just said, because even though I meant it, it’s no simple compliment. He now knows I investigated him, too.

His Adam’s apple bobs up and down along that thick throat. He doesn’t let me know what he thinks of my compliment, but my words were sincere.

Apart from me being fortunate.

I drop my eyes to the contracts, and his gaze nibbles at my scalp. It’s hard to concentrate so close to a man like this. It feels like an eternity getting through all the clauses, but eventually, I finish my last scrawl, and he’s in the exact same position he started. He didn’t pick up his cell to check it. He didn’t click on his computer to complete another task.

All. Eyes. On. Me.

I remind myself I’m not a bad guy. I’m here to do the same thing Enzo wants to do— take down criminals. My intentions are pure. Posing under a fake identity isn’t right, or legal for that matter, but I’m not hurting anybody. On thecontrary, here, I’ll help thousands. There’s just the small matter of gaining this man’s trust.

I’m going to pay it forward. I’m going to show him how much value I can bring and send his scowl sailing across the room. And then, he’ll help me.

Hehasto help me get my new identity. There is no plan B.

Enzo flicks through the pages of the contract, checking my ink is where it should be, then turns to his computer and clicks a few more times.

He stares at his screen when he talks to me. “You need to call Debbie in payroll when we’re done here. She’ll sort your prize money and get you set up for future payments.”

If he wasn’t suspicious enough before, I’m about to pile it on thick. But there’s no way of pussyfooting around.

“I don’t have a cell.”

He wants to ask why, the word is ready to leap off his tight lips, but he doesn’t ask, he simply searches for the answer to his question in my gaze.

His inspection lasts an eternity, and in this time, I learn something about Enzo. He thinks a great deal before he speaks. His intense, silent inquiry pins me to the chair. I muster up everything I can to meet his confidence, but panic has my palms sweating. I only breathe when he turns back to his laptop and types again.

“I’ll have your PC and laptop couriered down from the offices within the next few hours.”

Relief washes through me.

Then, he stands and walks to a locked corner cupboard and shields a keypad. When the door opens, I crane my neck to have a peek at what’s inside but he covers the space with his body. He pulls a cell out, places a SIM in it and hands it to me.

I’m learning new things about myself every minute I’m out here on my own. I have a thing for glasses and scowls and I’m incredibly snoopy.

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