Page 40 of Killing Me Softly

Standing there, poised and composed in her fitted blazer and perfectly controlled smile, was Dr Laura Pryce.

Ellie rose from her seat, extending a polite hand. “Dr Pryce, thank you for joining us.”

Dr Pryce.The woman he’d tried calling yesterday. Who’d seen him in Barcelona.With Aaron.Kenny barely heard Ellie’s words over the sudden, deafening rush of blood in his ears.

Fuck.

Laura shook Ellie’s hand before shifting her attention to him. “Dr Lyons.” Her smile was warm but clinical, and it made his stomach coil. “Good to see you. Again.”

For a split second, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. His brain scrambled for something—anything—to explain why she was here, whythiswas happening. But she extended her hand toward him. A perfectly neutral gesture. No malice, no accusation.

Still, his fingers stiffened when they clasped hers.

“What are you—?” His voice cracked before he could stop it.

“Dr Pryce is the newest member of our faculty,” Ellie spoke for them all. “As you know already, she specialises in behavioural neuroscience and trauma rehabilitation. A solid career in industry, but for the last five years, is it?” She checked with Laura.

“That’s right.”

“She’s been progressing the academic pathway at UCL. Now we’ve convinced her to join us. To support you.”

“Support me?”

“Consider this a chance to take a step back. You’ve had a challenging few years as it is what with all the…bother on campus. Now, with your recent loss, you can take a breath to grieve your mother.”

Kenny’s head pounded.

“She’ll be shadowing you as part of her integration to the team.” Ellie moved things around on her desk. “I’ve alreadygiven her access to the third-year dissertation projects which she’ll be supervising.”

“They haven’t come in yet.”

“The deadline was Friday, Kenny.”

Kenny pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t on this at all.

“She’ll also be leading some research while she’s here.”

“What type of research?” Kenny glanced at Laura.

“I’ll explain it all later.”

Kenny’s stomach twisted. Translation: she was here to monitor him.Babysithim. To take away his job.

Kenny turned back to Laura, who stood with the poise of someone completely unbothered by the tension in the room. “I’m looking forward to working with you,” she said, offering a polite smile. “I think our work compliments each other nicely. We’ll make a great team.”

He forced a tight smile. “Right.”

Ellie rose from her seat, a subtle cue the meeting was over. “I trust you’ll make Dr Pryce feel welcome. This arrangement is in the best interest of the department.”

“Of course.”

As they stepped into the faculty administration, Laura turned to him.

“Sorry I didn’t get the chance to warn you when in Barcelona.” Laura squeezed his arm. “Think you had other things on your mind then.” She gave him a wink. “And I am really sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Was it sudden?”

“Yes.” Kenny rubbed his forehead, trying to dull the ache.

“My condolences. If there’s anything I can do?”

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