Page 105 of Love Around the Corner
“Chaos. Janet’s shelving system was always ‘chaos.’” She missed her with an ache that felt physical. But Janet wasn’t coming back. She’d finally faced it. The best she could do for Janet now was to preserve her legacy.
After she’d dumped another armful of books into the box and taped it shut, Michiko stood, dusting off her hands. “Okay, I’m dragging this last load of books down to Anita’s office then I’ll be back to start on the file cabinets.”
“Thanks, Michiko.”
Livie turned her attention back to the computer screen, clicking through Janet’s research files, saving to her flash drive anything she’d need to carry on the research. There was a lot to wade through. Janet had been working on her theory for nearly a decade.
“What are you doing in here?”
Livie looked up to find Peter Hockman’s bulky form filling up the doorway. A few months ago, Livie might have flushed and started babbling, apologizing for existing, even though she had every right to be here. But that was a few months ago. Now she barely spared a glance for Peter as she turned back to her work.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing up Janet’s office.”
“You’re on her office computer?”
“Peter, your powers of observation are staggering. Has anyone ever told you that?” She had no idea where all this snark had suddenly come from, but she wasn’t complaining. It felt great to say exactly what she was thinking for once, instead of having the words finally come to her half an hour later. Maybe it was because she knew she was leaving. She’d already lost everything here. Nothing that happened, nothing that anyone could say or do, mattered anymore. She was free.
Peter’s eyes went wide as she leaned down to swap out the flash drive for a new empty one. “Are you downloading her files?”
“Will your brilliance never end?” Baiting Peter Hockman was a blast. Why hadn’t she ever done this before? Oh, right. Fear. Well, she was all done with fear.
“You shouldn’t be doing that. Professor Langley should be the only one accessing her files. You know, as the department head.”
“Actingdepartment head. Janet isn’t dead yet, no matter how hard Langley wishes she were.”
“He’s not going to like you in here pawing through her stuff.”
“Then he can take it up with Janet’s husband, since he gave me her office keys, her passwords, and his blessing to take whatever the hell I want.”
“He did?”
“He did.” She took a moment to lean back in the chair and grin smugly at Peter. Being a cocky asshole wasfun. No wonder Nick was so good at it.
“What do you need all that for anyway? It’s not like you can keep working on her research without her.”
“You’re right,” she conceded. “I can’t keep working on her researchhere.”
“Then what are you going to do with it?”
She locked eyes with Peter, because shereallydidn’t want to miss Peter’s reaction when she dropped her bombshell on him. “I’m taking Janet’s research with me to McArthur, and I’m going to work on it there.”
Livie reveled in the shock spreading across his face.
“What?”
“I’ll go slow and use small words, so you can follow me. I’m transferring to McArthur. And I’m taking Janet’s research with me. They can’t wait to have me. They’ve offered me the full and unflagging support of the entire department. So you and Langley can take your interstellar medium bullshit and shove it up your asses where it belongs.”
Oh that feltamazing. She should have tried being a bitch years ago.
“Y-you can’t do that!” Peter sputtered.
Livie looked around herself with exaggerated surprise. “Really? Because it’s already done. I’m starting in January.”
“What about Adams?”
“Adams, and Langley, can kiss my ass.”
“You can’t take her work, though! Langley was going to—”
