Page 25 of Undercover Infidel
After Gus departed, Lex and I remained in the operations hub, crafting our approach for the following day.
“We should review the full dossier on Orlov,” she suggested. “I knew him professionally before his supposed death.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You never mentioned that.”
“We crossed paths at several international AI conferences.”
“And yet you defended him to Typhon.”
She met my gaze steadily. “I did not. We were discussing Dr. McLaren.”
“Right. My apologies.” The look she gave me was as odd as I was feeling. Maybe the lack of sleep was finally catching up with me.
As evening approached,we ordered dinner to be brought to the ops hub rather than risk another awkward formal meal. Mrs. Thorne sent down a hearty stew with freshly baked bread that we ate while continuing our work.
“What drew you to this field?” I asked during a brief respite. “AI development, I mean.”
Lex considered the question, her spoon hovering over her bowl. “The potential. Not just for weapons systems—though that’s where my expertise lies—but for solving problems beyond human capability.”
“And the ethical considerations?”
“Always present. That’s what separates me from people like Orlov.” She broke off a piece of bread. “What about you? How does an aristocrat end up as a cybersecurity expert and secret intelligence operative?”
“Sullivan’s analysis of Tower-Meridian’s shipping manifests wasn’t just about missing supplies or diverted cargo,” I explained. “Looking back at her data through the lens of what we know now, those discrepancies align perfectly with components needed for advanced neural processing. The ‘medical equipment’ she tracked wasn’t being sold on the black market—it was being repurposed for Labyrinth’s processing architecture.”
“That explains your interest in this mission. But what I really want to know is how you got into this in the first place.”
I smiled, surprised by my willingness to share after my diversion tactic had failed. “I was always fascinated by technology, even as a child. My father thought it a passing phase and expected me to focus on managing the estate. But when I hacked into my school’s grading system at fourteen, he realized it might be more than a hobby.”
“Did you change your grades?” Her eyes held a hint of amusement.
“God, no. I was top of my class already. I just wanted to see if I could do it.” I laughed at the memory. “Though I did adjust the cafeteria menu to remove Brussels sprouts permanently.”
“A noble cause.” Her laughter joined mine, the sound warming me.
“After university, I was approached by government recruiters who’d been monitoring my…extracurricular activities. The rest, as they say, is classified.”
The conversation continued flowing naturally. We discussed our respective work experience, our educational backgrounds, even our favorite books—finding unexpected common ground in our shared love of classical literature.
“Paradise Lost?” she asked, surprised. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Milton enthusiast.”
“The devil has all the best lines,” I replied with a half smile. “You forget I first studied at Cambridge.”
As midnight approached, I noticed her stifling a yawn.
“We should get some rest. Early start tomorrow if we’re heading to Edinburgh.” I stood and held out my hand, but she didn’t take it.
She stretched in her chair. “I suppose you’re right.”
I found myself smiling as we made our way through the castle corridors. The evening had been unexpectedly pleasant—not just productive but personallysatisfying in a way I hadn’t experienced in some time. The time spent with Fallon was more about what I’d considered to be playful banter. In hindsight, “combative” would have been a better word for it.
At her door, she paused. “Thank you for today. The workspace, the collaboration…” Her voice trailed off.
“My pleasure.” I stood closer than necessary. The magnetic pull between us was impossible to resist. “Sleep well, Lex.”
She looked up at me, her dark eyes reflecting the dim corridor lighting. “You too, Con.”
Neither of us moved for a long moment. The tension between us heightened, transforming into something more complex than simple attraction or professional respect. Was I naive to think this could be understanding and recognition—the rare connection between two people who saw each other clearly?
