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His offer made me aware of how dry my mouth was. “Yes, please.”
I stared at the harbour through the window while Neil tinkered in the kitchen behind me. Multi-coloured lights shimmered on the rippled surface of the sea, and a lone yacht drifted in the distance. It was almost romantic.
Neil placed the glass of water on a coaster on the coffee table, then he shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it over the armrest of the couch. He had already ditched his tie. I sipped from my water as Neil sat down, angling himself towards me. Our knees almost touched.
A strained silence descended between us. I watched Neil chew his lip as his eyes wandered over me. He seemed to be grappling with his thoughts. I was equally at a loss for words. He opened his mouth, then he abruptly closed it again. Just as the tension was becoming too much to bear, a furry visitor joined us. Chichi scaled the top length of the couch, brushing past both our heads before climbing down to curl up on Neil’s suit jacket.
Neil let out an exaggerated groan through a half-smile. “You little rascal. You’re gonna get fur all over that.”
I found his reaction so endearing that I couldn’t help but giggle. “Too late. It’s hers now.”
Neil’s smile broadened. “That’s right.” He reached a hand out to the adorable offender. “Chichi.” He stroked her fur. “Are you fed? Did Milly give you your dinner?”
“I did.”
Chichi purred, nuzzling Neil’s hand. I watched on, feeling my heart stir, almost like Neil’s affection was directed at me rather than his pet. I could bask in its warmth.
He continued to pet Chichi with one lazily outreached hand as he returned his focus to me. “I’m sorry if I scared you before. Daniel Ling’s visit rattled me.”
“There’s something going on between you two, isn’t there?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Does it have anything to do with Alex Patterson?” My assertiveness surprised me, and I felt an urge to punctuate my question by covering my mouth with my hand.
Neil stopped petting Chichi. I tensed up, wondering if I was about to regret what I had asked.
“Hmm.” Neil rubbed his temples. “I don’t know how much to tell you.”
“You still don’t think you can trust me?”
“I’m choosing to trust you, Amelia. Maybe it’s unwise, but that’s the decision I’ve come to. I spent all day going through the security logs and camera footage, and there was nothing to suggest you had anything to do with planting the bug.”
“Of course—because I didn’t do it. But did you find out who did?”
“Daniel entered my office during the brief period he was alone there. He could have placed it then, yet that doesn’t explain how he knew…”
“About Alex?”
Neil shook his head.
“If you’ve decided to trust me, then why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“Because the more I tell you, the more I get you involved in something I’d rather you weren’t involved in,” he snapped.
My heart lurched. Neil seemed pained and conflicted over this. Maybe it really was in my best interest to be kept in the dark.
Neil sighed, lowering his hands to rest by his lap. “Then again, it’s too late to shield you completely. And I wouldn’t have picked you for this job if I didn’t think you could handle some part of the truth.”
I remembered how he had called me devious once. Was that the quality he had been searching for in a new secretary? Someone with cunning…. Someone who could handle getting caught up in whatever this was…
“What about Christine?” I asked. “Does she know?”
“Christine was with me almost since the beginning. Of course she would know a few things. You’re… different.”
“Different? How so? Because we haven’t worked together as long?”
“It’s not that.” Neil sighed. “I don’t know why I’m struggling so much with this.” He undid an extra button of his shirt and tugged at his collar as if to let some hot air out, before composing himself. “Okay. I think I’m ready. Are you?”
