Page 122 of True Colors

“Th-thank you for dinner,” she says politely.

“No, Anouk, thank you.”

She hesitates and then shrugs. “G-goodnight, Luther.”

“Sleep well, my starling.”

I know she watches me as I walk to the car. She doesn’t wave when I drive away, but she stays in her doorway, silhouetted by the light from inside her apartment, and somehow that feels like a reward.

CHAPTER 29

Anouk

I’m still standing when the room breaks into motion.

Chairs scrape back. Low voices overlap. Someone laughs.

My hands tremble—not in a bad way, but in the ‘I just did that’ way.

I presented my data. I stuttered through it, no doubt, but I presented in front of an audience. I answered questions. Sometimes stumbling over my words, but I did it.

Once I’m done, Dot squeezes my arm. Pallavi gives me a thumbs-up, and Vijay looks like he might burst with vindication.

“Thank you, Anouk.” Luther’s eyes linger on me, and then he turns to Martin and his father. “Martin, Dad, do you have any other questions for us?”

“No questions, Luther. I am, however, looking forward to the implementation of this project now. Anouk, this is excellent work. Clear, rigorous, and—most importantly—defensible.” Martin Ericksen, the CEO of Novagene, grins with satisfaction, and I want to beat my chest and tell Erin, who isn’t there, “Take that, bitch.”

Jacob Grant, Luther’s father, doesn’t say anything right away. He studies me for a beat, the way people do when they’re recalibrating an opinion.

Then he smiles.

“Thank you for walking us through the logic.” He’s got what they call executive presence, what they say I don’t have. “You didn’t just present outcomes—you showed us how you thought. I echo Martin, you are very impressive.”

Heat rises into my face, my ears.

I know this feeling even though I don’t experience it often.

It’s pride. Actual, unfiltered pride.

It takes me a while to gather my things after everyone leaves, but before I can walk out of the meeting room, there’s a knock on the open door.

“Ah…M-mister G-Grant?”

“Jacob, please.” Luther’s father comes in and stands close to me, making me very nervous. “May I steal a moment of your time?”

My first instinct is to panic.

Why does he want to talk to me? What’s he going to say? He’s going to say something about Luther, isn’t he? That I’m not good enough for him or stay away from him…or have I watched way too many Hallmark romance movies with Finn?

“Y-yes.” I hug my laptop and files close to my chest.

His eyes are the same as Luther’s. Blue. They’re also kind. Still, I saw him in action at the meeting. He’s smart and asks tough questions.

“I wanted to tell you—personally—that what you did in here took courage. You owned your work, despite what my idiot son put you through.”

Idiot son?

“Th-thank you.” My voice wobbles.