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“No,” he snapped, tapping too hard on the brakes when we hit a red light. “I realised way before that. I almost came back to the gym to finish my run, but then I… just didn’t.”

I nodded in mock-understanding. “Fair.”

“Ran for half an hour this morning though.” He eased the car forward as the light turned green. “Well, it was actually a sprint. Topped my max speed. Could’ve kept going, but…” He shrugged. “Had to get ready for work.”

“Very impressive.”

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel again. “How long did you run for after I left on Saturday?”

“Another half hour,” I lied. I’d actually jumped off the treadmill the moment I saw him hobble out of the locker room and leave.

“Consistent speed?” he asked immediately.

“Yes.”

“Incline?”

“Yes.”

He grunted, slouching lower in his seat. “Not bad, I guess.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said sardonically.

“I’m just saying, I could’ve kept going on Saturday.”

“I never said you couldn’t.”

“I know. I’m just saying. My stamina is crazy good.”

My thighs clenched together. I really wished he’d stop talking about his stamina. It wasn’t helping.

Chapter Nine

Anita

T he Rorik + Stimis offices spanned the first four floors of a tall, demiurgus-style building in the corporate district. When

Corva and I came here for our initial meeting with var Rorik and his partner, we’d been taken to a conference room on the

third floor, but this time, I followed var Rorik up to the fourth floor.

To his office.

Rush hour traffic had been bad, so it was already ten to six, and the floor we emerged on was largely empty. It was mainly the private offices of the junior partners, but var Rorik led me down a corridor until we reached a neat, airy space with some seating and a single desk outside a door with a brass plaque on it.

Nuni var Rorik

Managing Partner

Lipa was sitting at the desk, and she jumped to her feet when she saw us. “I’ve finished rescheduling all your appointments from this afternoon, sir.”

“Awesome. Thanks, Lipa.” He tapped a claw on her desk as he passed it. “Go home.”

“You missed your three o’clock meal,” she hurriedly said, shooting me a sympathetic smile behind his back as he opened his office door. “Do you want it now?”

“Oh.” He stopped and turned. “Yeah, that would be great. Then go home.”

“No problem.”