Page 46 of The Grand Duel

“She did.” He clears his throat. “Thank you, Miss Elton.”

“It’s just Lissie,” I repeat, the knot in my gut loosening. “And you’re welcome.” I smile.

He hands me a sheet of paper, his eyes still not meeting mine.

I lean in to take it. “What’s this?”

“It’s the case notes for tomorrow’s…”

He continues talking, but I have no idea what he’s saying because that smell.Him.

It’s rich, clean…familiar.

I shake it off.

“That’s great,” I tell him, taking the file and flipping the folder open. “Oh.” I look up quickly. “Notthat’s greathe’s facing a life sentence for killing his mum.That’s greatas in…” I hold up the file. “Thanks.”

“I know what you meant.”

“Well,thatis great,” I tell him, a bit goofy and wanting to die.

He watches me for a second, as if he’s repulsed, and then reaches for his laptop, pulling it out of his bag and onto his lap.

“I can see why the car is necessary now.” I roll my eyes, wishing someone would sew my lips shut.

He doesn’t look up, reaching forward to take a sip out of his travel cup before answering. “And why’s that?”

God, he might actually hate me at this point.

I’m too much.

I swallow, letting my eyes drift closed as I shake my head. “Just that you work on the road,” I say in explanation.

After a few minutes, I pull out my own laptop and check my emails, mimicking him to keep myself busy.

I open my inbox. Refresh it. Nothing.

I look over at him and find him typing away.

How many hours will I be trapped in this car with him as we travel to and from the office and headquarters?

Will it all be in silence?

Who even needs two office spaces?

With nothing to do, I pull up my personal email account. At the very top of my inbox is an email from Jovie.

I already know it will be something ridiculous before I even open it, else she would’ve texted it to me.

Fifty percent off this one at the minute Lis!

I sigh at the name and link to the familiar dating site and click reply.

I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!

Thank you so much, love you, bye.

It’s ironic she pushes me finding a man down my throat so hard when she’s the one in a foreign country and single.