While we were eating, an angry man marched over to our table. He took one harsh look at Lara before grabbing a glass of alcohol and drenching her. She was unperturbed as she dabbed her face to wipe up the liquid. My mouth was open in shock as I stared at his audacity.

"You bitch! You slept with my girlfriend!" He yelled, but Lara merely smirked.

"Yes, and I'd do it again." She said, making him attempt to swing, but security quickly apprehended him. "And this is why my mother wants me to travel with a security detail." She rolled her eyes in annoyance. As the guy was dragged away, he shouted a final thing at Lara.

"If you're gay then why use a strap?!"

"Some women just know how to use it better. We know how to navigate that area without a GPS." His eyes opened wide as she publicly roasted him. "And we don't finish in under a minute and leave the other person laying there unsatisfied. We can pick any size... can't say the same about yours." She drew her thumb and pointer finger close to simulate his micro penis. "And yours doesn't have the ability to glow in the dark. So while I'm strapping your girl, we're also having a party." She smirked at his flushed face. Lara then continued drinking like nothing happened. I just silently ate my meal while occasionally catching her eye.

After my unsettling lunch, Lara had dismissed herself, stating that she had a meeting. Her "meeting" involved a yacht party. There was a picture with her full on making out with a girl. I had a suspicion that she was the girl who cheated on her boyfriend. I know all of this because I may have stalked her socials when I got back to my place. There wasn't any need to go back to the department since they believed I was spending the entire day with Lara.

I was excited when Zayn surprised me at my door. He brought Chinese takeout for dinner. I gave him a tight squeeze and dragged him inside. We both bitched about our day while stuffing our faces with Lo Mein.

Spencer was apparently a hardass. I wasn't surprised from what I had observed. Jelena had more of a hands off approach while Spencer loved to micro manage her subordinates. Zayn seriously considered taking her out multiple times. I told him that it'd be a waste of his assassin skills if he killed Spencer.

He asked me about my "date" with Lara. I quickly clarified it wasn't a date and it was the farthest thing from it. I told him that the girl was calculating. She was insanely clever, but kept her knowledge under the radar. My antenna was raised with her. I just had the feeling that she was the smartest person in the room. She had to have outsmarted the other executives.

Zayn pointed out the girl partied way too much to be that impactful. But, I differed with him. I had the feeling her party persona was to take attention away from her aptitude. She, for some reason, wanted people to underestimate her. She lived for it and relied on that to be a whole mile ahead of her competitors.

Lara made an uncomfortable feeling enter my stomach. She wasn't as air brained as she let on. The "getting to know my babysitter better" lunch was an interrogation. She and the executives did not trust me at all. They didn't think my investigation was limited to the white collar crime that I claimed it to be. I don't think they were suspicious of Jelena and her team. I, however, peaked their interest.

Her aloofness was just a ploy to throw me off. She was investigating me the same way I was investigating her. This was about to be a game of wits. Who can outsmart the other and I have never lost in a game of logic.

X

"Because the API sticks to the wall of the container, we need to adjust the size of the particles so that it can make the nucleation more favorable-"

"I appreciate the insight, but why am I in the bio section. Shouldn't I be in the nuclear area with Lara? That is if she's working." Lexi chuckled at my statement.

"As you guessed it, no, she isn't here." My heart dropped at that. "She has asked me to explain the day's work since she mentioned that you weren't happy to have her delay your job." I laughed at that. "Also, Lara's job is all over the place. It isn't just specific to the physics type side of the company. She oversees all technical operations, which includes vaccine development." She pointed at the scientists surrounding the lab bench.

"I see, so she's not just a one dimensional person."

"No, I am not." We turned to see Lara walking towards us.

She had a hand in the pocket of her lab coat. She looked amused to have caught us. Then again, was this purely coincidental.

"Lara, I thought you weren't working today?" Lexi was confused.

"'Decided to come in at the last minute. Can't have my supervisor thinking that I'm slacking off." She teased me. "I'll take it from here." Lexi nodded and waved bye to me. "Now, anything raises suspicions? Bad GMP? Unclean instruments? Crappy cafeteria food?" She teased.

"All of the above and more." I walked away from her.

"Where are you going?" I heard her footsteps fall in line with mine. How'd she move so fast?

"Home. I'm done for the day." I said in a bored tone.

"But, I just got here!"

"Which made me end my day earlier than expected."

"Oooof." She placed a hand over her heart. "Now, that's a shot to my ego."

"That needs to happen more often. Perhaps, it'd humble you." I wondered aloud.

"You're funny." She stated.

"I wasn't trying to be."

"Unknowingly funny." She paused. "That makes you even funnier." She concluded.

As we walked down the halls, I saw the lustful gazes that befell Lara. The women would bite their lips or give her suggestive looks. I saw a woman subtly cock her head in the direction of a closet. Lara had subtly shook her head no, but winked at her.

"Isn't it an HR violation to be intimate with your subordinates?" I asked.

"Well, I'm not harassing them if they're the ones making the advances. As for being intimate with my subordinates... I'm above an HR complaint." She smugly smirked.

"Well, your actions sure impact them to stare daggers at me." I noticed the glares women were throwing at me since I had Lara's attention.

"Hmm... well since you're seen with me a lot, you should see an increase in your followers." She chuckled.

"And haters." I mumbled.

I didn't realize until I was at the exit that she had escorted me downstairs. I turned around to wave goodbye, but she caught my wrist. I raised a brow at her.

"Sorry." She blushed. Well, that was new. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to have drinks later. On me, of course." She added with a smirk that would make any girl drop their panties.

"No, thanks." I swiveled on my heel, not before missing her shocked expression.

I kept walking and refused to look back. As much as I wanted to spend outside time with her, I had a job that needed to be completed. She was my target and nothing more. If that were true though.... why do I feel an aching in my chest whenever I suppress my feelings towards her.