Forbidden Stranger

table like she's about

e need to talk about

ppened," I repl

orrects. "H

want it, spoon clinking too loud agai

ng. "Power doesn't call you pers

r. "You think I

sharks and slapped the biggest one on

ite myself. "That's

ould ruin you. Or fast-track y

ere," I say. "Just

for a long second

uth to deny

ous," I sa

r with bett

easily sh

finally. "I don't have a cushi

always does when I

y. "Which is why I'm say

h Er

who looks calm but runs a company

l," I say. "He

rse," Bell

again on the t

me, it'

Check y

hands hesitate before

n my

p, flagge

Program Adm

ional Evaluati

st tig

face instantl

luation," I sa

s shoot up.

n the

Hefl

ry assessment this afternoon. Attendance

ect

ize. Or a

bad," B

I reply. "Which you

"You know wh

r and exhale slowly. "

es. "You get t

olve settling i

worried at the same ti

email again, one thought pr

't just n

oved

his program move

wo blocks before m

nknown

p wal

e realizing I'm not beside her.

er. "H

ays, calm as ever. "D

reply.

ays. "Then w

on what

timi

d the phone. "The emai

grees. "It

stands, watching me like she's ready

he evaluat

n," he says. "

thing for h

administrative assess

s. "I'm part of th

t's

inishes. "No

w. "Then

that means distraction. The

ou don't act like someon

ouths h

est special tr

," he replies. "You

unds sub

ays easily. "

them, Bella is shaking her head lik

in this eval

s," Eric says. "I ob

d t

e decide if this progra

st tig

ot how th

ks," he replies. "Most peo

lla again. She

I say n

ys calm. "Then n

's a

through the line.

ly. "Where is

address like he'

e there

," he r

call

second I lower the p

ave a choi

ys have a

this

"This is how people get

also know this program

my face, searc

s resolv

she says finally. "If y

l," I

s. "I ha

I," I

, something else coi

ios

ummon me to i

cause he wanted t

far more