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77 - Repercussions
Jia didn't know what to make of the entire weekend. It had started badly with the dinner Friday evening, but shortly thereafter, Jini retracted her claws and allowed Atlas significantly more peace than before. The glares didn't quite stop, but they seemed to be limited only to spurts of time rather than maintaining a constant vigil. It lessened even more after Saturday when Atlas made surprise arrangements for William to take them to Manhattan for the Regionals so that they didn't have to take the bus.
For Nationals, he'd said, he would make sure to show up in person. Jini had rolled her eyes at the thinly veiled encouragement.
The competition was a grueling six hours that ended in the twins' advancement, and William had arrived to take them back home afterward. Sunday disappeared in a flash - all three of them were exhausted after a busy week and spent the day sleeping in. The only interruption was a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Lee, who came bearing food in disposab
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In the Shadow of the CEO 79 - Talks
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In the Shadow of the CEO 80 - Expectations
"So where do you want to start?"Jia closed her eyes as Atlas ran his fingers down the side of her face, the calluses following the dip of her cheek and down to her chin. She sighed. "Are we - dating?"It was a clumsy way to begin a talk so important, and she knew it. But it was better than nothing, and at least he looked amused rather than disappointed at her lack of eloquence. A smile quirked at the corners of his mouth as he took a lock of her dark hair between his fingers and raised it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to it, keeping his eyes on her face all the while, and she became even more acutely aware that she was still straddling his lap."I'd say that we are. I wish I'd been more plain about it if you've been doubting it so much.""No, it's not that," she hurried to say. "I just...wanted to be sure. Might as well.""Mm.""How serious is it?""How serious do you want it to be?"She took one hand off his shoulder a
In the Shadow of the CEO 81 - Avoidances
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In the Shadow of the CEO 83 - Outside Opinions
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In the Shadow of the CEO 84 - Uncomfortable
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In the Shadow of the CEO 85 - Reunions
"So? Did you do it yet? What'd he say? Come on -"She shouldn't have answered the FaceTime call, thought Jia. Why? Why had she done this, knowing exactly what Dolly was going to ask about the instant she started talking?...Or maybe that was exactly why she had answered in the first place. She had a plan today. A big one, though not necessarily well thought out, and it was the most daring thing Jia would ever do to date. She needed something to rattle her nerves and amp her up, make her brave. And only Dolly could make her feel so reckless -"He's not here yet," she said, and she placed the tablet on a stand so that she could pick up the napkins she had brought up to the office with her and continue dabbing at the damp spot on the collar of her metallic blue silk blouse. "His flight touches down a bit before noon.""What! You should have said that instead of just telling he was going to be back today. And you're wiping at your shirt, I thought for sure you were maybe cleaning off some
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