Dinner carried on with the usual rhythm—utensils scraping, low voices rising and falling—but Katherine’s thoughts were elsewhere. The setting wasn’t ideal for updates, yet the matter couldn’t wait. She set her fork aside, swept her gaze around the table, and finally rested on Kasra. “Kasra, our tech team has made some progress regarding Wendy May.”
Kasra looked up, his posture straightening as the others at the table instinctively turned their attention to her. The casual air dissipated, replaced by a quiet tension.
“Yesterday, after meeting Seven,” Katherine began, her tone measured, “Wendy sent a cryptic text to someone listed as ‘C’ in her contacts. The response was brief, but the team traced the location by triangulating the coordinates. The abbreviation ‘SHP’ in the text stands for Stratford House Place.”
“Kayan,” she continued as she angled to him, “didn’t you mention Cloche has an apartment there?”
Kayan gave a curt nod. “He does.”
“Here’s another red flag,” Katherine pressed on. “C’s communication style was… distinct. He spoke in English but with a French accent. At one point, he switched to fluent French during a call. Our interpreter said it was an order to the other party to dig into Seven’s background.”
The weight of the words settled over the table. Seven’s hand stilled mid-cut, his knife poised over his steak. “Didn’t you say Cloche is French?”
“Yes,” Katherine confirmed. “So, I’d wager that ‘C’ is code for Cloche. Lara, can I send you a recording of his voice for verification?”
“Definitely. I’d recognize it anywhere,” Lara replied.
Katherine inclined her head. “Another thing. C told Wendy that Lara was rescued shortly after she was captured. He suspected she had a GPS tracker in her. Short of removing it upon capture, he’s out of ideas to get to her without alerting TITAN.”
Kasra’s brow furrowed, his fingers tightening around his glass. “If Sana’s off-limits, he’ll target someone else.”
A knowing smile flickered across Katherine’s face. “Exactly. Wendy told him Seven had taken over Sana’s portfolio.”
Kasra exchanged a glance with Seven, tension crackling between them. Seven finally broke the silence. “Did they mention the particular project by name?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Katherine said. “But C made it clear he’s running out of time. He’s desperate for an opening.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“And he’s incentivizing Wendy. He transferred money into a card he gave her as a reward for her intel on Seven. He also promised her more… if she’d sleep with him,” she added, her expression hardening.
The air around the table seemed to thicken. Seven exhaled slowly, his features unreadable. “I assume I’m in play now?”
Katherine met his gaze evenly. “That’s right. You’re now the bait.”
Seven gave a single nod. “Understood.”
The conversation wound down after that, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Dinner concluded soon after, and everyone quietly dispersed for the evening.
……
Entering her bedroom, Katherine held the door as Carys walked in. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it as if bracing herself.
“Rys,” Katherine began hesitantly, her voice low, “I need your help.”
Carys arched a brow. “What is it?”
Katherine walked over and sank onto the edge of her bed, twisting the hem of her shirt. “Last night, Kimi and I… we, uh, we slept together.”
Carys blinked, amused. “And?”
Katherine let out a nervous laugh. “I was a total noob! I bought the wrong size condom. So, I suggested taking the pill, but he wouldn’t hear of it, saying it’s bad for my body. I even suggested… the pull-out method. But things… got out of hand.”
“Out of hand, huh?” Carys chuckled, sitting down beside her. “Don’t panic. You still have options. The best emergency contraception is a copper IUD. If we act within five days, it’s nearly 100% effective. Want me to do it for you?”
Katherine’s eyes widened. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course,” Carys agreed without hesitation. “Why don’t you come by my office before my shift starts tomorrow?”
“Thanks, Rys,” Katherine murmured, relief washing over her. “In that case, why don’t you stay over tonight? We can head to Walter Reed together in the morning.”
Carys shook her head, laughing. “Bae, I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”
“You can borrow mine,” Katherine offered, grinning.
“Fine,” Carys relented with mock exasperation. “Who asked you to be my bestie?”
Katherine chuckled. “You’re the best!”
“Alright, then… now that we’re done with the appetizers, let’s get down to the main course!” Carys smirked, her excitement palpable. “Tell me—how was it?”
Katherine groaned, flopping onto the bed. “It… hurt,” she admitted. “I’m still sore.”
Carys chuckled. “Well, you were a virgin. Was it earth-shattering?”
Katherine hesitated, heat rising to her cheeks. “I don’t know… it felt… like I wasn’t entirely in control of my body.”
“Oh, girl… sounds like you orgasmed. And judging by your soreness, I’d say Kimi’s… uh… well-equipped?” Carys ribbed with a smirk.
“Ugh! Why did I even tell you?” Katherine grumbled, burying her face in a pillow.
“So that I can roast you, obviously,” Carys teased. “Payback for embarrassing me in front of everyone at dinner this evening.”
Katherine’s laughter bubbled up despite herself. “Touché.”
Then, Carys leaned back, her expression darkening slightly. “By the way, I can’t believe that guy Kayan! He pulled a fast one on me earlier. I mistook him for Kimi, and he let me ramble on until I pressed him about the emergency.”
“What?” Katherine asked, sitting up.
Carys recounted their initial encounter, her irritation clear. By the time she finished, Katherine doubled over.
“Looks can be deceiving,” Katherine wheezed. “I didn’t think Kayan had it in him to pull a prank like that. He’s not as serious as he appears.”
“Well, now we know,” she groaned, though a hint of amusement crept into her voice.
Katherine smiled, feeling the weight of the day finally ease.
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