d her eyes. Evelyn groaned, rolling over in the guest

hone

ng. 0900 Hours. Mandatory Att

at the ti

ni

high-waisted trousers, a crisp white silk blouse. She pulled her hair back into

y at 08:58. She swiped her card a

the world, all recruited for The Protoco

only empty sea

a voice boomed from t

oked up.

ad of the table wa

For a microsecond, his eyes widened. Recogniti

r meeting. He just held her gaze for a seco

tocol," Alistair sa

ook notes. She stared at the holographic projection o

er lower abdomen

t in her rush and hangover, she had ignored it. The stress of the l

her chair. She

g

date. She was ea

ing light gr

riefing dragged on for another twenty minutes. Every minute

d finally. "Except for Dr

ts. They glanced at Evelyn curiously as they f

ied. The door

organizing his papers. He d

"Is there a problem?

s pale, beads of sweat on her forehe

He was looking at her posture. The rigid way she held herself. He followed her line of sight to her

hange. No disgust. No m

" he comma

he whispered

uit jacket. It was a bespoke piece

ind her. "Sta

et around her waist, tying the sleeves in front. The heavy

r ear. She could smell s

stment," he whispered, referencing

red, burning from her

u," she c

space. "Use the private exit in the back.

jacket around h