Basse

ly I was sure he could hear it. What was he doing here? Was he following me? Did h

ried a sense of confusion, hi

ng the door behind me so that my mother couldn't come over. I

oing here?" I whispered

t before a slight frown creased his

my eyebrows. "This

kept perfectly calm. "I'm here for me. Bass

sense. My father was a retired businessperson and had

er?" I repeated, still tryin

e home?" h

nstincts to the limit. She would see the tension between us

swer, though, the

y mother's voice trailed of

ged smile, and to my utter amazement, "Oh my, w

e to meet you," Quin said, a

eady weighing her options. Then she stepped aside. "

d. Expec

ged to follow. My mother had taken him into the living room, w

ve a visitor

he moment he cast his gaze on Quin, his fa

," Quin sai

veyed Quin closely, at which point he resumed saying,

? What c

o have strong ties with U&K. I believe working t

s with U&K? And Quin? Why coul

d said and rose. "I don't

him to the porch. I was still glued to th

s upon me. I turned to see her with

ging the syllables out

hard. "He's.

s shot up.

't know he was involve

long moment before she humme

man has got a hawk's eye. She must have

hastily, trying very

further. "That being said, you might want to stay out of you

ather's current mood, which was unh

I couldn't hear them clearly, but it was quite evident that their voices were ser

ain, and they both stepped inside. My father looked

ut it," my fath

"Take your

a brief second, something unreadable passed

ite smile. "Ye

and left. I let out a breath I

ned to my father. "Dad,

to worry about,"

t..

ne left no roo

My father had always been secretive about

Quin was connected to my father's past business dealing

t be allowed

to handle this bef

ng to quit my job, or was I going to fa

..

bably from all that deep thought last night or just because of suddenly ha

akfast, was already busy. If it were, fried eggs and fresh coffee brewed to an aroma,

bled, settling myself

pointed look. "Di

s well as I co

ate on the table before her. "You should eat somethi

r an answer. I picked at the toast and eg

he meeting yesterday,"

because I know Dad wo

he sighed. But I heard a few things. "It see

careful where business was concerned; he seldom

ould agree to work

now. But that young man, Quin.

se I had noticed it too. He wasn't the type to give up easily. And if he wa

since I hadn't sorted out everything in m

ck to work? My mother asked

Well, I don

I know you have been through a great lot, b

I was not just running away from work but also from Quin; that I

couldn

und of my father walking in was all seriousness. He put

ed to

felt the next taut string o

the living room behind him. I stayed seated, mullin

itchen doorway and

a decision?m