"I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to overhear them."
Claire made a mental note to verify that with Julia later.
"Fine. Find me another time. I really need to head home tonight."
Seeing her agree, Meiko finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Great! Thank you so much, Claire. Sloane told me you were hard to approach, so I was worried you'd turn me down."
Claire gave her a long, hard look. "Sloane wasn't wrong."
"I'm not just hard to approach. I can be incredibly cold."
The smile on Meiko's face froze.
Seriously, why was Claire so impossible to talk to?
Claire offered a faint smile. "Well then, I'll be going now."
Meiko quickly nodded, adding that she was heading out of the campus gates too and offered to walk with her.
Claire didn't refuse, nor could she.
After all, the James family didn't own the campus sidewalks.
Reaching the gates, Claire was about to cross the street to the parking garage when she spotted a familiar Porsche.
She walked straight up to the car and, sure enough, found Dane sitting inside.
"What are you doing here?"
Dane hadn't expected her to come out just then.
"I'm picking up a professor from the architecture department."
That killed Claire's curiosity; he was obviously hiring them for a design project. The food district back in Apex was finished, but the commercial blueprint was massive, and several buildings still needed meticulous architectural planning. Reaching out to an expert from The Cabinda University made perfect sense. "Then I won't bother you. I'm heading home for dinner."
Dinners back at the Churchill estate were always a grand affair. They never failed to prepare a lavish feast just for her.
Padgett constantly worried that his granddaughter was working too hard at school.
Dane stopped her before she could turn away. "Don't go. Come eat with me." "I booked a great place."
Claire thought back to their last disastrous dining experience and gave him a knowing smile.
Dane clearly recalled that embarrassing blunder too.
"I promise, it's better than last time."
Miles had dropped the ball on the last reservation, but this time was different.
This place was run by a chef with serious culinary pedigree.
They only served three tables a night, a lot like the exclusive setup at the White family's restaurant.
But while the White family specialized in southern cuisine, this spot mastered northern flavors.
Their traditional pastries, in particular, were exquisitely crafted and mouthwatering.
Dane had gone through a lot of
trouble to invite this senior
professor, and knowing the mal net
loved fine dining, he had secured
this reservation
"Alright, sure."
Dane stepped out to open the car door for her, but one of Claire's classmates spotted them.
A guy from her class, no less.
It was Cyrus Franklin.
Cyrus was walking out of campus with Ethan Monroe.
He had spotted Claire even before Ethan did.
However, his focus wasn't entirely on Claire.
Cyrus marched straight over to them.
Just as Claire thought he was
bet
talk to her, he smiled and
greeted Dane
Dane what brings
you to campus?
Claire blinked.
Okay, maybe she was flattering herself.
Cyrus actually knew Dane.
The social circles in Cabinda were incredibly small.
"Cyrus? I'm picking up a professor for dinner," Dane said, giving him a brief nod.
Ethan had followed close behind, but
seeing
aire about to get into
Danes car, he kept quiet and simply. memorized the license plate
Just in case something happened, he would know how to track her down.
Claire noticed his look and mentally sighed. Did he really think she was in constant danger?