RC.

Ch8 ................ P

Once my friends have left the office, I rush onto the web to see what's been said.

As I dreaded, a lot of people magazines talk about it.

There's a snapshot of Ryan and myself in each other's arms, staring at each other's eyes.

In all objectivity, hard to deny that there isn't anything between us. I'm suddenly thrown back to the scene.

What I felt in his arms at that moment was so strong ... My heart speeds up imperceptibly. The feeling is warm, soothing.

I shake my head to try to come around and I scroll through the results of my search.

The newspapers headlines are: "Gunfire in Midtown Manhattan" ... "She saves him from his aggressor" ... "The young golden boy saved by a mysterious girl."

Oh no... Exactly what I dreaded ...

Fortunately, the photo is of poor quality, but it's good enough for me to be recognisable.

I can already see myself wearing black glasses, a big parka coat and hugging the walls to avoid paparazzi!

Is this what life with Ryan is about, out in the open ...?

I wonder for a moment when the snapshot was taken. In the hustle and bustle, people were screaming and running around everywhere!

I would never have imagined that somebody could come up with the idea of photographing us.

It makes me angry. I would have preferred to find support, rather than some numbskull who just points his mobile at us!

It's a mad world!

I moan to myself when I'm interrupted by Colin's entrance. I barely had time to hear him tap that he's already standing in front of me.

I'm surprised to find him here.

Is he worried about me too?

Uh, no. He's surely here about something else ...

Colin:"Hey. Can I take a seat?"

T:"Uh yes... please do!"

He sits down.

He takes a quick look around, rearranges a lock of his hair and proceeds.

Colin:"I've been doing some research on Persephone."

(Oh, of course, he'd completely slipped my mind!)

T:"Did you find anything?"

Colin:"Yeah"

He looks so jaded! I could translate his"yeah" as a:"of course I did! I'm Colin, the computing ace, remember?"

(And a former infiltrated CIA double agent.)

Yeah, well maybe not that last part!

Colin:"Are you really sure you want to know?"

T:"Of course I do!"

Colin:"Sometimes it's better that anonymous people stay... anonymous if you see what I mean."

No, I don't!

T:"No, not really ... This guy's been harassing me on my blog! There's no way I'm gonna let him continue his little game!"

Colin:"Suit yourself."

He leans forward, leaning his elbows against his knees. His long hair falls in front of his shoulders.

Colin:"Your guy's actually a chick."

T:"A woman?"

Why am I surprised...?

It kinda makes sense. It could be one of Carter's broken-hearted ex-girlfriends going around tormenting all his new conquests!

I had imagined a kind of four eyed, frustrated, spotty geek. Not a chick at all!

Colin:"Yeah, and the rich kind ..."

I stare at him speechless.

Colin:"I traced her IP address. It was too easy."

(Is he waiting for me to congratulate him, or is he just disappointed with how simple it all was..?)

Colin:"An apartment in the Upper East Side, the classy neighbourhood, belonging to a certain Jenny Blake."

T:"Jenny..."

I say her name as if it were that of a ghost.

Colin's azure eyes glimmer with malice.

Colin:"You know her?"

T:"Yes. Well, I know a Jenny, but the surname doesn't ring a bell ..."

Colin:"Ok."

He slames his hands down on his thighs before  getting up.

Colin:"There you go, miss"

Wow! With Colin no need to go justifying yourself or feel harassed with questions. You ask him a favour, he gives it. As simple as that. All the same, it's little disconcerting...

T:"Thank you, Colin ..."

He's so detached! It's no concern of his what I'm going to do with the information. In fact, I think it's pretry clear: he couldn't care less!

He opens the door, then stops in his tracks. He turns his head and plunges his light blue irises into mine.

Colin:"By the way, I didn't think you were so brave. You surprised me, little warrior."

I stare at him without answering. He winks at me then leaves my office.

(He was talking about the gunfire.)

I was surprised that he made no allusion to the  incident with Carter. He's the kind of guy to know about everything, thanks to his cyber_surveillance...

(He's weird.)

This guy is quite an enigma.