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“And here I thought I was pretty clear that I don’t need your help.”

His smile turned into a smirk. “I’m quite sure you don’t need my help. But since I’ve already found answers to the questions you have right now, I figured I could save you days or weeks of time.” Then he uncrossed his legs and slipped the tablet back into its bag. “If you want to just fumble your way through for a while and find the answers a few months down the road,” he said, standing, “then I’m glad you have time on your hands.”

“Maybe I have time on my hands or maybe I don’t trust whatever you’re telling me.”

“Ah, you are researching the military base. All I can tell you then is to be careful.” He sat several desks away from her at another computer and began his own research.

Astrid looked at her computer, her lips pursed. She hadn’t told him about the military base or why she was there, but he had figured it out anyway. It was like he could read her mind with very little effort. That really bothered her. Her eyes moved over the article in front of her, something about a forest fire that wiped out a nearby town with too few details, but she simply couldn’t focus on what she was reading.

Finally, she asked. “How did you know?”

Phoenix didn’t say anything. Astrid looked at him, “Phoenix.” His head snapped up. “How did you know?”

His blue eyes bore into her. “How did I know what?”

“That I’m researching the base? Or was that just a guess?”

“I told you; I’m researching the same thing.”

“Why?”

He folded his arms over his chest. “I think I’m done trying to help you, considering all it has gotten me is rude responses. You know my name, my business, and why I’m here. If you want anything, it’s your turn to start making offers.”

Astrid’s eyes flashed, and she felt her lip tweak as she fought a strong desire to snarl at the man. “All I know is your first name.”

“That’s your fault. I tried to give you my business card.”

She blinked. “Ok. Well, I didn’t ask you to give me all of that information.”

“No, you didn’t. I offered it willingly. But you rather rudely turned down all of my offers so I see no need to further engage with you.”

“So, you will only help me if there are conditions.”

He held up his hands. “What conditions did I give you for my help?”

“Yourhelp?” She smirked. “I thought it was your ‘organization,’” she said, using air quotes, “that was going to help me.”

Phoenix placed his long, elegant fingers on his chin. “My family owns the company, and I’m the one in charge of it.”

A thin smile crossed her face, “I thought you said a woman was in charge of it?”

“I told you she is a project manager. She lives in this area and is in charge of a project we are working on here. I run the business internationally.” He quickly looked away and started typing.

“Oh.” Astrid wasn’t sure what else to say, so she asked, “May I have one of those cards?”

“No.” Phoenix didn’t bother to look at her.

“You were willing to give me one last week.”

With his fingers still flying over the keyboard, he simply said, “I was.”

“And now you won’t.”

“Correct.”

His lack of interest and apparent shift in demeanor really bothered her. Turning to fully face him, she asked, “Will you help me?”

“No.”