Page 31

I was a creature of habit. I enjoyed a salad for lunch with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, croutons, and a splash of Ranch. I had a small glass of milk with an orange. It was a light lunch, but filling enough that I could still focus.

I sat down and started to pour the Ranch over my salad when I heard someone talking at the table next to me. It was a whisper, but I heard my name and stiffened.

“I still can’t believe that he’s been in Katie’s lab. What a waste.”

I swallowed, trying not to let it bother me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t heard people talking about me before. Anywhere I went, my name seemed to be a topic of discussion at some point. Most of it wasn’t anything I wanted to hear.

I mixed my salad up and started to peel my orange when a shadow covered the table. My body tensed up but relaxed as Henrik spoke. “Is that all you're going to eat?”

I looked over my shoulder at him, finding that he had a plate of chicken with some rice. He’d grabbed himself a water bottle and an apple.

“I eat this every day,” I said as I peeled my orange back, popping a piece into my mouth. “It’s light but filling enough that I don’t get sleepy afterwards. You, on the other hand, are going to be tired after eating all of that.”

“As long as you're eating enough,” he said as he sat down.

I gave him a soft smile, but could hear the whisper growing louder.

“Just look at him. He’s beautiful. Stunning, and he’s with Katie? How does that add up?”

“It was a forced marriage, after all. Maybe her math was on purpose so she could fool a man to be with her?”

“Poor man. Doesn’t even realize that he’s been fooled.”

I took a bite of my salad, but my appetite was gone. I chewed slowly, trying to force myself to continue eating.

“How is your stuff coming along? You seemed to be pretty eager earlier when you started your day.”

I glanced at Henrik. They were right, he was stunning, and he was stuck with me. I wanted to blame the algorithm. Because how could we be together? We didn’t have anything in common. At least nothing that mattered.

“It’s going fine.” I took another bite. “Have you thought about having someone take your place and getting out of my lab?”

He paused his fork and frowned. “I thought you were fine with me staying in your lab.”

I shrugged. “I never said that. I simply said okay. You said it was for a while.”

Henrik frowned. “Are you saying you don’t want me in your lab?”

“I would like my lab back,” I snapped. He could get back to his work, and maybe I wouldn’t feel like such a burden to him. I knew he likely had to readjust his schedule to be here every day. As much as he said this wasn’t a burden on him, I didn’t believe it.

Henrik shifted in his chair. “Where is this coming from, Katie? You didn’t have a problem half an hour ago with me being there.”

I chewed on my lower lip and pushed my salad away. “I’ve got work to get done, and I don’t have time for this.”

I pulled myself up and started to head out of the cafeteria. I could hear him hot on my tail, but I didn’t bother looking back. I took the stairs and heard the door open behind me.

“Katie, stop running.”

“I’m not running,” I grumbled back marching up the stairs.

“Katie, could you please just stop and talk to me for a moment?”

I ignored him and continued to walk up the stairs. I pushed the door open, getting onto the second floor. I headed to my lab, and I pushed it open. It opened instantly, but Henrik followed. Henrik looked at me angrily. “Stop running!”

Anger boiled over and I curled my hands into fists. How could he not get it? “I’m not blind! And I’m not deaf! I know what people are saying!”

Henrik looked like I’d struck him and waved a hand at me. “I don’t understand. Did something happen?”

“Everyone is talking about how you deserve someone better. That I tricked you into being with me.”