Page 8 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I

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I’m stillmute as Jonah talks Mason through our new virtual-reality video game. Then the team members explain the work they each did on the game.

“It’s all possible because our new genius team leader was able to apply our compression technology to give us the bandwidth to get it done,” Harv says.

I dare not look at Hercules. I can feel his eyes on me as I blush, though. “Aw, thanks, Harv, but this was a team effort.”

“The hell it was. Mason, she pulled code from the heavens to get this all up and running.”

I steal a glance at Hercules. He’s studying me with a pinched expression. I shrug, sweating under my clothes. “It was nothing. But we’ve been here late enough already.” I focus on Mason. “We’ll demonstrate it for you in tomorrow’s meeting. We’re all famished.”

Mason and Hercules share a look. Hercules nods.

“Okay, tomorrow,” Mason says.

Hercules glances at me before he enters Mason’s office. A large part of me hopes he’s looking at me that way because he recognizes me. I want to celebrate this victory with my team as Paisley Grove and not the fake Lark Davenport. Surely, after our game hits the market and makes VTI a lot of money, he’ll trust me enough that I can come clean. And he’ll have to appreciate that I discovered their compression technology. There’s no way VTI is going anywhere but up from this point forward.

“Lark?” Lake is shaking my shoulder. I jump when I turn to look at her. “What are you doing for dinner?” she asks.

I picture the sandwiches in my refrigerator as my heart pounds at the thought of Hercules being so near—and without Lilith too. “Um, leftovers.”

“Good. Then you’re coming over to my place. I’ll rustle us up something to eat.

I yawn into my palm. “Yeah?”

She links arms with me. “Yes. You can sleep later. But tonight, I want to show you something.”