You’d never set an empty vase and a water glass side by side on a dinner table.
Building on her original algorithm, Evangeline added a new concept: zoning.
It was well past midnight when she finally uploaded the improved algorithm to the robotic arm and ran two more tests. The results were clear–accuracy had increased dramatically compared to her earliest attempts.
Still, there was room for improvement.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, she reminded herself. No point in rushing.
Rubbing her aching shoulders, Evangeline tidied the lab and headed back to her
office.
Earlier, Finn had brought her flowers. She’d shared most of them with her colleagues after noticing how delighted everyone was, but a small bundle remained. On a whim, Evangeline dug up a vase from the storage cabinet and set about arranging the last few blooms for her desk.
She’d studied floral design for a while and always found beauty in these simple, cheerful things.
“You’re still here?”
Glenn’s voice caught her by surprise.
Evangeline turned, genuinely startled to see him. “You haven’t left yet?”
He didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on the vase beside her hand, eyeing the roses. His voice was a little rough. “Pretty flowers.”
“Someone else brought them in, Evangeline replied simply.
Glenn said nothing.
Rumors had already spread through the office: her boyfriend had sent flowers, and an entire set of jewelry, too–and she’d accepted both.
Just yesterday, Glenn had met Soren in person and witnessed firsthand how Evangeline treated him.
He’d convinced himself that Evangeline would never go back.
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Yet now, seeing her in such a light mood arranging those flowers, Glenn couldn’t help feeling a little unsettled.
“I’m all set. Want to head out together?” Evangeline finished arranging the last stem and glanced at him.
She looked completely at ease, as if these flowers were just flowers, nothing more.
Glenn realized he was probably reading too much into things.
He pushed the thought aside. “Sure, let’s go.”
They rode together to her apartment complex, chatting about work as they crossed the parking lot and headed inside. Just as Evangeline reached her front door, a voice called out behind her.
“Evangeline!”
She stopped in her tracks and turned toward the sound.
A sleek black sedan sat cloaked in shadows. Soren leaned against the car, dressed in a black suit, nearly blending into the night.
What was he doing here again?
Evangeline immediately noticed the tense set of his jaw. She told Glenn to head up without her.
Once Glenn was gone, she approached Soren.
“Is there something you need?” she asked.
Soren’s brow furrowed at the impatience in her tone.
The message was clear: she hadn’t exactly wanted to see him.
But he bit back his frustration, struggling to keep his temper in check. “I called you. Why didn’t you answer?”
Evangeline pulled out her phone and saw several missed calls from him, all timed while she’d been in the lab.
She never liked being interrupted while working, so her phone was usually on silent. She told him the truth. “I didn’t see your call. I had my phone on mute.”
Soren gave a short, bitter laugh. “Didn’t see it? Or did you ignore it on purpose?”
He caught the faint trace of cologne clinging to her clothes.
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A man’s cologne.
Glenn’s?
You usually didn’t pick up someone’s scent unless you’d spent hours together in at closed space.
So during the hours she hadn’t answered his calls, she’d been with Glenn the entire
time?
Soren let out a breathless, incredulous laugh.
He’d carved time out of his schedule to wait here for her–two, three hours–and she’d gone off on a date with another man?
He couldn’t help himself. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting here?”
Evangeline frowned, genuinely puzzled. “So… is there a reason you’re waiting for
me?”
Soren’s lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just pressed. them together, turned away, and muttered, “Get in the car.”
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