After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 87

Waldo and Shirley were standing with their own group, but they kept sneaking glances across the room. Shirley’s grip on her glass was so tight her knuckles were white. The sting from Catherine’s slap hadn’t faded at all. She was still fuming, making a silent promise not to let this slide.

Waldo, on the other hand, just looked miserable. He’d already had a few drinks, brooding over the whole scene. Back when Catherine was with him, she never defended him like that. Not once. But tonight, she’d thrown all her dignity aside just to stand up for Lawrence. Was she really falling for that broke nobody?

Later, Catherine and Lawrence took a private elevator down to the parking garage. Catherine buckled her seatbelt and turned to him, her voice almost official. “Magee invited me to join the national tech academy’s Project Apex Initiative. I said yes.”

Lawrence gave her a warm, approving nod. “You absolutely deserve it.”

Catherine frowned a little, still trying to make sense of it. “It’s weird. When did Magee even recommend me to the academy? I had no idea. I just showed up, got introduced to all these big-name researchers, barely had time to chat, and suddenly they’re all inviting me to join. And it was unanimous.”

Lawrence just smiled, a little mysterious. “Maybe Magee got a head start and put your name in early.”

Catherine shrugged, not really wanting to dig deeper. She pressed her cheeks with her hands, feeling the blush. “Magee must really think I’m something special.”

Then she leaned in, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Hey, can I ask you something? Do you know who the CEO of Nexus Dynamics is?”

Lawrence drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, stealing a glance at her. “Where’s that coming from?”

She tilted her head, grinning. “Just curious. I heard he’s super mysterious, never shows up in public. Oh, and remember when I applied for that huge advance on my salary? Magee was afraid to approve it until he got a phone call. Right after that, he signed off. Do you think the person who called was the CEO of Nexus Dynamics?”

Lawrence cleared his throat. “That’s very possible.”

Lawrence suddenly asked, his voice low and thoughtful, “Besides making money, is there anything else we should be doing?”

Catherine blinked, resting her chin on her hand. “Anything else? Like what? Is there something I’m missing?”

He just reached over and gently ruffled her hair. “It’s nothing. Let’s go home.”

As they drove out of the garage, Catherine was already daydreaming about the future. “Once we get the patent rights for Resonance AI, we’ll finally have some real money. We can buy a bigger house, and bring your parents to live with us.”

Lawrence listened to her cheerful plans, hearing how she included his family in her vision for their future. He couldn’t help but smile. This was good. Some things, he figured, she’d just have to realize on her own.