Chapter 36 - Verified
Victoria did not flirt accidentally.
Apparently she also did not make statements she had no intention of eventually proving.
That became relevant three weeks later.
The project with Julia's organization was almost finished.
Testing done.
Workflow cleaned up.
Approvals no longer lived in folklore.
Departments had actual rules.
Vendors had proper handoffs.
Everyone hated the new system for approximately four days.
Then—
they realized they could finally see where requests were.
Success.
Tori and I had spent enough time together during implementation that conversation became easy.
Work first.
Then—
food.
Travel.
Bad bosses.
Companies that called everything urgent.
People who scheduled meetings that could have been messages.
One afternoon, while waiting for Julia, Tori asked—
"What's the most unnecessary meeting you've ever attended?"
I thought.
"Three-hour meeting about improving productivity."
She stared.
"No."
"Yes."
"What was the outcome?"
"Another meeting."
She covered her face.
"That's criminal."
"I know."
"Did you leave?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I was younger."
Tori looked at me.
"You're twenty-five."
Right.
Fuck.
"I've matured aggressively."
She laughed.
Suspiciously long.
Celeste remained very much in the picture.
Extremely.
She had decided that holding hands was now standard date equipment.
I had apparently approved this without reading the terms properly.
Friday night—
she reached for my hand before we'd even entered the restaurant.
I looked down.
Then at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're making the face."
"What face?"
"The compliance face."
"I don't have a compliance face."
She squeezed my hand.
"You do."
I let her.
Because I liked it.
Problem.
Celeste and I had kissed enough times by then that Jane had stopped reacting like she'd discovered breaking news.
Mostly.
She still occasionally asked—
"Celeste?"
—when my phone buzzed.
Which was invasive.
And often correct.
Celine remained fun.
That was probably the best word.
Easy dates.
Good conversation.
Very good flirting.
Occasional kissing.
Zero awkwardness.
But somewhere around Date Five, we both started noticing the same thing.
Neither of us was moving closer.
Not emotionally.
We liked each other.
We enjoyed each other.
But—
that was it.
Celine brought it up first.
Of course.
We were having dessert after dinner.
She looked at me.
"I think we're good at dating."
I laughed.
"That sounds ominous."
"It is a little."
"Go."
She played with her spoon.
"I like you."
"I like you too."
"But I don't think I'm heading toward exclusive."
I nodded.
Neither was I.
"Same."
She smiled.
"Oh good."
I laughed.
"You thought I'd be upset?"
"No. I thought you'd ask for an exit interview."
"Fuck you."
She laughed.
Then—
"So we can keep this casual if we want."
"Sure."
"Or stop if it gets weird."
"Agreed."
She held out one hand.
I shook it.
She stared.
"Why did you actually shake my hand?"
"You offered."
"I hate you."
"Not enough to stop dating me apparently."
"Correct."
So Celine stayed—
but lighter.
No expectation.
No escalation.
That was fine.
Not every person needed to become a finalist.
This was not procurement.
I reminded myself often.
Audrey was different.
Slower.
Our third date was a museum followed by coffee.
Which I appreciated because apparently not every date required dinner.
She liked architecture enough to explain buildings to me without making me feel stupid.
I liked listening.
She also didn't fill silence just because silence existed.
Very attractive trait.
At coffee, Audrey asked—
"Do you ever stop thinking about work?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"That answer was too fast."
"I've been trained."
"By?"
"Friends. Family. Employees. Life."
"Effective?"
"Mostly."
She nodded.
"I'd hate dating someone whose company was always the third person at the table."
That landed.
Not as criticism.
Just information.
"I would too."
"Good."
Then she smiled.
"Verified?"
I froze.
"No."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why did that word affect you?"
"Historical trauma."
She laughed.
I refused to explain.
Audrey and I were good together.
Pleasant.
Comfortable.
I wanted more dates.
But I still couldn't tell whether the chemistry was romantic enough to deepen.
Fine.
We had time.
Apparently.
Then Tori's project ended.
That was where the problem began.
Final meeting.
Julia.
Tech team.
Us.
Everything signed off.
Implementation stable.
Remaining items assigned.
No reason for Tori and me to keep messaging every day.
I noticed that.
Which was—
information.
Annoying information.
After the meeting, Julia left first.
Then everyone else.
Tori and I walked toward the elevator.
She looked at me.
"So."
I stared.
"So?"
"Project's done."
"Yes."
"No conflict anymore."
Oh.
Fuck.
I knew exactly where this was going.
My entire Reset 2 policy stood up and saluted.
I looked at her.
"You said you don't flirt accidentally."
"I don't."
"And you said 'not yet.'"
"I did."
The elevator arrived.
Neither of us entered.
People inside looked confused when the doors closed again.
Fine.
Tori put both hands into her pockets.
Then—
"I like you."
There.
No decoration.
No joke.
No—
maybe.
No—
unless.
Just—
I like you.
My brain briefly went offline.
She continued.
"I've liked talking to you."
I stared.
"I like how you think."
Still staring.
"I think you're attractive."
Very useful information.
"And now we're not working together."
She smiled slightly.
"So I'm asking if you'd go on a date with me."
I blinked.
Then—
"Actually a date?"
Tori laughed.
"Yes, Lia."
"Romantic intent?"
"Yes."
"Not networking."
"No."
"Not discussing Julia's workflow."
"Absolutely not."
Good.
Verified.
Tori tilted her head.
"Do you need anything else?"
I thought.
"No."
"Great."
Then—
"Friday?"
Fuck.
Celeste.
"I have a date Friday."
No reaction.
Just—
"Saturday?"
"Celine."
"Sunday?"
"Audrey."
Tori stared.
I stared back.
Three seconds.
Then she started laughing.
Not polite laughing.
Actual laughing.
I crossed my arms.
"What?"
"You weren't joking about dating casually."
"I said I wasn't."
"No, I believed you. I just didn't realize you had a full weekend."
"That sounds worse than it is."
"Does it?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Wednesday?"
I checked mentally.
Then stopped.
No.
Actual calendar.
I pulled out my phone.
Tori laughed again.
"You're checking?"
"Adults have schedules."
"Fair."
Wednesday was free.
"Yes."
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
"Date?"
I stared at her.
She smiled.
"Helping."
I laughed.
"Yes. Date."
"Good."
Then she finally stepped into the next elevator.
Before the doors closed—
"Lia."
"Hm?"
"I meant it."
"What?"
"The flirting."
I smiled.
"Verified."
The doors closed.
Fuck.
I stood there for several seconds.
Then my phone buzzed.
Celeste.
Of course.
friday still?
I stared.
yes
Then—
good
Another message.
miss me?
I smiled.
yes
Immediate response:
wow
you asked
i like direct lia
That made two of us.
Friday with Celeste was—
very Celeste.
Dinner.
Walking.
Holding hands.
Then we sat somewhere with drinks.
She looked at me for a while.
I noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"That's illegal."
She laughed.
Then—
"Tori asked you out?"
I nearly choked.
"What the fuck?"
Celeste smiled.
"Jane."
Information governance failure.
Again.
"Why does Jane know?"
"Julia told Jane. Jane told Chloe. Chloe apparently told you?"
"No. Jane told me."
Even worse.
I stared.
"You all need NDAs."
Celeste laughed.
"So?"
"So what?"
"You said yes?"
I looked at her.
"Yes."
She nodded.
No drama.
But something changed.
Tiny.
More serious.
"You like her?"
"I don't know her enough."
"But interested."
"Yes."
Celeste took a drink.
Then nodded again.
"Okay."
I watched her.
"You okay?"
"Yes."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
Then she smiled.
"I told you. I'm not asking you to choose me because I'm familiar."
Right.
"But?"
She leaned closer.
"But I'm also not going to pretend I don't want you to eventually."
There.
Fuck.
I didn't joke.
Neither did she.
"Celeste."
"Hm?"
"Are you saying you want exclusivity eventually?"
"Maybe."
I stared.
She laughed immediately.
"Sorry. Wrong answer."
"Very wrong answer."
She thought.
Then—
"Yes."
Oh.
There.
"Not now," she said. "I'm not asking now."
I listened.
"But if we keep going like this? Yes. Eventually I'd want to see if this becomes something exclusive."
Good.
Clear.
Very clear.
My chest did something annoying.
"Thank you."
Celeste groaned.
"Stop thanking me for emotional disclosures."
"I appreciate them."
"I know."
Then she smiled.
"Your turn."
Fuck.
I thought.
Honestly.
"I don't know yet."
Celeste nodded.
No disappointment hidden badly.
Just—
okay.
"But I'm not ruling it out."
That earned a small smile.
"Good."
"And I want to keep seeing you."
Bigger smile.
"Good."
There.
Responsible.
No promises I didn't mean.
No ambiguity I could avoid.
Celeste held out her hand.
I took it.
Then she asked—
"Can I kiss you?"
I laughed.
"You've kissed me several times."
"Still asking."
I liked that.
"Yes."
She kissed me.
Not particularly brief this time.
Still not explicit.
Just—
long enough for my brain to stop processing Victoria Reyes entirely.
Temporarily.
Celeste was extremely effective at maintaining market—
No.
Absolutely not.
Not procurement.
When we separated, Celeste smiled.
"Competitive?"
I stared.
"There is no competition."
"Sure."
"Celeste."
She squeezed my hand.
"Wednesday, right?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"How do you know the date?"
"Jane."
"I'm blocking Jane."
"You won't."
Correct.
Sunday, coffee.
Jane.
Chloe.
Me.
I sat down.
Jane was already smiling.
"No."
"I haven't said anything."
"You know too much."
Chloe:
"Four."
I stared.
"What?"
"Four chicks."
I covered my face.
"No."
Jane started laughing.
"Celeste."
Chloe counted on her fingers.
"Celine."
"Audrey."
Then both looked at me.
"Victoria."
I sighed.
"She has not even had one date yet."
Jane:
"Acquired."
"No."
Chloe:
"Pending acquisition."
"NO."
Jane looked delighted.
"So Wednesday?"
"Yes."
"Tori?"
"Yes."
"Actually date?"
"Yes."
"Does she know about the others?"
"She knows I'm dating casually."
Chloe:
"Does she know there's a full roster?"
"I do not call it that."
Jane:
"Does she?"
"I told her I had dates Friday, Saturday, Sunday."
Silence.
Then Chloe slowly put down her drink.
Jane stared.
"You told her WHAT?"
"She asked when I was free."
Jane started laughing so hard she had to look away.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Maybe don't give her the WEEKLY SCHEDULE."
"She needed availability!"
Chloe:
"Operational transparency."
"Exactly."
"Do not encourage her," Jane said.
Then Jane looked at me.
"You're really having fun."
I stopped.
Again.
That observation.
"Yes."
Dating had turned out to be—
fun.
Even when complicated.
Even when I didn't know where anything was going.
Maybe especially because I didn't know.
I had spent too much of my life trying to reduce uncertainty.
This—
I couldn't.
Not completely.
People changed.
Feelings changed.
Chemistry appeared or didn't.
Nobody had guaranteed outcomes.
And yet—
I was participating anyway.
"Yes," I said again.
Jane smiled.
"Good."
Chloe nodded.
Then—
"Five next?"
I stared.
"No."
Jane:
"Valerie?"
"WHO IS VALERIE?"
Chloe shrugged.
"Sounds possible."
I pointed at her.
"No new chicks."
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I froze.
Jane's eyes widened.
Chloe slowly smiled.
I looked at the screen.
Spam.
Thank God.
I turned it toward them.
"See?"
Jane laughed.
"Universe tried."
"Blocked."
Wednesday arrived.
Tori texted at 5:42.
still on?
I smiled.
yes
Then—
good. and for compliance purposes: still a date
I laughed out loud.
Oh.
Fuck.
Victoria had learned the language.
God help me.