While Ivor and Bonnie debated, they heard someone knocking on the door.
Jim coughed and said, “Ms. Bonita, Professor Auguste is here.”
When Bonnie frowned, Ivor sensed something was amiss. He could not help but ask, “What’s the deal with this professor?”
“Nothing, really…”
“Don’t lie to me, Bonnie. I hope you can start telling me the truth.” Ivor held her shoulders and stared into her eyes.
She was about to make up an excuse and brush it off. However, she could not lie to Ivor when she saw his eyes. “Fine, here’s the truth. Auguste has always considered me a thorn in his side, especially after I developed the latest nanomaterial.
“After that, I consolidated my status in scientific research. Subsequently, I squeezed Auguste out of first place. That’s why I believe “
Ivor interjected, “Are you suspecting he sent someone to post a task with the SR League?”
“How do you know about that already?”
“Leo told me.” Ivor’s demeanor turned imposing when he thought about how someone was trying to kill Bonnie.
Knock, knock, knock!
Jim knocked again. “Uh, if you’re too busy, I’ll tell Professor Auguste you can’t meet with him yet.”
When Bonnie opened the door and came out, Jim looked at her as if to ask if Ivor had his way with her. Once she figured out what that look meant, she turned away in exasperation. She could not be bothered right now.
“Where’s Auguste?”
“Ahem!” Jim cleared his throat to moderate the awkwardness. “He’s in the main hall. Come on, I’ll take you there.”
As she followed Jim, she noticed Ivor walking beside her. She knew the latter was worried Auguste might do something to hurt her.
Bonnie whispered to Ivor, “Relax. Auguste won’t do anything rash with so many people around, even if he’s the mastermind behind the assassination task.”
Ivor argued, “You might be wrong. Auguste can always try something sneaky, even if he can’t do anything so openly. We must stay vigilant against his craftiness. Like I said, you mean more than life to me. I can’t afford to let anything happen to you.”
Bonnie retorted, “Will you knock it off with those corny lines?”
“Okay, fine,” Ivor said with a big smile.
Judging from his expression, Bonnie knew she had wasted her breath. She should have known telling him to quit was pointless. Soon after, she entered the main hall and saw Auguste chatting with someone. The latter noticed her as soon as she entered. “Bonita, it’s been a while!”
He smiled and went for a handshake, but Ivor shook it before Bonnie could. Ivor said in fluent Motrusian, “I know you. You’re Professor Auguste, right? I heard a lot about you. It’s an honor to meet you finally, sir.”
Auguste would have considered that rude if it were anyone else. However, he felt there was something unusual about the man before him. Auguste knew he could not afford to take Ivor lightly. “Who might you be, mister?”
