“Greg – Dmitry Torshin, and Yegor Gryzlov – find them, give them a hot coffee, and then get them to work. Capice?”  Cate’s brows went up. “Like now.”

“Did you say, Igor?” Greg grinned, hunching over and swinging one arm.

“No, Yegor, and be nice, our lives will be in their hands.” Cate picked up her computer pad.

Greg saluted. “You got it, boss.” He hesitated for a moment, and then quickly looked over his shoulder to where Jack was hunched over a computer screen. He stepped in closer to her and lowered his voice.

“Um, Jack… is having your old flame here going to be a problem? A minute ago, you looked like you’d just seen a ghost.”

Cate’s rolled her eyes. “Oh please, I’m thirty-two not sixteen, and professionalism is my middle name.”

“I feel better already. And by the way, your middle name is Corinne.” He glanced quickly over his shoulder again. “Seriously, I’m not sure about him. I remember when you two were an item; your relationship with Jack was like a rollercoaster – one day it was all dancing in the sunlight, and the next it was an emotional MMA fight to the death.”

Cate continued to type on her pad, not wanting to look up at him in case he saw the doubt in her eyes. “That’s all history. This is purely business logic, and I agree with Valery; Jack is a qualified sub pilot and has the necessary skills for the expedition. Valery made the right choice.” Her typing got harder as she felt the need to justify herself.

“Good, after all, don’t want us all to be trapped in a small metal room if you two decide to have another of your legendary fights.” Greg leaned even closer, his brows up. “Or one of your even more legendary, make-up sessions afterwards.”

“Now who’s acting like they’re sixteen?” She pushed him back a step. “And besides…” she looked over his shoulder. “I don’t think it’s me he’s interested in.”

Greg turned in time to see Abby giggle at something Jack was telling her, and his expression dropped.

Cate lifted her chin. “Okay people, we meet back here in two hours for final briefing.” She turned to Jack. “Mr Monroe, let’s go check on our front door.”

*   *   *

“More than two years,” Jack said as he walked beside Cate. “Then out of the blue, I get a call saying I’m needed for a job. Working with a certain Stanford professor.”

“You must have thought all your happy days had come at once.” Cate stared straight ahead.

“I said, no,” Jack said softly.

She snorted. “And yet, here you are.”