“Ah. Of course.” The tone of his voice made it clear he in no way believed her. “Well, she’s taking it with her.”

That answered some questions and brought up more. How could she do that? What about the funding? Where would Frazer take it? But there was no way she’d ask Alec all of that. He wanted her to, though, Cora could tell. He liked that he knew something she didn’t, that he held information that she wanted. So instead, Cora went down a different route. “How could she leave without two weeks’ notice?”

His lips quirked, in something that only faintly resembled pleasant. “She gave them. After she e-mailed her resignation to HR, I called her in here and then waived the two weeks. I told her to leave that day, as is my right.”

So Alec had used what power he could. Charming.

It was amazing how much of him she now saw clearly. Parts of it had been seeping into her point of view for years, things that made her uncomfortable, things she excused because she was wrapped up in her image of him, the one he’d presented to her when they first met and that she’d clung to like mist.

Now, removed from him for even a short time, she didn’t see anything she liked anymore.

“Okay. I’ll expect an e-mail from her about the programme, then.” Cora stood to go. There wasn’t any need to mention she had already received one. “Thank you.”

“Cora.”

She paused and turned. “Yes?”

“You should be careful about your reputation.”

She felt herself go cold. “Excuse me?”

“A security guard I spoke with could just swear he saw you kissing someone who fits Frazer’s complexion completely.”

Cora felt her expression shifting into shock that would give her away completely, and she mentally grasped at herself, trying her best to shift her features into a picture of calm. She said nothing.

“Months ago, actually.” His voice was calm, almost jovial. His eyes were hard, cold.

Had he always been such a contradiction?

Still, Cora said nothing. Silence had often felt safer.

“So be careful of that reputation, that kind of thing in a professional environment…when married.”

His eyes glinted, with what, she didn’t know. She hadn’t known eyes could really do that, the intent behind words slicing through a look like that.

With her heart racing in her chest, Cora walked out. She tried to ignore Tia’s sympathetic look, who, with the office door wide open, had heard everything.

Would Alec call her family?

Would he get the word out all around the hospital?

Had she really thought she could stay and work here?

* * *

“Have you even gotten out of your pyjamas once, Frazer?”