I hoped she couldn’t detect how fast my pulse raced. I knew that I liked her more than I should, and she acted as if she liked me back. It was exactly what I wanted—what I had set out to do: win her trust, charm her. Yet I couldn’t stop the guilt that expanded through my chest, couldn’t separate the truth and deceptions caught between all the jumbled emotions I felt.

We began to descend, passing high-rises, their windows glowing like beacons. Bright advertisements played across glass buildings, illuminating our interior in neon greens, reds, and blues—very different from the underwater scenes.

The airlimo landed down in front of Jin Corp, and the door opened automatically for us to get out. She rose and slipped the helmet over her head, and I did the same. “Keep your glass tinted,” Daiyu said to me in helmet as she walked to the wide golden doors. “And let me do the talking.”

“As you wish,” I said, more than happy to oblige.

The doors slid open noiselessly and we stepped inside the grand vestibule. Daiyu crossed the expanse of ivory stone floor to stop in front of the large circular rosewood counter and removed her helmet. “Ah Ming,” she said. “I’m bringing in my classmate Edward. We’re working on a school project together.”

“Miss Jin,” the young security guard said. “Of course. If I could just get a palm scan and collect his details . . .”

Daiyu gave an imperious wave of her hand. “My father knows. Edward is my guest.” She graced Ah Ming with a stunning smile.

Ah Ming grinned back. The guy didn’t have a chance. “I suppose . . .”

But she was already sweeping past him to the curved golden doors leading into Jin Corp proper. “You are a darling, Ah Ming.”

She winked at him while punching her eight-digit code into the glowing blue touch pad set beside the doors. I had already memorized the sequence—the same one Lingyi had found hacking into Daiyu’s Palm.

“We’ll be done in a few hours,” she said breezily and waved toward the young guard and nodded for me to follow.

I hid my smirk and stepped into a wide corridor behind Daiyu, as the doors slid closed behind us. “You can keep your helmet on and tinted,” she said in a low voice. “There are cameras everywhere, and you look nothing like my classmate Edward.”

“Is that a problem?” I asked.

“My father knows Edward’s family. They are loyal clients and have bought at least a dozen custom suits.” She led the way down the corridor. “He wouldn’t object to my giving Edward a tour. Anyone else, and we’d be in trouble.” The ivory stone floors continued here, and the walls were painted in a dark green bamboo design set against a pale golden background.

“Well, thank you, Edward,” I said.