“Archibald Quinn. Professor Rothwell’s TA.”
The skin on the sides of her neck tightened with the impatient sound she made as she tapped one long fingernail against her keyboard.
Narrow eyes flicked from the screen to my face and back again.
“He doesn’t usually have one.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m aware.”
That earned me the smallest pause, her attention sharpening, like I’d just stepped half an inch out of whatever box she’d sorted me into.
Her gaze dropped deliberately to the access card clipped to my bag.
My stomach dipped. The plastic suddenly felt like a stamp that said I’d been allowed in somewhere I didn’t deserve. For a second, I worried she’d call security and have them escort me back to whatever scholarship program had misplaced me.
My fingers tightened around the folder I held. The paper creased under my thumb with a soft, ugly bend.
“I just received my badge from HR,” I said. “I was told to report here and turn in my paperwork.”
Judith’s mouth did something that might’ve been a smile if she’d ever practiced having one. “Hm.”
I shifted my weight, then caught myself and forced my shoulders down, dragging a slow breath in through my nose while I tried to make my body look casual.
It only made me feel like I was glitching.
“Is there a problem?”
That. Voice.
I recognized it now, which felt like its own problem considering I’d spent two days last week after the interview replaying the exact cadence of it in my head and then lying to Rhys like I hadn’t.
The tone wasn’t even loud, but it didn't need to be. It cut clean through the air.
“Professor Rothwell.” Judith straightened instantly. “I was just clarifying the procedure.”
Henry stepped into my peripheral vision, his shoulder brushing mine. I sucked in a breath, rushing to memorize the feel of him against me while pretending to be unaffected.
It was barely a touch—barely anything at all. Still, some embarrassing, ancient part of me went quiet for him.
“If you have concerns about my assistant, you can bring them to me.”
Judith nodded. “Of course.”
“Archibald completed his onboarding with HR this morning. His access was approved. His paperwork is complete.”
Hell.
I’djustcome from HR. It was barely 8AM, and somehow, he was already ahead of me. Not just aware of my day but inside of it, moving pieces around before I even knew they needed moving.
“If something were missing, it would have been flagged before he reached your desk.”
Judith’s smile tightened. “Naturally, Professor.”
Henry’s gaze dropped, catching on the way the stupid folder bent under my grip.
“You’re holding that too tightly.”
My fingers loosened.