Irene was silent at work the next day. Everyone was subdued. Livia did everything she could to avoid idleness. She ran from task to task without taking a break. That way, she couldn’t think about what Irene and Salina had said about Corvin. She could prove to her coworkers that she was a reliable employee.

Delores heard from Justin, who was just “checking in.” Delores deflected his interference, rolling her eyes. Livia also got a text from Justin inviting her to speak with him as soon as her shift ended. She decided it was better to face the situation head-on and accepted the invitation. At the end of her shift, she headed to TARP headquarters.

Livia was glad Salina was gone on her lunch break when she came in. Instead, Apollon was manning the desk with Cam. He nodded when he saw her as if he was expecting her. “Follow me,” he said.

Then he strode out from behind the desk and started down the hallway opposite Justin’s office. Livia gave Cam a startled look. Where was Apollon going to take her? Cam gestured at Livia for her to follow Apollon.

Livia hesitated.

Apollon turned back. “Are you coming?”

“Where are we going?”

“Justin is waiting for you in the training gym,” he said.

Livia needed clarification. “Not his office?”

“No.”

Livia tried to figure out what that meant. Why would he meet with her in the training gym? Was there going to be some physical punishment involved in this whole thing? Livia doubted Justin would actually hit her. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t make her do 1000 push-ups or something similar. Livia suddenly felt like a small and frightened child. She didn’t like that because that was the number one reason she went into fight mode. She always regretted her behavior when she went into fight mode.

She took a step backward, shaking her head. “I’ll see him later—”

“Hey, Liv,” Corvin said from behind her. “What are you doing here?”

Livia turned. Corvin and someone she didn’t recognize were walking toward her with huge hiking packs on their backs. The second man toted a clear rolling bin with loads of supplies.

“She scheduled to meet Justin in the training gym,” Apollon said.

“We’re headed there,” Corvin smiled. “I’m co-teaching my first training class. So we’ll walk with you.”

Livia gave him a look that couldn’t be described as anything else besides terrified.

Corvin froze. “Liv, what’s wrong?”

“Why are we meeting in the training gym?” she asked.

“Are you scared of Justin?” Corvin asked.

“I don’t know what he wants,” she admitted.

“There’s a track above the gym floor,” Corvin said. “It’ll be closed because of the training. Justin calls people up there to walk with him all the time. So he can supervise the training and resolve staff issues.”

“So, we’re going to walk?” Livia asked.

“I’ve walked up there with Justin dozens of times,” Corvin said. “Everyone has. Did something happen, Liv?”

Livia did not want to bring up what Salina had said before his first training class. Corvin should be able to focus on what he needed to do and not on Livia’s drama. “It’s not a big deal. Small thing. I’m sure the talk will go quickly.”

Corvin evaluated her. “Then… there’s no reason to be scared.”

Right. Livia needed to put on a tough face for him. “Let’s walk over then. Together.”

Livia’s heart was beating so hard she was sure someone would hear it and call her out. She looked at Apollon. He only quirked up a single eyebrow at her about-face and turned to lead them to the gym.

Corvin seemed to tell she was nervous because he kept up his warm chatter as they walked through the hallways of the TARP building. She’d never gone this deep into headquarters before. She’d never needed any physical training for her position. She’d watched a few videos in the basement beneath the collection of conference rooms and offices that made up TARP headquarters, but that was it.

She’d often run errands while the staff was in the training gym. She’d never come down this way with them before. They came to a long, narrow passage labeled ‘pons secundus.’ She looked back once. They were leaving the building that housed the TARP offices and crossing into security patrol territory.

Livia knew they had arrived at the gym because a poster on the door said, “TARP TRAINING. GYM & TRACK CLOSED 8AM-6PM.”

Apollon strode to the door and held it open for them. Livia saw Justin first thing. He was waiting for them. He greeted Livia first.

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“Livia, I apologize that this was the best time and place I had to meet with you this week. Thank you for coming.”

She gave a tiny nod of acknowledgment.

He gestured to a few seats along the wall. “Please, sit, and I’ll be with you in a moment.”

Livia sat and watched Justin greet Corvin with a big grin and hearty handshake. “You excited?” he asked.

Corvin nodded. “Can’t wait.”

“You’re ready to start?” Justin asked.

“As soon as you are,” Corvin said confidently.

Justin turned to the other man with Corvin and thanked him for being there to help with the training. Then, the three walked out into the gym and greeted the trainees. Livia noted that Apollon was among them. That’s why he’d escorted her. He needed to attend the training today.

It only took a few moments for Justin to introduce Corvin and his partner to the agents and turn the meeting over to them. Then he turned and strode toward Livia. He didn’t stop but passed by her, waving her after him with a broad arm. “Come this way.”

There was a staircase that led to the track above the gym. Justin and Livia climbed it together. Livia followed him to the railing, where Justin waited a moment, observing Corvin as he started training the agents. Corvin listed all the items required to go into a wilderness survival pack.

He smiled as he watched Corvin. “How are you, Livia?”

Livia could only manage a swallow and a brief look at her companion. She looked away and stared at the gym before them, awaiting her punishment.

“You’re very quiet,” Justin said.

Livia didn’t say anything.

Justin turned away from the sight of the gym below them and studied her. “Do you think I’m angry?”

Livia nodded. “I acted unprofessionally—”

“You were treated unprofessionally,” Justin countered. “I apologize as director of TARP and assure you that action has been taken to ensure such a scene does not happen in my lobby again.”

Livia looked at him in surprise. “I—you’re apologizing to me?”

“Apollon told me how well you dealt with Salina’s tantrum. I’m proud of you. She didn’t say kind or appropriate things. I didn’t hear anything about you acting unprofessionally?”

Livia sighed. “I left Irene in the lobby—”

Justin didn’t say anything. Instead, he took on the aspect of one listening. A heavy silence fell between them, and Corvin’s voice echoed up to them from below.

“She said things…similar to Salina and—”

“You left,” Justin said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Irene’s family called me this morning upset. I wasn’t certain what happened—” There was still a question in Justin’s tone. “I reviewed the video and assumed there had been a miscommunication. That you’d told her that Clara would come for her.”

Livia shook her head.

“You left her,” Justin confirmed.

Livia nodded, near tears.

“What did she say?” Justin asked.

Livia looked at him, silently pleading to let the answer to that question pass.

“Tell me, Livia,” he said.

“That Corvin should be with Salina,” Livia said. She tried to be stoic, but she couldn’t hold back the hurt that infused each word. “That he’d realize he’d made a…mistake.”

“Let’s walk,” Justin said, gesturing to the empty track. The dim lights up here made Livia feel a world away from the brightly lit gym below them.

The walking helped release some of the tension in Livia’s muscles. She was relieved Justin wasn’t angry with her. They had almost completed a full lap before Justin spoke again.

“So, Livia, do you believe what she said?” Justin asked.

Livia looked at Justin in surprise. “I-” she drew out the word as she tore her gaze from Justin’s to look at Corvin on the gym floor.

“I hope not,” she whispered.

“While your compatibility with Corvin remains to be determined. I can assure you of one thing—”

Livia drew her gaze back to Justin as he said, “Corvin should not be with Salina. She treated him poorly and didn’t support his career or personal goals.”

“What’s wrong with Corvin’s career?” Livia asked.

“He does not make enough money to suit Salina,” Justin answered.

Livia knew TARP agents made decent money, enough to house, feed, and care for a reasonably sized family. She looked at Justin in disbelief. If Livia were making a TARP agent’s salary, she would consider herself more than comfortable.

Unbelieving, she asked, “How much more is she expecting?”

“Do you consider my agents’ salary good, Livia?” Justin asked.

“Yes.”

Justin looked pleased. “Salina has different expectations. The Antonius branch is one of the most wealthy in Caesarea. She’d have to lower her lifestyle expectations if she married Corvin.”

“If I had to work to stay with Corvin, I wouldn’t mind,” Livia said.

Justin smiled at her. “Livia, most patrician women do not have a similar mindset. Financial restraint is not even on their radar.”

“So,” Livia said very quietly. “It’s an asset that I’m frugal—”

“Very much so,” Justin said. “It won’t make you very popular with the other patricians, but the peace that quality will bring to your home is worth its weight in gold.”

Livia inhaled a deep breath. She could do frugal. That was one of her top skills.

“I’m quite pleased with how the lobby was decorated despite the fact it…ruffled some feathers,” Justin praised her. “However, as your patron, I need to ask you a favor.”

Livia glanced at him. “What’s that?”

“Be kind to Salina, please.”

“She makes that rather difficult, Justin,” Livia said.

“Livia, I need peace in this department,” Justin said calmly.

“I’m only half the equation in this problem,” Livia argued. “Tell her to stay away from me!”

Justin looked concerned. “Livia, tell me the story with her.”

“There’s no story—”

Justin interrupted. “But there is, I can tell.”

Livia was quiet for a long time. “She just never liked me. I knew she was someone I should get along with from the very first.”

“Why?”

“She was patrician, influential, the same age, the same House as Arik—”

“Who you were dating at the time,” Justin mused. “I see.”

“So, I tried, but she sabotaged me at every turn. In these quiet ways that I couldn’t call her out on.” Livia shook her head. “She made it impossible to be her friend.”

Justin looked sad. “Corvin felt the same way at the end. She’s a difficult person, Livia, with a complicated past.”

“I’m tired of hearing how her past should require me to feel sympathy for her—”

“Because your past was so difficult,” Justin acknowledged. “I know. I understand your point. However, I’m not asking for your sympathy. I’m requesting your restraint. If you can’t be nice to her, then ignore her.”

“I will agree if you tell her the same thing,” Livia muttered.

“Thank you, Livia. I will have a similar conversation with Salina,” Justin said. “Now, how is Hyrum?”

Livia sighed. “He’s working with the Senate to get things in the agricultural department turned around and reform the welfare system, which means he’s often frustrated and discouraged.”

“I rather admire his grit,” Justin said. “Would he be interested in partnering with TARP?”

“I don’t know,” Livia admitted.

“You could speak to him over the next few days. Tell him I’m not terrible to work with and see if he’s open to a partnership.”

“I can do that,” Livia said.

“Good, then come for the staff lunch on Friday to let me know how he responded to our invitation,” Justin said.

“Okay,” Livia agreed.

They’d come back around to the stairs. “Do you need help to find your way back out?” Justin asked.

“No,” Livia said.

“Then I will see you Friday,” Justin closed their conversation and sent Livia on her way.