The Lost Decade Chapter 12

The Lost Decade Chapter 12

As I was thinking about all this and reaching for the cutlery, my dad slapped my hand away.

“Don’t touch yet. We have a guest tonight.”

I blinked and pouted. No wonder Mom had cooked such a big meal herself.

Before long, the doorbell rang.

I went to answer it.

The first thing I noticed was a pair of hands-elegantly boned, long and clean.

My gaze traveled up to a prominent Adam’s apple and a sharply defined face with a calm, steady presence.

“Cora Dawson.”

He spoke first, catching me a little off guard. “Yeah. That’s me. Hi.”

He extended his hand, a faint smile on his lips. “I’m Declan Rhodes. A student of your mother’s.”

Before I could even open my mouth, my mom, Katherine Miller, appeared from behind me and warmly ushered

Declan inside.

“Come in, come in. Come taste your old professor’s cooking.”

At the dinner table, I finally figured out who he was.

The youngest hedge fund manager on Wall Street. His investment instincts practically defined where the market moved next. His net worth couldn’t be measured in simple numbers anymore.

My mom glanced at my silent face.

“Declan’s available to show you the ropes. Learn something from him. You’re an adult and still so aimless. I don’t know where you get it from.”

The corner of my mouth twitched. I didn’t miss the flash of amusement in Declan’s eyes.

“Of course, Katherine.”

Dinner ended, and I walked Declan to the door.

We walked in silence. Just as we were about to reach the gate, he suddenly asked me.

“Would you like to be under me?”

I froze, my face instantly burning red. “What-what’s wrong with you? We just met, and you-”

“Cora.”

Co

He cut me off, a little exasperated. “I meant, would you like to come intern at my firm? It’d make it easier for

me to teach you.”

My mouth dropped open, mortification prickling over my scalp.

“…That works.”

I had barely seen Declan off when a message from my high school class president landed on my phone- inviting me to the class reunion.