Page 54 of Love Under the Microscope
“You know of him.” The way Nate leans forward tells me he wants a name, so I might as well tell him without dragging this out when the result will be the same. “Jack Parker.”
Nate tilts his head. “The name sounds really familiar.”
Of course it does. I debate whether or not a smile will ease what I’m about to say. Nah, that’ll make it worse. “He’s a science journalist for PharmaNews.”
Three, two, one …
Nate’s face reddens. He stands. “What the fuck, Zelda?”
That’s about the reaction I expected. “Do you trust me?”
Nate’s mouth opens, but he doesn’t answer me right away. His lips press together, and his jaw juts forward. “What does that have to do with—”
“Answer my question.”
One eye roll later, he huffs. “Of course, I trust you. You’re one of the few people I trust.”
I have no doubt Ashton, Chloe, and Bradley are the other three people he trusts. “Then I need you to listen to me because this is important.”
Nate leans against my desk and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.”
Sometimes he still acts more like a teenager with a bad attitude than a man in his forties. “I started thinking about all the bad press Zentello has been getting.”
“From your boyfriend’s rag.”
“Not my boyfriend, and you’re not listening.”
Nate raises a hand to his mouth and draws his fingers across his lips as if he’s zipping them.
I don’t think that’ll work as well as he thinks. “I recently learned that the editor from PharmaNews has an ‘inside’ source from one of our competitors. It would explain some of the Lab Notes columns with info that didn’t seem likely to come from Jennings’s spying or Matthews’s mailroom shenanigans. According to Jack, UnoPharm is the rival, which is why I believe Nigel Carrington is behind Zentello’s bad press.”
Nate’s face reddens again. “Fuck. I wouldn’t put anything past that psychopath, but how can you trust the reporter? He’s the one who paid off Ryan Matthews.”
“Yes, but Jack’s not the one who recruited him.”
“As if that makes it any better. He’s the enemy.” Nate brushes his hand through his hair. “We should take some solace that you’re not sleeping with the guy.”
At least not yet. Focus, Zelda. “I needed help to figure out if Nigel is the magazine’s source.”
“Parker’s help?”
I nod.
“And?” Nate asks.
“We have nothing concrete about Nigel being the source, but Jack believes I’m right.”
“You usually are, but what does Parker get in return for helping you? Well, other than dating you.”
“We aren’t dating.” Although I enjoy being with Jack in a way I haven’t since I first met Nate, this is different and—dare I say—better. “But to repay him for his help, I promised him an interview with Mr. Z.”
“Zelda …”
I know that tone. “It’s time.”
Nate considers my words. Either that or he’s trying not to flip out on me. “You’re probably right.”
“I am.” I’m not about to let him have any doubts about this.
