** Eli **
As far as unannounced and likely unwanted surprises go, Harper seemed to have handled it pretty well. At least, much better than the three dozen different ways Eli had imagined she might. The uncertainty gnawing at him all morning eased a little, and he finally managed to smile somewhat sincerely as the tour of the company continued.
"So the one back there is your friend?" Someone sidled up to him as the group filed through a conference room door, leaving space for private whispers. "Local connections are handy indeed, must be nice to run into college friends everywhere you go in town."
