At eight in the evening, Avery was flipping through the latest foreign scientific papers when her phone rang. It was Rufus. She hit the speaker button, and his loud voice came through from the other end.
"Avery, are you really dating Alexander?"
Avery looked puzzled. "No, we're just acquaintances who collaborate professionally now and then."
"I knew it. Those trashy tabloids are stirring things up," Rufus spat. "If you're not in a relationship with Alexander, I'll deal with those media outlets and teach them a lesson."
"Hold on," Avery said calmly. "Let me find out what's going on first."
