She had filled in the excel sheet and she had arranged the meeting room.

Like every day.

Like always.

It was lunchtime and the office was quiet.

Her boss left her and went out to eat.

The phone was silent.

Everything was silent.

Exactly nothing happened.

That was how her life was shaping up.

That was how everything looked now.

Exactly nothing happened.

She had intended to call him a couple of times.

Just to check in.

He hadn’t really done anything to her.

He loved her.

And how could he have told her that?

During their experiment?

Out of the question?

During the time they worked together?

Just as out of the question.

What had it really been for him to feel all that and have her so close?

She had thought about it while grappling with what she felt was a betrayal.

But was it really?

It had been a long time since she had thought about it.

She had tried to meet a few guys, but she couldn’t even bear to listen to them anymore.

There was no shortage of them.

The MC courier who used to come and pick up the company’s couriers used to even bump into her.

She was half-lying in the reception chair after her boss had left.

She picked up her phone and fiddled with it.

In and out of apps.

She had art class tonight anyway.

She had made sure to treat herself to that so as not to die of boredom.

But it didn’t really do much.

She was aimlessly tapping her phone without any particular idea when it suddenly made a sound.

It rang and she didn’t recognize the number.

“Nikki,” she replied.

“Nikki?

Nikki van der Hoebooken ?

“Yes?” What the hell had she done wrong?

She didn’t recognize the voice.

“This is Paul Bezec from Q Inc.

I tried to reach Joachim Andersson on his number, but it’s disconnected.

Are you a partner as in an owner of the company too?”

The company.

Damn sure.

They have to shut it down but that was the last thing on her mind.

He could take it over.

“Q Inc?”

“Yes.

Andersson has sought capital from us for his app PlaynDate.

Unfortunately, we have had a change of management, but the new management showed strong interest in the app.

If you can raise half of the capital, we will provide the other half.”

She sat up straight.

” Huh?”

“Well, I said…” Paul started again but Nikki interrupted him.

“I heard.

I don’t know where Joachim is, but I’ll find out.”

“Do it.

But sorry.

Did you say Nikki van der Hoebooken?

“Yes.

That’s my name.

It’s Dutch.”

“Yes, I understand.

It’s just that…

didn’t you and Joachim have an experiment together that you interrupted?”

Damn.

How did he know?

Was it going to get worse now?

“Yes.

It was private reasons that led to it.

It was unfortunate.”

“No, I just thought it was very nice of him to do that.

It shows loyalty and we value things like that.”

“What?

Did what?”

“The examiner, Mr.

Tate, at ARTAI is a good friend of mine and he knew that Joachim had applied for a job here.

I assumed that Tate wanted to help him out and he did.

After you stopped the experiment, Mr.

Andersson offered to continue it so that you could get a full grade even if you didn’t participate.

As I understand it, your entire degree was put at risk, and you couldn’t take it?”

She was completely silent.

“He did what?”

“He stood up for you, Nikki.

After you left the experiment.

That’s something we value.

And I assume you did too.

Call me on this number when you get hold of him.

We want to meet you.”

She clicked him off.

Half.

They had found the other half of the capital, assuming the other half was still there.

But it was the other thing that made her ignore the ringing of the company phone.

Joachim had been prepared to sacrifice himself for her.

What it might mean to him she didn’t know, but ARTAI was very strict with its rules, and she knew it could have been a risk for him.

Had he done it?

Even though she had let him down?

She had to get hold of him now and tell him.

They could finish building PlaynDate and even better: get it on the market.

She had to act now but how was she going to get hold of Joachim?

He didn’t answer, he wasn’t active on Dating Line.

Fuck it.

She had to take the bus.

He couldn’t have moved anyway.

Some people are not looking for attention. They are looking for something real.