Crushed by Leen Elle Page A

like Batman and Robin." He joked.
     
    "In this scenario, why can't I be Batgirl?"
     
    Robert motioned to her reflection in the glass. "Because you look more like a Robin."
     
    Sophie let his reply hang in the air for a few moments, deciding to change the subject. "Isn't it strange that you're like this now?"
     
    "Like what?"
     
    "You're being excessively friendly. It was only yesterday that you were telling me I was pathetic." Sophie closed her eyes, deciding the passing countryside was distracting. "I find that very irritating."
     
    "Would you rather me return to being rude?"
     
    "I would rather you not pretend to be polite to me. Your lack of sincerity drives me insane."
     
    "That's just something you'll have to get used to." Robert shrugged. "I don't support your reason for working for Cleo, but my opinion isn't going to change anything. To reach my goal I need Cleo to be satisfied, and you are what she wants now. Being mean to you would be a waste of my precious time."
     
    Sophie grinned, pleased with what she took as an honest answer. Having him accept her completely in such a short time would have made her feel uneasy.
     
    "You people are really kind of scary." She mentioned quietly.
     
    "It's good that you've realized that." He answered seriously. "People with strong desires are always scary."
     
    "Because they will do anything to get what they want?" Sophie opened one eye to glance at him.
     
    "Exactly." He turned and winked at her slyly.
     
    "Do you think I will become like that?" Sophie asked, closing her eyes again. "Could I become someone terrifying because of my dream?"
     
    "It depends on how much it truly means to you. This morning you proved that you were willing to fight for your future, but the question that comes next is how much you are willing to lose."
     
    Sophie wanted to ask Robert how much he had lost working under Cleo. She was positive he had a reason to be working as a thief, and she suspected it had to be something more than money.
     
    "So, worst case scenario, how much are we risking to lose if we are caught tonight?" Sophie tried to pose her question in a casual way. She didn't want to betray how nervous she was.
     
    Robert laughed, his eyes crinkling in amusement. "Don't keep expecting there to be a we for much longer. Worst case scenario for you means getting charged with trespassing. Worst case scenario for me still means getting out without being caught."
     
    She wasn't surprised that he'd once again made the distinction that while they were working together, he wasn't going to cover for her. If she was going to survive this mission, it would be by her own efforts.
     
    "How is escaping without getting caught a worst case scenario?"
     
    "In that situation, I wouldn't have obtained what we came to steal. Unlike you, it's not even a remote possibility that I'd be caught on such a small job as this."
     
    Sophie scowled at his arrogance. "What exactly are we stealing?"
     
    "A painting that's been missing for a very long time." He mused, his eyes sparkling with an emotion Sophie did not understand.
     
    "Cleo asked you to steal this painting for her?" She was trying to fish for more details about his work.
     
    "Not this time." He answered. "I heard about this painting from one of my sources. It could turn out to be a fake, but I think it's worth the time to check out. If the painting is what I'm looking for, I'll end up giving it to Cleo as a present." He grinned as he glanced at Sophie. "It's always a good idea to keep the boss happy."
     
    "Should I be expecting this to be difficult?"
     
    "Absolutely not." Robert laughed again, amused by her ignorance. "We're breaking into the office of a college professor. To fail we'd have to purposefully draw attention to ourselves."
     
    "Professor?" Sophie's eyes shot open, and she glanced around her, trying to make sense of where they were headed.
     
    "We're not going to your old college." Robert assured her. "This professor works