He didn't have to wait long.
"Jade, you're late again this evening," he chastised as she neared. "You can't keep doing this."
She stiffened as she stopped near his desk. "Maybe I wouldn't be so late if I didn't dread my assignment here so much."
Bancroft let out a fatherly sigh. He had some patience for dealing with her attitude (more than he would afford to just about anyone else but even he had his limits).
"That doesn't change facts," he replied. "You have a job to do and you're paid to do it. No more excuses."
Jade's eyes actually settled on him. "You'll have to excuse me if I don't want to spend time near my rapist."
That definitely struck a chord, and Bancroft found his glare centering on Jade. He nearly pushed out from his desk.
"How dare you?" he retorted. "r****t? What we d
