He slammed his glass on the table and held out his hand. "Give me your phone.""Why?""Baby, just give it to me," he ordered gruffly.84Something in my brain switched at the command. Without registering it, I placed my own glass down and started searching my pockets for my phone. When I found it, I immediately handed it to him."Do you mind telling me what you need it for?"He didn't answer, but instead powered it off, and went off to find a...paperclip? He then popped open the SIM tray and removed the SIM card before locking everything inside one of the drawers in his desk. All the while I watched with a confused look on my face.1"Who's had access to your phone?" Gideon demanded when he sat back down.23"What? No one. Why? What's going on?""I suspect someone has downloaded one or multiple spywares on your phone. If my suspicion is correct, then you need to think hard on who's had access to it."8I gaped. That couldn't be right...could it?"You're not serious, are you?" I asked, looking at Callan and Mateo to see if they found the notion just as ridiculous as me. They didn't find it funny.4"I'll have someone look at the phone tomorrow. I'll also see if they can restore the video that was deleted, but I doubt they'll be able to. If he knows how to delete your texts, there's a big chance he'll know how to delete them in its entirety. In the meantime, you need to write down a list of everyone who could've gotten to your phone."6"Sure, I will—" A big yawn cut me off, making my heavy eyes water just a little. God, I hadn't even noticed how sleepy I was until now."This is enough for today. We'll talk more about this tomorrow." Callan rose from his seat. "Come on, let's go home."7I stiffened, revolting at the thought of going home. What I absolutely did not want to do was go back to my place. Now that he had snuck up on me like this, I didn't feel safe anymore. Let alone in my own apartment with that damn flimsy door.2"My apartment," Callan explained. "We'll all stay there tonight and discuss our options tomorrow. Mateo's place isn't as secure as mine, and Gideon's is too far away."9Oh. Well in that case.3Letting go of Mateo, I accepted the hand Callan held out and let him pull me up. My legs staggered a little, reminding me of my exhausted state. I felt unburdened after filling them in on everything, but also more tired. My emotions and my mind had gone through the wringer tonight. I would feel better after a good night's rest—something I would finally get now that I knew I would be safe and watched over by the guys. Small mercies.Gideon didn't seem like he wanted our conversation cut short, but when he looked at me, he didn't object. Instead, he waved us along. For a moment, my chest tightened in disappointment, but then he explained. "You guys go ahead. I'm going to copy tonight's security videos and bring them with me."8When the door opened, and the sound of the nightlife poured in, I flinched. While we hadn't been in the office that long, I'd still expected the club to be closed by now.Instead of walking to the front entrance, they led me to the back of the building and turned left, towards the back entrance that no one used, except, perhaps, Gideon.Mateo opened the door for us, but I paused, making Callan bump into me. "What about my stuff?" I'd almost forgotten about it. Not that I anything too important in my bag; nothing I couldn't live without for a day or two."We'll tell Gideon to bring it with him when he leaves," Mateo said. "Now let's get out of here, you're practically falling asleep on your feet."

cleared his throat as he took me in as well."You...ah..." He cleared his throat again as his eyes slipped down the modest cleavage of my dress. His gaze was like a physical touch as it dragged across the swell of my breasts. My skin prickled with it, making my nipples tighten into hard points underneath my bra. It was like my body was disconnected from my brain because, after that phone call, I really shouldn't be getting turned on right now, but I was. I so was.60"You took a while, and I just wanted to check in and see if you were okay," he finished with a swallow, looking back up.8"Oh, sorry, I must've forgotten the time." I smiled, but it was just as strained as his had been."That's okay, I don't mind waiting, but Callan and Gideon are getting a bit restless." At the mention of the other guys, his phone dinged once. "And that's probably them again," he said but didn't make a move to answer it.25"Right, we should probably go meet them. Are they at the club?" I made sure to lock my door before we made a move down the stairs.As if our bodies weren't aware of the current issues between us, they drew together, with his hand automatically going to the small of my back and my muscle immediately relaxing into his touch. The warmth of his hand radiated through the thin fabric of my dress, and I almost sighed at the pleasant feeling of his hand on me.2"Yeah, they're waiting for us in the meeting room," he answered, guiding me carefully down the steps.4The meeting room... Would it be the same room where we went through the BDSM checklist together? I didn't ask, but I couldn't help but wonder. While a part of me hoped for it, another part didn't want to relive the memory of my first real taste of that lifestyle. Because I knew I wasn't just taking a step back from the men but from the club as well. 4No men meant no play; and even if the unknown man allowed it, I wouldn't want to be with anyone but my guys.12My eyes scanned the street as we got outside, but I relaxed a little when I didn't see anyone.4It was a chilly night, and I'd stupidly forgotten to grab a coat before I headed out.5Mateo, noticing my slight shivers, quickly draped his suit jacket over my shoulders. This time, my smile came easier.12"Thank you," I said sincerely as I put the key in the door to the building and locked up that one too. The jacket smelt like him—like the rosewood soap he preferred and an undertone that was entirely from him, sweet and understated. Being surrounded by his scent muddled my brain, making me forget everything for a brief moment.4As I stepped towards his parked car, he rushed to open the door for me. The gesture warmed my chest, but only for a second before I remembered that this was likely the last time it would happen. Yeah, that thought snuffed out the warmth quickly.26As comfortable as his car truly was, it wasn't comfortable at all. It had more to do with the tension between us than the cushy seats. I think Mateo understood that this wouldn't be a pleasant meeting because he wasn't normally this...stiff. His smile was forced, his breathing was too controlled, and his gaze...whenever he looked at me...it was heavy with something—something I tried distancing myself from because if I didn't, I might just break and risk it all.

Fill in the blanks using the best option:"My mom needed an explanation of all the costs .................. in buying a new cellphone."

A: Lina, your phone is ringing.  It seems important.B: Oh! I should __________________.Group of answer choicesanswer itget a call from someoneleave a message

She heard the phone ___ and went to the first floor to answer it.a) rangb) to ringc) is ringingd) ringing

redit card reader was down. Manager was "on the phone" and the desk clerk was unwilling to tell him customers were waiting. So he never came to straighten things out.