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"Oh, yeah, I really enjoyed your book," Anna said, her voice a little too bright as she forced a smile. "It's great to finally meet the author. Keep up the excellent work. Emm, I will get going first to finish my work." "And thanks for the help!" Anna said to the assistant.

Before Julian and the assistant could respond, Anna turned quickly, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t want to linger, didn’t want him to see the way her emotions were racing. The bookstore felt suffocating now, the weight of their past hanging in the air like an unspoken word.

She stepped out onto the street, the cool breeze hitting her face, but it did little to ease the turmoil inside her. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions and memories, but she pushed them all down, refusing to let them surface. Not now. Not when she wasn’t ready to meet him.

......

A few days later, Anna returned home from work to find a letter waiting for her on the doorstep. She recognized the elegant, embossed envelope immediately — it was from Julian. Her heart skipped a beat as she tore it open, curiosity mixed with apprehension.

Inside, the letter was brief but clear. Julian had invited her to work with him again. Not on quantum physics this time, but on something entirely different — a new project, one that seemed to blur the lines between his passion for puzzles and crime, the very essence of the detective novel he had written.

The letter continued:

"Dear Anna,

I trust you’re well.

I must admit, I recognized you immediately in the bookstore that day. Despite the years and the changes, there’s a sharpness about you that I’ve never forgotten.

As you can tell from reading The Camphorwood Guardian, I am beginning a new venture that involves a series of intricate, real-world puzzles — very much in line with the themes of my book, but far more involved.

You were the smartest student I ever had the privilege of working with, and you have an incredible talent for this kind of problem-solving. I’d love to get your feedback on my book, and I think your perspective would be invaluable.

If you'd like, I’d be happy to invite you to dinner tonight at our old spot, 6 PM.

Julian Marlowe."