He picked up the fork at last and cut into the food with more suspicion than hunger. It tasted better than he wanted it to. Naturally.
Vivienne watched him take the first bite and rested her chin lightly on two fingers. "See? Progress. A few more dinners and you may even start acting civilized."
Neo lowered the fork. "A few more comments like that and I'll start charging by the minute."
"Good. I'd hate for you to undervalue yourself."
That answer came out so smoothly it almost annoyed him more than the original jab.
He ate another bite anyway, more to avoid giving her the satisfaction of interrupting him than because he cared about the food. Across from him, Vivienne remained exactly as she had been since he sat down, perfectly at ease in a room built to make everyone else feel smaller.
Neo let the fork rest against the plate and met her stare again.
"I came because you offered money and because I wanted to know what you wanted. That's all."
