“I take it then that your relationship with Miss Adler is more than ‘good friends'?"

"Yeah. Is that really the sort of daughter you want hanging around?"

"I'll manage."

She squinted in his direction.

"I'm borderline psychotic."

"Borderline?" Heda coughed under her breath, then grinned when she knew she was being scanned.

“You haven't met your sister. Again, I think I can handle it.”

Madison's heart jumped in her throat at the word "sister." "I'm not exactly polished."

"Not necessary."

“I'm going to make this difficult for you."

“Looking forward to it."

“I'm a registered Democrat."

As she scanned him, Mr. Hannity blinked slowly three times.

"We'll talk."

Now, Madison gave a little smile, but just a little one.

"Okay. So how do we do this?"

And just like that, the air around them seemed to become depressurized and everyone, Madison included, took a deep breath.

“Maybe we can just start by getting to know each other. Maybe get together for one meal a day for a while —"

“Don't you have a job or something?" she asked.

“I'm the president of the bank, and we're making money hand over fist. Who's going to fire me?"

She had to admit that he had a point.

“Okay, but I AM kinda busy.

With classes and homework and the show and all."

“And I would never ask that you neglect any of them, or spending time with your friends." He appeared to be thinking about something.