Neal hurried to Wood's office. The alarm went off, but he had no time to think about that. He pushed his gizmo into the USB port on the back of the screen. He heard voices, which told him Peter had timed the door well enough not to cause suspicion.
The gizmo gave a little beep and the lights turned blue. It had done its thing. He yanked it out.
"Mr. Cooper?"
"Chloe." He pocketed the device. "Why aren't you with Evan?"
"I got another call." She held her phone, smiling at him, walking closer. "So...did you get lost?"
She put her phone in her back pocket and sat on the desk.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess I took a wrong turn." Neal watched her. She was flirting alright. "Chloe, I really don't think—"
"You're the one who told us to rebel."
"I can't remember that I said that exactly."
"If my dad found out you broke a house rule, he'd be upset, but sometimes a study break can be fun."
Neal was not comfortable. But he was also an adult, knowing enough about what that meant when it came to responsibility.
"Chloe, I can tell you have a lot of, um... passion. You just need to find the right place to focus it. I know you're smart enough to know that."
Then Woods stormed into the room and glared at them.
"What the hell is going on in here?!"
Somehow, he must have heard them.
Woods' phone rang.
"Chloe?" he grinned at Peter with a sigh. "She's always doing this pocket-dial thing. I tell her her jeans are too tight."
Woods kept listening, and he looked grimmer until he stormed off. Peter followed. Chloe was supposed to be with Neal. And even if Evan was in trouble, Peter felt he needed to be a protector.
"What the hell is going on in here?!" Woods yelled. Peter joined him in the office, where Neal was with Chloe. "I want to know what you're doing in my private office. With my daughter!"
He walked too close to Neal for comfort, but if he got violent, Peter would interfere.
"Dad! Don't be mad."
"Why don't we all just take a minute here?" Peter suggested.
"Oh, this will be over in a minute. You're interested in my office?! You're looking for something?!"
"It's actually my fault, sir." Evan had entered the room behind them.
"Your fault?!"
"Yeah."
"Evan…" Neal started.
"Chloe said that you had an old map of Paris in here, and I really wanted to see it."
"Map?" Peter blurted.
"Yes," Neal was quick to say. "Yes, we were discussing the revolution, and Chloe mentioned a copper-etched map in your office." Peter glanced at Chole who did not object, but played along. "After hearing about it, I thought it might be an original Hogenberg." He made a gesture to the map on the wall behind Woods. "Well, 16th century, bird's-eye perspective, and there's the Bastille."
Peter noted that Chloe finally saw something in Evan, and Evan looked like he saw a goddess.
"Enough!" Woods barked. "I want you out of my house. Now."
"All right." He shrugged and left the room.
"Chloe, go to your room."
She crossed her arms and made a face. When she passed Evan she smiled.
"Bye, Evan."
"You!" Woods said pointing at Evan. "Get out of here. And I don't want to see you here again. Ever."
Peter was alone with Woods.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening, but I think this is a good time for us to leave as well. It seems like me and Daniele has a great deal to discuss. It was not what I expected and—"
"Yeah, yeah," Woods nodded. "I understand. Thank you for visiting."
