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stopgap measure anyway. You need a full spectrum security consult.”
    “Not going to happen.” There was not the slightest uncertainty in her voice.
    Neo had gone against tougher negotiators than the renowned pianist. “Consider it a gift for opening your home to me.”
    “Are you saying this is for your safety?”
    “Would it help you accept it if I did?”
    “For an honest man, you’re awfully adept at manipulation.”
    “Thank you.”
    “I am not letting a stranger into my home.”
    “I was a stranger when you allowed me inside for my lesson.” But he could see now that he’d made a grave miscalculation in sending over an unknown locksmith.
    Zee warned Neo that his impatience could cause problems and this wasn’t the first time his friend had been right.
    “Not entirely. One, I had prepared myself for taking on a new student. Two, I did my research, learning all I could about you before you came. And three, my manager told me if I didn’t do the lessons he would quit.”
    “You got past being overwhelmed by me—you can deal with the security consultant.”
    “No.”
    “Cassandra, you are not being reasonable.” She laughed, the sound both exasperated and amused. “ I am unreasonable?”
    “Yes. It will only take thirty minutes, an hour at the most.”
    “It’s not just about the time, but that is a consideration.”
    “The security expert can work around your schedule.”
    “I don’t want to meet him.” She sounded very definite.
    “Cassandra, be sensible.”
    The quality of the silence at the other end of the linebothered him. “If you are that concerned,” she finally said, “we could probably arrange to have your lessons at my recording studio.” She was silent again, this time clearly considering her own proposal. “Yes, that would work.”
    “I do not want my lessons at the studio.”
    “I do not want to entertain a stranger in my home.” The growing agitation in her voice bothered him.
    He did not like to think of his shy teaching aficionado getting upset.
    “If I were there for the security consult, would you be all right then?” Neo absolutely stunned himself by asking.
    From the expression on his PA’s face she was similarly flummoxed.
    But Cassandra had come out of her self-imposed prison of the bathroom yesterday for him when she had refused for her manager. Neo was used to being relied on by his employees and associates. It shouldn’t make him feel special that Cassandra naturally did as others before her, but somehow it did.
    “What? You be here? No. You’re too busy. That’s not necessary.” Cassandra took an audible breath. “Look, I’ll…I’ll ask my manager. He’ll come meet with the security consultant. He thinks these lessons are good for my career, though I really didn’t understand why until the whole media fiasco yesterday. Bob will do it.”
    Unfamiliar amusement welled up, along with a highly out-of-character tolerance. He’d broken her brain. He must have broken his own as well because he didn’t want Bob to be the one helping her deal with this, even though that had been his own idea not fifteen minutes ago.
    “You don’t want to be there for the consult at all? As you reminded my personal assistant, it is your home.”
    “Yes, well…Are you sure you don’t want to meet in the studio?” she asked, sounding entirely too hopeful for a woman who spent so much of her time in her home.
    Ignoring the repeated offer, he brought his schedule up on his phone. He marked two items for his PA to move and said, “I’ll be there with the consultant tomorrow morning at ten.”
    “You don’t have to. I said—”
    “If your manager was capable of convincing you to implement better security, he already would have done so.”
    “I didn’t have a billionaire student before.”
    “Nevertheless, the man is clearly incompetent when it comes to assuring your ongoing personal safety.”
    “I’m sure that you have a big need for personal security, but