Why could he not stop looking at the girl in front of him? Over the years she had been nothing to him but a rival and his best friend's girlfriend. That was the only way she was related to him. Misha never paid any heed to her when she and Strom were around him. And yet now here he was giving her more attention than usual. He shook his head. This had to be happening due to their partnering for that task.

Right about then a thought occurred to Mischa. "Vou are not waiting on Strom, are vou?'' Why was there a sudden pang of...jealousy rippling through him? He shifted uncomfortably. What was happening to him? Petty emotions never bothered him and certainly not who Karina was meeting with.

This was all bothering Mischa now and he was unsure what to do about it.