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Authors: Cara Bristol
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lucky.
I think I mentioned my meemaw isn’t doing well. She’s been on my mind, and, well, I need to visit her. Just in case.
He remembered Charlie mentioning his grandmother had been ill. With Baby’s delivery coming up, the timing was bad, but what could he do? Of course you have to go. Crap.
Thank you.
I assume Andrew will fill in again?
Not this time. He’s on the shuttle, too. Regular R&R.
Andrew was no Charlie, but at least he was familiar with the routines.
I’ll find you a good temp. Don’t worry , Charlie said.
Charlie. Andrew. Dale opened the shuttle report to see who else was on the list he should know about. Giorgio . His chief test pilot. Jokester and hell-raiser. He crossed his fingers the pilot had learned his lesson after his last R&R when he’d spent most of his vacation in an alien jail after an altercation at a space casino. He continued perusing the list. Besides names, the report included the reason for the leave, such as a family emergency like Charlie’s, employee illness, R&R like Giorgio’s or—
Final separation. One name listed. Illumina Smith . He reeled like he’d been punched. She was quitting?
Why? Because they’d slept together and she found it uncomfortable to work for him? Or because he’d cranked up the awkwardness by downgrading her security clearance and ordering March to remove her from sensitive projects? He didn’t think she’d vandalize anything, but he couldn’t risk it. Her background was a tangled web of mystery and lies complicated by their indiscretion, and, until he could determine her trustworthiness, she had no business working on top secret projects. He’d been negligent to allow it.
So she was sneaking away. She hadn’t had the balls to tell him to his face.
He’d never see her again.
Man, he was fucked up. She was an employee, nothing more. They’d had the proverbial one-night stand. No ties. No commitments. No promises. No morning afters. It was better for both of them that she left. He should be relieved. He wouldn’t have to worry about possible sabotage or wonder what he would say if he ran into her. And he could stop hoping he would.
Boss! Are you there?
I’m here, he replied. Sorry. What did you say?
I said, I may not need to be gone long. If things get harried, and you can send a special charter for me, I might be able to return sooner.
Without another word, any warning, she had quit! Where would she go? Did she have another job lined up? He didn’t even know her real name. He clenched his fists.
Boss?
Uh, set up whatever you want. I’ll approve it.
All right. I’ll keep you posted.
The second the transmission disconnected, he shot out the door. Halfway down the stairs, common sense righted itself. What the hell was he doing? He would confront her and do what? Demand an explanation? Ask her to stay? Let her tell him to his face again that sleeping with him was the biggest mistake of her life? Because hearing it was so pleasant the first time.
Let her go. The departure was best for both of them. He was too obsessed with her, and she was uninterested in him. He stomped to his office.
* * * *
Sweat stung his eyes as Dale pummeled the punching bag, striking hard and fast. Gloves diffused the impact, but each blow registered as a satisfying thud against his knuckles. In the wee morning hours, the employee gym was deserted. He could work out frustrations without an audience.
He’d landed another powerful blow that caused the bag to sway when his cyberbrain signaled him he had an incoming hail from Brock Mann, a former Cy-Ops teammate. He delivered another punch before tugging off his gloves and opening a channel.
Hey, he greeted his buddy .
I hope I didn’t wake you. I was going to leave you a message.
Nah. I’m awake all hours these days. What did you find out? He wiped his face with a towel and tried to pretend his heart thudded from exertion and not because of what Brock might tell him.
As you suspected,
I think I mentioned my meemaw isn’t doing well. She’s been on my mind, and, well, I need to visit her. Just in case.
He remembered Charlie mentioning his grandmother had been ill. With Baby’s delivery coming up, the timing was bad, but what could he do? Of course you have to go. Crap.
Thank you.
I assume Andrew will fill in again?
Not this time. He’s on the shuttle, too. Regular R&R.
Andrew was no Charlie, but at least he was familiar with the routines.
I’ll find you a good temp. Don’t worry , Charlie said.
Charlie. Andrew. Dale opened the shuttle report to see who else was on the list he should know about. Giorgio . His chief test pilot. Jokester and hell-raiser. He crossed his fingers the pilot had learned his lesson after his last R&R when he’d spent most of his vacation in an alien jail after an altercation at a space casino. He continued perusing the list. Besides names, the report included the reason for the leave, such as a family emergency like Charlie’s, employee illness, R&R like Giorgio’s or—
Final separation. One name listed. Illumina Smith . He reeled like he’d been punched. She was quitting?
Why? Because they’d slept together and she found it uncomfortable to work for him? Or because he’d cranked up the awkwardness by downgrading her security clearance and ordering March to remove her from sensitive projects? He didn’t think she’d vandalize anything, but he couldn’t risk it. Her background was a tangled web of mystery and lies complicated by their indiscretion, and, until he could determine her trustworthiness, she had no business working on top secret projects. He’d been negligent to allow it.
So she was sneaking away. She hadn’t had the balls to tell him to his face.
He’d never see her again.
Man, he was fucked up. She was an employee, nothing more. They’d had the proverbial one-night stand. No ties. No commitments. No promises. No morning afters. It was better for both of them that she left. He should be relieved. He wouldn’t have to worry about possible sabotage or wonder what he would say if he ran into her. And he could stop hoping he would.
Boss! Are you there?
I’m here, he replied. Sorry. What did you say?
I said, I may not need to be gone long. If things get harried, and you can send a special charter for me, I might be able to return sooner.
Without another word, any warning, she had quit! Where would she go? Did she have another job lined up? He didn’t even know her real name. He clenched his fists.
Boss?
Uh, set up whatever you want. I’ll approve it.
All right. I’ll keep you posted.
The second the transmission disconnected, he shot out the door. Halfway down the stairs, common sense righted itself. What the hell was he doing? He would confront her and do what? Demand an explanation? Ask her to stay? Let her tell him to his face again that sleeping with him was the biggest mistake of her life? Because hearing it was so pleasant the first time.
Let her go. The departure was best for both of them. He was too obsessed with her, and she was uninterested in him. He stomped to his office.
* * * *
Sweat stung his eyes as Dale pummeled the punching bag, striking hard and fast. Gloves diffused the impact, but each blow registered as a satisfying thud against his knuckles. In the wee morning hours, the employee gym was deserted. He could work out frustrations without an audience.
He’d landed another powerful blow that caused the bag to sway when his cyberbrain signaled him he had an incoming hail from Brock Mann, a former Cy-Ops teammate. He delivered another punch before tugging off his gloves and opening a channel.
Hey, he greeted his buddy .
I hope I didn’t wake you. I was going to leave you a message.
Nah. I’m awake all hours these days. What did you find out? He wiped his face with a towel and tried to pretend his heart thudded from exertion and not because of what Brock might tell him.
As you suspected,
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