Read Online One's Aspect to the Sun by Sherry D. Ramsey - Free Book Online Page A

changes that are going to play more in my favour than in yours. It would be . . . prudent . . . on your part to simply come in, give us our samples, and go on your way. That way, there will be no complications.”
    Sedmamin liked me? I doubted it, and I certainly couldn't return the compliment. “Complications? What kind of complications?”
    “I can't elaborate. Let's just say it would be better to be a friend of PrimeCorp than an enemy.”
    I grinned at him. “Well, that's always been true, hasn't it, Chairman? Thanks for the warning. I'll think about what you've said, and get back to you, or to Ms. Amadoro. Gis la revido. ” I broke the connection.
    I leaned back in my own chair—not leather—and closed my eyes. I hated talking to anyone at PrimeCorp, and Sedmamin was just about at the bottom of the list. My first impression of Dores Amadoro didn't put her much higher. Sedmamin had definitely stepped over a line with that virus trick—I had no doubt the idea had been his, no matter what he said about restless board members—and we'd have to be careful until we shipped out tomorrow. Chairman Sedmamin had taken my rebuff a little too graciously. He could well have other plans to delay us or try to get to me, although I couldn't imagine what they might be.
    On second thought, I could imagine a few. I didn't like them.
    I called Hirin and set the encryption to maximum. It took a moment for the administrator to connect us, and then his dear, wizened face came up on the screen. “Hirin, do you think you could come aboard this afternoon instead of tomorrow?”
    “Are you shipping out early?”
    “No, I don't have all the cargo on board yet. I'm just a little worried about . . . security, that's all.”
    “Well, they're throwing me a going-away party here this afternoon, and Maja's coming over for it.” He looked uncomfortable. “I didn't tell you about it because it might be . . . awkward.”
    “That's okay,” I reassured him. “I'm busy getting everything set here, anyway.”
    “ Okej , well, as soon as I've made my appearance there I could come on over. Everything's packed. I don't like to disappoint them; the only going-away parties here are usually wakes.” He chuckled until he started coughing again.
    I smiled. “That'll be fine. Can I send Viss over to get you?”
    He nodded. “Sure. I thought it would be you, though.”
    “I think I'll stay on board until we leave. It might be wise in light of some recent developments, and you know how I love to be wise.”
    “Yeah, right. Our old friends giving you trouble?” Given my history with PrimeCorp, he knew exactly what I meant.
    “They might be. I'm not taking any chances. Just call when you're ready and I'll send Viss over. Enjoy your party.”
    “I will. See you later.”
    Just to be on the safe side, I sent messages to Maja and Karro, letting them know that PrimeCorp seemed to be at it again. Karro had had his own encounters with Sedmamin in the past, and though they were never as dramatic as mine, he didn't like the company's intrusions any better than I did. As for Maja—well, she actually seemed to get along with PrimeCorp and thought I was paranoid about the company. She didn't know why I wouldn't just cooperate with them and be done with it. Even knowing the details of my family's history with PrimeCorp didn't seem to make a difference to her. No doubt she thought I'd made half of it up or exaggerated it. She'd probably delete my warning message in a huff. I sent it anyway.
    I knew one thing. If Alin Sedmamin—or this new, unknown quantity Dores Amadoro—tried to get to me through Hirin or anyone else in my family, I'd have to leave the ship in order to kill them. I really hoped it wouldn't come to that.
    The only other person PrimeCorp bothered as regularly as me was my brother Lanar, but when I tried to message him I got an automated reply that he was currently outsystem, so I left it at that. With the Nearspace Protectorate fleet at Lanar's