understand. Don’t worry.”
Strands of long brown hair rise and fall around Jessica’s face, moved by a gentle evening breeze that blows across the porch. Matt slides his arms around her one last time, holds her close and feels the warmth of her body in the cool June air. Dropping his head down, he inhales the smell of her hair one last time. Intoxicating.
A symphony of crickets plays in the darkness.
With his head still bent down, Matt touches his lips to the top of Jessica’s head. His eyelids float shut. He makes a conscious effort to burn this moment forever into his mind. It’s like turning on an internal jax to make a permanent record of every sensation flowing through his mind and body at that instant. His mother taught him to do it as a child, a way of capturing memories for later recall. He did it often up at Skull Pass, pausing at the top of a long expanse of powder before ripping through it. He adds this moment with Jessica to his collection of perfect memories so he can replay them later.
When the dark times come.
And then, with his eyes shut, Matt senses a strange urge to reach into his pocket and wrap his hand around the rock. As he lets his fingers find it, time and space fall away, leaving only him and Jessica. Her thoughts become his thoughts. Her senses become his senses. Her fears become his fears.
For a fleeting second, they are one.
When it’s over, Matt releases the rock and takes a small step back. “I’m not going to say goodbye, ever.”
“Neither am I.” Jessica puts her arms around his neck. “But I am going to give you something to remember while you’re in Japan. I’ve been saving for a long time.”
She pulls him down, and he feels the warmth of her lips against his.
CHAPTER 13
V an Pelt flashes a glance at Ryzaard and nods.
Ryzaard points to the slate on the table in front of Alexa. She checks to make sure there is a signature from every director. The confidentiality agreements themselves don’t matter. It’s all part of a carefully managed show. Ryzaard has learned from experience that if you need people to do something, just make them part of a secret, or at least make them
think
they are part of a secret. Offer them a chance to be in the inner circle, and they will do whatever you ask.
Van Pelt stands and walks to the front of the desk and faces the directors. The show is about to begin.
“Thank you very much for your cooperation. I’m glad to have that unpleasant bit of business behind us. I trust that all of you have heard of Dr. Mikal Ryzaard.” Van Pelt opens one palm to the directors and motions to Ryzaard with the other. “He is now serving as Vice President of Trading Research at MX Financial, having replaced the prior vice president due to a rather unfortunate hunting accident.”
As if by a magnet, the directors’ eyes are drawn to Ryzaard.
Sudden pleasure buoys him up. The joy of the predator as its jaws sink into the prey. Judging from their feeble attempts at suppressing the fear on their faces, the directors are going to give him whatever he asks for.
“Allow me to introduce him.” Van Pelt turns to Ryzaard. “He has a matter of utmost importance to share with you tonight. I suggest you give him your full attention. You’ll be glad you did.”
Ryzaard suffers a slight smile to appear on his face as he nods to the chairman.
Lights darken in the boardroom. Van Pelt stands aside as the glass screen behind him lights up with a video image of Professor Ryzaard in his signature tweed jacket and bowtie writing briskly on an ancient blackboard, teaching a classroom full of eager university students. As he turns around, his broad smile is clearly visible.
The deep bass voice of the narrator begins to speak.
“Prior to coming to MX Global, Dr. Ryzaard was a distinguished professor of archeology at Oxford University.”
The walls around the directors came alive with images of a younger man with a black mustache and fewer lines on his face,
Strands of long brown hair rise and fall around Jessica’s face, moved by a gentle evening breeze that blows across the porch. Matt slides his arms around her one last time, holds her close and feels the warmth of her body in the cool June air. Dropping his head down, he inhales the smell of her hair one last time. Intoxicating.
A symphony of crickets plays in the darkness.
With his head still bent down, Matt touches his lips to the top of Jessica’s head. His eyelids float shut. He makes a conscious effort to burn this moment forever into his mind. It’s like turning on an internal jax to make a permanent record of every sensation flowing through his mind and body at that instant. His mother taught him to do it as a child, a way of capturing memories for later recall. He did it often up at Skull Pass, pausing at the top of a long expanse of powder before ripping through it. He adds this moment with Jessica to his collection of perfect memories so he can replay them later.
When the dark times come.
And then, with his eyes shut, Matt senses a strange urge to reach into his pocket and wrap his hand around the rock. As he lets his fingers find it, time and space fall away, leaving only him and Jessica. Her thoughts become his thoughts. Her senses become his senses. Her fears become his fears.
For a fleeting second, they are one.
When it’s over, Matt releases the rock and takes a small step back. “I’m not going to say goodbye, ever.”
“Neither am I.” Jessica puts her arms around his neck. “But I am going to give you something to remember while you’re in Japan. I’ve been saving for a long time.”
She pulls him down, and he feels the warmth of her lips against his.
CHAPTER 13
V an Pelt flashes a glance at Ryzaard and nods.
Ryzaard points to the slate on the table in front of Alexa. She checks to make sure there is a signature from every director. The confidentiality agreements themselves don’t matter. It’s all part of a carefully managed show. Ryzaard has learned from experience that if you need people to do something, just make them part of a secret, or at least make them
think
they are part of a secret. Offer them a chance to be in the inner circle, and they will do whatever you ask.
Van Pelt stands and walks to the front of the desk and faces the directors. The show is about to begin.
“Thank you very much for your cooperation. I’m glad to have that unpleasant bit of business behind us. I trust that all of you have heard of Dr. Mikal Ryzaard.” Van Pelt opens one palm to the directors and motions to Ryzaard with the other. “He is now serving as Vice President of Trading Research at MX Financial, having replaced the prior vice president due to a rather unfortunate hunting accident.”
As if by a magnet, the directors’ eyes are drawn to Ryzaard.
Sudden pleasure buoys him up. The joy of the predator as its jaws sink into the prey. Judging from their feeble attempts at suppressing the fear on their faces, the directors are going to give him whatever he asks for.
“Allow me to introduce him.” Van Pelt turns to Ryzaard. “He has a matter of utmost importance to share with you tonight. I suggest you give him your full attention. You’ll be glad you did.”
Ryzaard suffers a slight smile to appear on his face as he nods to the chairman.
Lights darken in the boardroom. Van Pelt stands aside as the glass screen behind him lights up with a video image of Professor Ryzaard in his signature tweed jacket and bowtie writing briskly on an ancient blackboard, teaching a classroom full of eager university students. As he turns around, his broad smile is clearly visible.
The deep bass voice of the narrator begins to speak.
“Prior to coming to MX Global, Dr. Ryzaard was a distinguished professor of archeology at Oxford University.”
The walls around the directors came alive with images of a younger man with a black mustache and fewer lines on his face,
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