AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s not really the issue,” the technician said. “All of Oberon’s training has been specialized to help him encourage mating in biological beings. Highly tuned security works the opposite way. We’re asking him to do two tasks that counteract each other, and to put priority on both at the same time.”
“Oberon, do you have rack servers?” Olivia asked, thinking furiously about options. “Blade servers? A mainframe? How are you set up?”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that,” Oberon told her. “But if we have Dr. Oppyx’s permission, I’d love to have you take a look around. I’m very curious to have your thoughts since you specialize in finding programming loopholes.”
Everyone at the table was suddenly quiet.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Stark demanded.
“That’s what I do,” Olivia told him, realizing he was going to figure it out. “I’m in cyber security. I help businesses find vulnerabilities.”
“Wait,” Stark said. “Wait, wait,wait… I knew your name was familiar. You’re that punk kid who tried to hold me hostage over my home security systems.”
“I didnothold you hostage,” Olivia spat back, horrified.
“Oh, you’re saying you didn’t get paid for your little stunt?” he demanded, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You did it out of the kindness of your heart?”
“I-I have to keep the lights on,” she said, his sudden change in tone throwing her off balance.
The homeowner had paid her enough to cover the few days’ work she had put in finding the security hole, plus a single energy credit for the use of her systems. She was grateful for the pay, but it hardly put Stark out. He hadn’t even paid it himself. His customer had.
“Thelights?” he echoed angrily.
“And you didn’t have to send your lawyers after me,” she told him. “I was only trying to help.”
Stark looked like he was going to explode with fury. How had she been so drawn to someone who would act like this?
“I hate to interrupt,” a female voice said. “But it’s time for your daily health check, Olivia.”
They spun around to face Dr. Pan as if the two of them shared a body.I might actually be sharing my body right now with his baby,Olivia realized in mixture of anticipation and disgust.
Stark appeared to pull himself together with great effort. He nodded once at the doctor and turned to Olivia.
“Thank you, Dr. Pan,” she said, as calmly as possible. “I’m ready.”
She focused on the doctor, answering her questions again as well as she could.
There was no way after only one more attempt that she was expecting, but that was just fine. Maybe none of this was meant to be. A man like Stark would be an impatient and entitled father. She could always leave, but the poor child would be stuck with him. Maybe Olivia would just call it quits now and find another way to fulfill her dreams.
She was still considering her options when Dr. Pan finished the exam and gave her a smile.
“Congratulations, you two,” she said warmly, turning her gaze to include Stark. “You’re having a baby.”
14
STARK
Stark’s heart pounded as the small Terran doctor smiled at him.
They were having a baby. It was almost too much to believe.
“Perfect,” Olivia said in a strangled voice, turning away from Stark. “I’ll never have to see you again.”
Rage and pain battled in his chest. This should be the happiest moment of his life. Instead, he was realizing that his child would be cursed with half the genetic materials of a common thief.
“Um,” Dr. Pan said. “That’s not exactly true. The two of you will have to spend as much time together as possible now.”
“What are you talking about?” Olivia demanded. “We conceived a child, just like he wanted. Now we just wait for the birth, right?”
