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I feel like a pressure cooker with its lid about to blow off. “Vision Techisa business, Adam. And the decisions you make on behalf of this company need to be rooted in the bottom line.”
“If the bottom line was all I thought about then we wouldn’t offer the medical and insurance benefits we do here at Vision Tech. We wouldn’t offer profit sharing. We wouldn’t have an in-building therapist.”
I roll my eyes at that last part. Adam and I fought to the death about that therapist, which I still believe we don’t need.
“Nova, the reason people stay at this company and believe in the vision isn’t because it’s a business. It’s because we look out for each other.”
“And as valiant and noble as your mission is, Adam, there willalwaysbe people who want to take advantage. Lyra is one of those people. I know her. She’s selfish and sneaky and unstable.”
Adam places both hands on my arms. “Just… give her a chance, okay? She’s on a three month probation and working only two days a week.”
“She’s also telling everyone she’s my sister. What if people talk?”
“You don’t have to worry about accusations of nepotism. Just say your boss hired her. Which is the truth. Besides, she’s the assistant to your assistant. If she messes up, I’ll fully support you in kicking her out.”
I grit my teeth and shake him off.
Turning, I stare at the skyline.
I don’t like this. I don’t like it atall.
* * *
“Let’s meet,”I growl into the phone.
It’s been an hour after Adam left to pick up Rowan from school and take him to the skating rink to meet Micheal.
I can’t focus on work because I’m still stewing about what my boss did and I’m even more ticked off at Lyra. She’s up to something and Adam is too soft-hearted to see it.
“Sure,” Lyra says. “Meet me at the café.”
Twenty minutes later, I stalk into the same diner I met Lyra at last time.
She’s scooted down in the booth, a burger and fries in front of her once again. This time, she’s sipping on a milkshake.
I fling my purse into the booth and follow the same trajectory.
Lyra grins at me. “Hello,siiis.”
“What do you want with Vision Tech, Lyra?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Cut the crap. Are you still hanging with that deadbeat boyfriend of yours? The drug dealer? Are you two setting something up?”
“No.”
I scoff.
“I’m serious, Nova. I’ve cut ties with him. And I don’t do drugs anymore.”
I believe that as much as I believed Rowan when he told me I’m a natural at video games. The character I was playing tripped over a rock and ‘died’. Twice. If ‘good’ in video game lingo means painfully terrible, then maybe he was right.
“I’ve changed, Nova.” Lyra bats her thick lashes.
I let loose a bitter laugh. “Yeah, okay.”
Lyra’s voice cracks with hurt. “How is it that astrangerbelieves in me more than my own sister?”
