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I make a mental note of this before hurrying back to the elevator. Once I’m in, I go to press the ground floor button, but curiosity gets the best of me.
I recall the map mentioning a meeting room on floor two. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to check that out as well? Might give me a chance to place some bugs under the tables while I’m there.
Once I reach the second floor, I wander through the halls in search of the meeting room. I catch a glimpse into the banquet room as I walk past, tempted by the chocolate fountain overlooking a meadow of fresh strawberries, but manage to keep my focus.
At the end of the hall, I spot a sign pointing out the conference room. I glance through the windows to make sure it’s not already occupied before slipping inside.
I crouch beside a table and pull a bug out of my pocket. But before I can fasten it, I hear footsteps and voices approaching.
Shit. There’s no way I can get out without them spotting me. So instead, I make a break for the trash can, remove the lid, and climb inside. It smells like rotten fruit and stale coffee in there, but I’ll take it over getting caught.
Moments later, the first person steps – or slinks, I should say – inside.
“This presentation is going to be big,” a deep voice says. “If anyone fucks anything up, there will be consequences.”
I roll my eyes. Whoever’s talking right now sure sounds like a ray of sunshine.
I crack the lid just enough so that I can peer into the conference room, and sure enough, Craig is leaning over a meeting table with a scowl on his face. He’s surrounded by several people of varying species, from boring-looking humans to massive orcs stuffed into gray suits.
“Do you have the slides prepared, Susan?” Craig asks.
“Already done, sir,” a gorgon responds.
“Good. Now, all of you need to triple-check that everything is in order tonight,” he says. “If this presentation goes well, things are going to change for all of us. Especially for Jarn.”
I resist the urge to scoff. What a smug little prick.
For the rest of the meeting, I try to tune in to their conversation, but honestly, it’s full of jargon and nothing particularly noteworthy.
My stomach is turning from the smell of the trash I’m sitting on, too. I’d plug my nose, but I’ve stuck my hands in a mysterious squishy substance, and I do not want it near my face.
“Alright, we’ve covered everything. You’re all dismissed,” Craig finally says after what feels like an hour.
Thank God. The fact that I survived that meeting without throwing up is nothing short of a miracle.
The crew files out of the room, and for a moment, I think I’m off the hook. That is, until the trash can lid opens and a half-empty cup of lukewarm coffee lands on my lap.
The lid slams shut again. I hold back the urge to groan. At least I wasn’t spotted, but I’m not looking forward to the big brown stain this is going to leave on my pants.
Once the room has seemingly cleared, I hear a phone ring. It’s not mine, meaning there’s a straggler hanging around.
“Hello?” Craig says.
I press my ear to the side of the garbage can, but the voice on the other end of the call is too muffled to hear.
“Yes, I hear you. Alright. We’ll discuss it over dinner tonight,” Craig says. Another pause. “Giovanni’s Grapevine, whatever. I just want to talk. I’ll see you there. Bye.”
He hangs up and slithers out of the room.
Giovanni’s Grapevine? I recall spotting that restaurant on the way to the hotel.
There’s a chance he’s meeting up with some random nobody, but it could be our spy, too. If it is, this could be a game-changer!
As soon as the coast is clear, I emerge from the trash and take a breath of fresh air. I need to tell Tarek what I’ve heard as soon as I can.
Well… after I clean this garbage off of me. And get Angel’s precious unscented lotion while I’m at it. She’s already going to whine about me being late, and I don’t need to smell like trash on top of that.
CHAPTER 8
