She went to sit at the desk.“Take the cost out of it—”
“I have the money.”
“Exactly, and I already have you donating tablets and tech to users who need them.Don’t worry, I plan to spend your money.Plenty of it.But we can’t take the place of real, honest to God healthcare providers.We’re a support, not a replacement.Being cleared by a medical professional takes time, it takes practical steps.If someone needs support at two in the morning, they need it then, not when it’s been okayed by some grump in a white coat two weeks, or two months, later.That’s not to say we can’t hire a team of medical professionals to monitor interactions and look for red flags.”
“And if they don’t see them?”
“I considered maybe…”
“Don’t temper yourself,” he said, pushing back in his chair.“I feel you holding back.Remember who you’re talking to.If you restrain yourself, I’ll send you back to the switchboard.Give it to me, Radley.”
“I do that, and I’m likely to get up and start pacing.”
“You want to scream,” he said, opening his arms, “do it.No need for headsets here.”No, there wasn’t.“You haven’t been online.”
Had he checked?“Been settling into my new place.”
“Kept waiting for my alarms at the house to go off.”
Coy didn’t work on her.“I thought about sneaking up there and checking out your pad.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Wasn’t sure if the orgies and virgin-sacrifice continued in your absence.”
“Oh, yeah, I have people who take care of that for me when I’m not home.They water my plants too.”
“Yeah, right.You’re ridiculous.There’s no way I believe you have houseplants.”
A beat passed.Shit, was that tension weighing in her gut?It was something.Looking him in the eye changed what had always been between them.The thrill?Yes, that was expected.Even in voice chat they had that.But there was greater exhilaration in person than she’d have predicted.
“What did you think about the red flags?”he asked.
“What if we have user flagging?We have our professionals, but we also foster an environment of support.So others online can flag or highlight concerns about another user.”
“We’d need safeguards.”
“Obviously.We monitor the monitors too.This needs to start as a pilot program.”
“It’ll have to run at least six months.”
Her head tilted.“A year would be better.”
“Yeah, a year would be better, but we don’t want to miss the train on this.”
“You think there are others in the field?”
“Others who won’t mind poaching or cutting corners.”
“Then I guess you have to decide,” she said, waiting until his wandering eyes came back to her.“You want your lady to fake it or make it?Sometimes getting to the top takes time.That doesn’t mean she isn’t worth the climb.”
One side of his mouth rose.“I love it when you make things about sex.”
“Got to keep it in your frame of reference to help your understanding,” she said, playing it straight though some part of her enjoyed him enjoying her.“Anyone else who wants to play on this field will have to play by our rules.They rush, they make mistakes, and someone gets hurt.That woman isn’t calling you again.That woman makes headlines with words like ‘horror’ and ‘suicide’ and ‘avoidable.’When you stand in front of your business journalists and tell them we’re in this, you’re going to tell them we’re doing it right, not fast.”
“On the money, not for the money.”
“Exactly, which leads me to—”
