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He rose to his feet, creating the necessary distance between them. “Yes. You should leave Halos. Go home to Earth and save your friend. I won’t stop you.”
She stiffened into a frozen pose. “You want me to go?” Her voice wavered.
“Yes. I want you to go. More than anything, you have to be happy, and you won’t be if you’re worried about what is happening back on Earth. So go, please, Paige. Don’t let me stand in your way.”
He wanted to say something different. In his heart, he would keep her on Halos forever, but she would never forgive him if something happened to Katie, or anyone else, knowing she might be able to stop Nillson.
“And your promise?” She lifted her chin and pinned him down with two anxious eyes.
His promise?
He would have to break it for her sake, so he told her the reason why.
* * *
She climbed the bank of shallow steps leading up to the City Hall; a building constructed out of the ashes of the old city of Phoenix. The glass and stone were hued into a solid square block, and consequently, it lacked the classical architectural details of the past. After the colorful facades of Halos, the structure seemed bland and unexciting. Paige wasn’t excited either. She was rattled with frightful nerves and her stomach churned with mixed emotions.
She wished she wasn’t back on Earth. But, the journey was inevitable and necessary. Long, too. She had come out of stasis only a few days ago and the residual nausea added to the commotion in her body.
However, she was glad to see Katie—alive and well, if thinner and sad. During Paige’s three-month journey, Katie had crept closer to finishing the last few weeks of her internship. She’d welcomed Paige home with a brace of hugs, a proper cup of coffee, and more news. Things had got much worse since Paige had left Halos.
Paige, armed with new information, strode through the double doors into the cool exterior. Her heels clicked on the hard surface and echoed throughout the minimalist atrium. Whoever had designed the City Hall had no soul, she’d decided. Perhaps that was why it appealed to Nillson.
Katie was by her side and unusually quiet. There wasn’t much to say. Paige had set in motion something that needed to be seen to the end point or else the arduous journey home would be meaningless. Living and working on Halos had imbued Paige with new confidence. She would never have dreamed of this before she’d left Earth. Being a hanjin hadn’t weakened her humanity or femininity; it had strengthened her resolve.
Nillson knew she was coming. Katie had told him all about Paige’s return, and as Paige expected, he appeared at the far end of the lobby in person, ready to gloat at her failure.
“Paige, my dear, welcome home,” he smirked and his hand shot out.
She forced herself to shake it, then clasped both hands together behind her back.
Nillson ignored Katie. “So, it didn’t work out for you on Halos?” He couldn’t contain the smug tone of voice. “Why am I not surprised. Such missions are not for lowly interns.”
She dug down deep to suppress her anger at his cutting remark. He probably wanted to add lowly female interns, but had held back the word. He wanted her back on his team for a reason.
“No, it didn’t work out, unfortunately,” she said, digging her nails into the palms of her hands. “I was promised something and it wasn’t to be. When it comes down to it, aliens are just like humans; they can’t deliver what they say in the heat of the moment,” she said it with such bitterness that Katie shot her a sideways glance.
“There’s a place for you. Here, in the City Hall, and of course, you’d be welcome back at the Bow and Tie, too.” The insincere smile thickened on his face. He wore it like a mask. She wanted to scrape it off and see the real man behind it.
He turned, waving her toward the stairwell that swept up to the upper floor and his office. Once inside, he lounged on his leather chair and rested his heels on the desk. The tips of his fingers came together in an arc and he propped his elbows on the armrests. His fake casualness gave him a menacing appearance. Paige stood in the middle of his office, her heartbeat pounding in her chest. Katie had disappeared into a side room. She was alone with Nillson.
“So,” he drawled. “You’re back. Do you think you deserve having a job with me? I think you should beg for it.” He laughed an obnoxious belly kind of laugh that made her nausea worse.
“I need the job,” she said quietly. “I’ve lost all respect coming back here. I’ve disappointed the EDC. My parents are ashamed of me, too and won’t have me home. I was supposed to return a hero, somebody to be honored with awards and interviews.” But, none of those things were going to happen. “Instead, I’ve snuck back home and the Vendu are pretending they’ve never heard of me. I’ve wasted nearly a year of my life out there.”
“But,” he dropped his arms and removed his legs from the table, “my dear, you have seen so many things. Now, aren’t you ready to share them with me? Tell me what you found out about the
mighty Vendu. I will reward you. A prime post at my side and plenty of money, if that’s what you want.”
“I didn’t go to spy—”
“You’ve come back one, though, haven’t you? Or why are you knocking on my door, asking Katie to help wrangle a meeting with me.” He leaned forward on the desk. “There’s no shame in wanting revenge.”
She inhaled deeply, closed her eyes so that she could blot him out of her vision and speak the traitorous words. “Okay. I’ll let you know everything about them. They’re not as mighty as they like to make out.”
“I thought as much. And, they have such a hold over their Empire. I’m sure I can put their methods into practice here, in New Phoenix, and beyond.” His chair creaked.
Her eyes sprang open. His ambitions were stretching further than she’d imagined.
