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“She’s not mousy,” I said, feeling my temper rise to the surface. “She’s not a midget either. She’s just petite. And while we’re on the subject, she is braver than you will ever know. You didn’t see how many Belic robots she was able to disable on that Harvester ship. I was astounded by her skill.”
“I’m sure you’ll find ways to reward her,” Amada hissed scathingly.
“Stop it,” I commanded. “That’s enough of the hurtful comments.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“And neither am I. You need to find a way to move on with your life, Amada. As our chief engineer, you have plenty to do, so I don’t know why you are so focused on torturing us instead.”
Amada scoffed. “Youreallythink Icareenough about either one of you to focus my entiredayon what you two are doing? Getoveryourself, Cyburn. Your little friend should too. Her looks shouldn’t make her as confident as she is.”
“That’s enough.” My blood was boiling now. “Stop insulting her when she is not here to defend herself.”
“I’m notinsultingher,” Amada said dryly. “I’m just stating facts. I’m an engineer. I only know the facts.”
I cut her a glacial glare. “Now I remember why I broke up with you. You are unnecessarily cruel and bitter about everything. Nothing will ever make you happy. You weren’t even happy being with me, but now that you’ve lost me you seem desperate to win me back. Forget about it, Amada. It’s never going to happen.”
Amada’s jaw dropped open. Her black eyes grew wide with hurt. Her green cheeks drained pale. Her eyes filled with tears, and then she clamped her mouth shut, pursing her lips so tightly that they too turned as pale as the moon.
She didn’t say a single word as she quickly breezed past me, skirting down the hallway as fast as she could, without a single glance back in my direction.
I knew I’d crossed a line with her and that she was probably already thinking about how to set her revenge plan into motion, but I didn’t care.
Amada had crossed half a dozen lines herself, just this morningalone. Two could play at this game. If I stunned her into silence, even for a little while, then I’d free up my life and Carmela’s for a little slice of peace and quiet. I’d welcome the break in the subtle taunting from Amada anytime, and in any way that I could get it.
ChapterFifteen
CARMELA
Ispent most of my days and nights with Cyburn. I clung to him, not because I was feeling particularly needy, but because he made me feel electric and alive.
He made me feel special, like I was important part of not only this operation, but of his life, too.
He doted on me and loved me. He cared for me. He protected me and was possessive over me in a way that made me feel like his queen.
I stuck to him when he wasn’t busy or worked with Silver in the maintenance room on the robots. I made myself busy and kept my head down.
Cyburn had a lot of responsibilities. I tried to help him when I could, even if it meant sometimes staying out of the way so he could get his tasks done with minimal distractions. I knew I was a distraction for him, the biggest factor being sexual, so sometimes I kept out of the way so I wouldn’t come between him and his captain duties.
I was just trying to maintain the status quo. I wanted to stay out of the way and not stir up any extra trouble for those of whom still had a problem with me, especially Amada.
As much as I desperately tried to avoid her, it wasn’t always possible. On one particular day, I was in one of the bathroom stalls in the communal, female-only bathrooms.
I heard someone enter the bathroom while I was still occupying one of the stalls. This wasn’t unusual in itself. People came and went. Everyone had to go eventually, but this particular time, the slow footsteps unnerved me. Especially while I was trying to ‘do my business.’
The footsteps stopped directly in front of the closed door of the stall I was in. I stiffened and held my breath.
“I know you’re in there.” Amada’s icy voice cut through the silence.
I said nothing, but I swallowed hard.
“Carmela. You can’t hide in there forever.”
This woman was a psycho. She must have followed me in here, waited a minute or two, and then entered to chastise me for no reason other than to get on my nerves and make me uncomfortable.
I knew I wasn’t going to avoid this embarrassing experience, so, I spoke up. “Just leave me alone. Respect my privacy while I’m in here.”
“This is the communal bathroom,” Amada jeered in that condescending tone of hers that made my skin crawl. “I’m allowed to be in here.”
