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“Hello?” I say softly, putting the phone to my ear with a shuddering hand. I have to answer Maksim's call. If I don't, he'll definitely come over and belt me, and it's been so long since anyone has hit me... I don't want him to hurt me.
“My little pet...” he croons, his voice bizarrely warming me from within. It's an unanticipated, relieving feeling. “How are you?” he says huskily, his Russian accent like home to me.
Combing my hair back over my shoulder, I blink ahead, filtering the familiar sensation of his voice.
I still have Maksim, I remind myself, breathing in and out steadily to stow my tears. I still have him, so it's going to be okay. If I had neither Charlie nor Maksim, I'd really feel lost.
“I'm okay,” I say, a little nervous.
“Good. I'm glad.” He sounds very relaxed, nothing like I was expecting. “Are you ready to shut down London, my little pet? Everyone is waiting on you.”
Everyone? Does that mean Charlie as well?
I try to push him out of my mind because I can't think about him right now, not while I'm on the phone with Maksim, and not while I've got a job to do. I can cry over him tonight if need be.
From the couch, I roam into my dark computer room, sliding open the paneled door. I'm stunned to see my computers are all turned on. The room is aglow with white light.
Maksim has already been here today, it seems.
Did Charlie tell Maksim that he was going to leave me here today? That he's relinquishing his last week with me?
Don't think of him.
I sit in the large office chair and set my mobile on loud speaker, putting it on the desk.
“I'm just setting up,” I lie softly to steal a moment. I take in a deep breath and let it out, allowing my emotions to flow freely as if I'm meditating. I need to get a grip. I can't function in a state of emotional turmoil.
Blanking, I say, “I'm ready,c?pMaksim.”
“She's ready,” he tells someone. “Right, my little pet, first, I want you to shut down a mile radius around Canary Warf.”
Putting my fingers on the keyboard keys, I lock in a few codes and a decent percentage of London goes down, giving me full control. I scan the CCTV screens to be sure it's worked. Cars skid to a stop at blind traffic lights, causing a few minor accidents. Shop owners dart outside and glance about in a panic because their electricity is now nonexistent.
Perfect.
The next code I enter turns every traffic light red, causing mayhem.
“She's done it,” I hear someone say; I don't recognize his voice.
“Good girl,” Maksim says, which is strange because he never calls me a 'good girl'. “Now, the black truck parked outside of Canary Warf Barclays bank, the one with a number plate reading, 'Zeta', do you see it?”
Looking up at the top left computer screen, I zoom in using the computer mouse.
“Yes, I see it.” My chest aches. That's something to do with Charlie.
Please, stop thinking about him!
“You are to guide that truck through London to a private underground car park with no mistakes. Do you understand?”
“Sure,” I say softly. “I understand.”
He tells me the underground car park address, then he snaps, “Podgotovsja!”
Sharp hairs cascade down my arms at the sound of Maksim telling me to prepare, my entire body coming to attention.
I train my attention, and so it begins. While I bash at the keyboard keys like a robot, locking in some more codes to keep control of London's traffic system, I listen to all of Maksim's instructions: “Make these traffic lights red. Make those green.”
The truck is on target, speeding through every green light I summon.
