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He hadn’t missed it when her head dropped. Was it because he called her Gwen? It was going to take time to think of her as Maxi. It was easier to think of her as Voodoo instead.
“Hello, I think the lying body up front tells a different story. Will trouble always follow you?”
“Look, Brit, I will apologize to my wife, and my potential employers, but not you. In fact, I’m okay if you leave and go see your girlfriend, in case you’ve forgotten you have one.”
“Touchy, aren’t you? I don’t want or need your apology. I need a normal work environment. Our lives are already jacked up without adding more drama to it.”
“Okay, Seven,” Ivy interjected. “Ghost and I need to speak with Carter and Voodoo... alone. Go and check on our girl. Please.”
“Very well, since you asked so nicely. Any idea how to access the video files for the conference room?” Seven asked.
“No, but we can figure it out later today or tomorrow. Besides, I don’t want to give the Feds our raw footage. If we can’t remove Byte from the footage, we’ll have to do a little editing here and there and give them the audio only.”
Nodding, Seven excused himself and shut the door behind him.
“Well, now. Let’s talk,” Ghost said.
“Before you rescind the offer, I want you to know that I’m going to withdraw my application,” Carter said before Ghost could say anything.
“Wait,” Voodoo interrupted. “Don’t do that on account of my feelings.”
Turning so Voodoo had all his focus, Carter told her the truth. “Your feelings are the only ones I take into account. You need time and space. I’m giving them to you. I know how I feel, but it may take you some time to admit it too. So I’ll wait.”
“But... but where are you going?” Voodoo asked in disbelief. Was she relieved to have him gone? Or was she scared she’d lose him forever?
Ghost interrupted her internal debate and asked for clarification. “We haven’t made any decisions yet, but I agree with yours. Time and space are what you both need. Where can we reach you? Are you staying in Austin?”
“I haven’t thought that far. I’ll vacate the apartment and let your team get back to work. You can reach me on my cell.”
Carter rose, kissed his wife on her forehead, and walked out of the room and possibly her life. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to watch him walk away.
The door softly closed and Voodoo burst into tears. Ghost took the cue and followed Carter out of the office, leaving Ivy to console Voodoo. He hated tears!
Ivy moved to sit beside her longtime friend. She wasn’t one to generally offer comfort... that was Ghost’s job, but she couldn’t ignore the lost soul sitting next to her.
“Why am I crying?” she begged Ivy for an answer.
“Because, Maxi, you still love the fool. Just know that when trouble comes, it’s your family who will support and guide you out of it. And Voodoo, we are family.”
“I know.”
“Good. Now, how about we go check on Byte? I’m equally concerned about her.”
“Me too. She’s not someone who freaks out... She takes too much pleasure in causing it.”
“You’re right. I don’t know who this Chloe is, but Vanessa’s death was a trigger.”
“It had to be something bad for her to react the way she did.”
“Agreed,” Ivy said as she and Voodoo approached the elevator.
“We’ll play it by ear. There’s no way to predict how she will be today.”
Nothing could’ve been truer when Byte answered the door laughing at something Seven or Aria had said.
“Hey, you’re here!” Byte said as she dragged the two stunned women into the apartment. “Guys, we have two more. Make more omelets, Aria.”
“On it,” Ivy heard Aria respond.
