AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Devin!” he said. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, dad. How are you?”
“Great, thanks. Man, it’s too bad your mom’s not here right now. She loves when you call, but she’s out seeing some racy movie with her friends.”
I cough-laughed. “Oh, lord.”
“I know. Some stripper movie or something. God love ’em. So how’ve you been? Still enjoying the transatlantic routes?”
“Yeah. I like the schedule.” I sat on the couch, kicking off my shoes. “And I met someone interesting a few months ago. In Italy. She’s a scientist.”
“Oh.” Hisohwas curious, but also delighted.
“She’s not Italian,” I elaborated. “She’s American, a theoretical astrophysicist. I flew her over here to work with a think tank at the NSF Institute.”
I tried to sound casual in my feelings for her, so my parents wouldn’t start planning our wedding. They’d wanted me to settle down forever, but that wasn’t easy for a working pilot.
“An astrophysicist,” my dad repeated. “A bit brainier than your usual types.”
“We’re not dating or anything. We’re…more like friends.” I wrinkled my nose, because I sounded like an asshole. “Anyway, she’s working with things like gravitational waves, time and space, measuring the universe. Even things like time travel.” I was babbling. My father let me do it. He was probably amused. “I think her project is funded through the end of this year, but I was wondering… Well, they’re always looking for sponsors.”
“I see.”
“I could donate my own money,” I said quickly. I had plenty of it, because my father had set me up to succeed. “But I thought it might be great for Gibraltar to get involved. The science is new and interesting, and the applications are boundless.”
“We are a travel company.” My dad fell silent a moment, thinking. “We donate a lot of money to charities, but rarely scientific endeavors. With your special connection…” I could hear the smile in his voice. “This might be a good place to start. Do they accept corporate donations?”
“They accept all donations. It takes big, specialized labs to detect these waves they measure, and money to fund the research. They have some federal backing, but I just thought…”
“Of course. Always looking for worthy causes to support.” I could hear his smile broaden in the way he spoke to me. “What’s this scientist’s name?”
“Dr. Ella Novatny.” I spelled the last name, knowing he’d write it down. “And she didn’t ask me to ask you. But she’s dedicated and industrious, and it’s not easy being a woman in a male-dominated field.”
“Yes. I imagine not.”
I rubbed my forehead, wishing I could tell him the real reason I wanted to donate to Ella’s think tank. Money was power. I needed power over a certain asshole, and money was the way to go. “Well, thanks, dad,” I said. “I just want to support her. She deserves it.”
“Of course. I’m glad you asked me about this. Send me some information to share with the board, and I’ll see what we can put together for your friend and her fellow scientists.”
He saidfriendlike it was encased in air quotes, but I didn’t care. If he thought I was developing a relationship with Ella, he’d be even more likely to support her research project with lots of cash.
As I’d hoped, the sponsorship deal was extended less than a week later, a cordial offer from Gibraltar Air to donate heavily to ACE Con’s projects, including an upcoming interferometer build in upstate New York. The offer was presented to their leader, Dr. Leopold Mann, who was delighted with the influx of support.
As soon as he accepted it, I made an appointment to meet him in person as a representative of Gibraltar. It was time for a serious talk.
*
I approached Leoto introduce myself the moment he arrived at the park near the NSF Institute. He responded with an effusive greeting, taking my hand.
“You’re Devin Kincaid? I’m so grateful for Gibraltar’s generosity,” he began, but then he squinted against the afternoon sun. “Wait. I’ve met you before, haven’t I?”
“We have a mutual friend,” I said, letting go of his hand, resisting the urge to wipe mine off afterward. “Ella Novatny.”
“Ah, yes, our wonderful Ellie. What a fantastic theorist, as imaginative as they come, which is an important trait in our line of work. But you should have come to the office.” He looked around the city park where I’d asked him to meet me. “After Gibraltar’s generous pledge of support, I would have been honored to introduce you to everyone—”
“I’ve been to the office,” I said, cutting him off. “And I didn’t ask you here to talk about the ACE Consortium.”
One of his dark, overgrown brows rose. “Oh?”
