Page 6 of Last Resort

Roane looked at him. “Seriously? When you said you wanted to borrow her, I thought your project was behind.”

“It was. I have been using her for budgeting and forecasting.”

Roane leaned in and pinched his ear. Tyr winced. “Ow! Knock it off.”

Hybera giggled, and her mommy took her.

“Do you know how much begging I had to do to get her to come to Sityr? How long have you had her on your team?”

He mumbled, “Four months?”

“Oh, my god. You are lucky she’s stayed this long. She gets bored very easily. When she gets back from the show, I am taking her back. I am just praying that you haven’t blown it already. She refuses credit, but I can show you a half dozen games she has worked on. They are all in the top twenty replayable games year after year. For the last six years.”

It struck Tyr how monumentally frustrated Poppy had been. “I think I am going to be sick.”

“Good. Serves you right. This lady is getting some mushed vegetables tonight. Papa Tyr is going to have to figure out how to grovel enough to keep an excellent coder with the company when he’s been treating her like a secretary.” She crooned it to the baby and walked out of the room.

* * * *

He’s an idiot and anomega, so most folks forgive his lack of interest in the people he works with.Roane sent the text. Poppy smiled at her phone.

Yeah, I figured that out. Well, I am finishing my laundry, packing, and getting a few hours of sleep. I have this feeling that tomorrow is not going to go well.

Are you ready to spend a week with a bunch of alphas?

According to the organizers, it is two weeks.

Shit. You are going to want to stay out there. I am never going to get you back.

I am sure that I can use the internet out there if I want to. We were making such progress, and then I got pulled away.

I am sorry. I thought he had actually talked to you and offered you a team position, not an admin slot.

Well, no time for sorrys. I have to get my skivvies taken care of and then pack them and get to the airport at five in the morning.

The others are going at nine.

I have checked my email six times. It says five, so at five, I am on the plane. Now, I have to get going. Wish me luck.

Good luck, Poppy.

Poppy sighed and set the phone down, watching her clothing march around the room and fold itself before putting it away. She got her bag out and measured out twice what she needed before and still only had one carry-on bag and her laptop in the other.

Her phone was set, her computer had an alarm, and she had an analog alarm waiting. She didn’t get up early, especially if she only had four hours of sleep. If she could sleep on a plane, it would have been easier, but she hadn’t been blessed with that gene.

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