Page 26 of Beautiful Liar

Just before we reach the front door of the apartment, I remember my backpack.

“I need to get my stuff from the camera room.”

She nods and returns to the large, empty living room. Having been here twice, I know where the interview room is without direction. I enter, grab my bag from the floor and straighten. The camera has a red light on, as if it’s still active.

I hesitate, then walk closer.

I’m not sure what compels me, but something inside wants to hear that voice one more time. I bend forward, stare into the lens. I open my mouth but can’t think of any words to say that won’t make me feel like a complete idiot talking into a camera.

After a minute, I straighten. But I still can’t leave the room.

“Lucky.”

I jump out of my skin at the voice I’ve been recalling in my head. “You’re still there?”

He doesn’t respond. Irritation and embarrassment duel inside me. Of course he’s there. When my fingers protest in pain, I look down and realize I have a death grip on my brand new phone.

I wave it at the camera. “Thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome.”

I should leave. My business here is done for now. Time to return to my hellhole.

“Did you want me, Lucky?” he asks, that robotic voice weirdly spellbinding.

I wrack my brain, dig out what I wanted to say to him before.

“Yes, I’ve thought about it…a name for you.”

“Yes?”

How could a mechanical voice be so smooth, so sexy?

“Q. I’d like to call you Q.”

He doesn’t answer immediately. I begin to feel like an ass.

“Q. Are you sure?”

I shrug. “Not really, but it’s the only one I can think of that’s not pretentious or absurd. If you’re not okay with it—”

I may be imagining it, but I hear faint amusement in his voice as he replies, “Say it again.”

Yes, definitely ass territory. A knot of embarrassment forms in my throat. “Q.”

“Thank you, Lucky. Q works very well for me. Bravo.”

Bravo?I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I can’t ignore the tiny pulse of something heady that moves inside me. “Okay.”

“Goodbye, Lucky.”

The finality of it is a command I heed. The light on the camera blinks off.

I leave.

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