Page 42 of Anti-Player

Her laughter was contagious. Especially when the sun was just cracking the blue sky, the pink hues glinting across her cheeks, making her look like a piece of finely crafted pottery.

I glance at the number above the doors counting down the floors as we descend. The shrinking number reminds me of Paige's fleeing subscribers—makes me more eager to find her. “I don't know if I can fix this,” I admit.

“Fix what? The release of your device, or things with Fawn?”

On instinct I say, “Paige. That's her real name.” The doors ding as we reach the bottom level. Before they open, I take a deep, full breath, then I let it out. “I care more about her than what strangers say about me or this company.”

“Mikel.”

I look at my father. The warmth in his blue eyes reminds me of his own dad—my grandfather. Of the reason I began to develop the Secret Reader in the first place. No one knows what drives me. Not even him. It's something I've kept hidden, not willing to share because it doesn't matter until it's complete and in his hands.

“You've always done what your heart wanted before,” my father says. “No need to stop now.”

Before I dart through the open elevator doors, I do one last thing.

I give my father a hug.

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