Page 18 of How to Steal a Galaxy

We have vastly different interpretations offunny.

“The telephone?” I ask. “For your communications office?”

“Oh, that’s good,” Fetor says, nodding appreciatively. “I was thinking of the desks, but the phone...yeah ....” He probably thought it’d be funny to put a mission control center in his house or something, which isn’t funny at all. I, on the other hand, am actually quite hilarious, and I can see the moment he connects the facts and decides my idea was his all along.

“Exactly.” He wags a finger at me. “You get it. The comm office should totally have this.”

“Problem,” I point out. “It’s not in the auction.”

Fetor shrugs. That’s not a problem to him.

“Hello, Mr. Fetor,” Rian says, announcing himself as he steps into the room. I guess he didn’t think he’d hear anything important. That’s what he gets for not paying better attention. If he’d waited just a little longer . . .

Fetor doesn’t look surprised to see him. But his eyes do widen when I stride over and slip my arm through Rian’s, pulling him close.

“You know each other?” Fetor asks.

“Not really,” Rian says at the same time I say, “Absolutely.”

Fetor’s eyes switch to me, a wry look at my conflicting answer. I cup my mouth in a faux stage whisper and say, “Rian’smine.” My fingers tighten in Rian’s elbow.

“I don’t get a say in that?” Rian asks.

“Nope.” I don’t let him go as I lead him farther into the room. “Fetor here is going to buy this historical exhibit to use in his communications office,” I tell him.

Fetor beams like this is something to be proud of, as if his communication network was worthy of stealing—I meanbuying—a display out of a museum.

I fuckinghatehim. I know I said it before, but it bears repeating. He’s such a sham. Fetor himself didnothingto develop the tech needed to make portal comms work, just like he did nothing with his prior businesses. He just swooped in and bought the company after the tech was already in prototypes. Being the money behind a project is nowhere near the same as being the brains. Anyone can have money. Especially people like Fetor, who was born into it.

I mentally shake myself.

Can’t get distracted now.

I turn to Rian, a much more appealing face to look at. I smile sweetly, full of innocence. “Was it Fetor’s communication office that developed the new nanobots for Sol-Earth?”

The color drains from Rian’s face.

Fetor, meanwhile, barks in delight. “Oh, you told her about that? Well, keep it secret for another hour or so, sweetheart.” Bastard’s already forgotten my name. “The official announcement is tonight, right, Rian?”

“Tonight,” Rian chokes out. “And right now, you’re supposed to go down now for a last tech check, Mr. Fetor.”

That’s what Phoebe was coming up to remind him about. That’s what’s behind the black curtain in the grand corridor—a hover stage and probably a pretty elaborate light show to go with it. That Fetor’s style. And while cams aren’t allowed in the charity gala, the closing remarks are recorded live and fed through all the tabbies.

“This is Strom Fetor,” I tell Rian, waving my hand in the man’s direction. “He invented most of the tech being used tonight. I don’t think he needs a rehearsal.”

I’m an amazing liar. Rian glares at me, but Fetor chuckles smugly. “We’ll be fine. I’ve already gone over the specs. Well, my people have. Lighten up, White. It’ll go off without a hitch!”

“Yeah, White, lighten up,” I say, smiling at him. Rian looks like he would very much like to murder me, which makes my grin even bigger. “What a grand finale this is going to be.”

That was a guess, but neither of the men object, so I figure I’m right. Fetor’s speech is the conclusion of the gala. And during that speech, he’s going to announce a plan to “save” Earth with the climate cleaners.

His announcement is at the end of the night so as not to reduce any bids at the charity auction. Get everyone to donate for Earth’s conservation before showcasing a possible solution that’s already in the works.

Clever. I bet it was Rian’s idea.

“Hey, did you see the protestors I hired?” Fetor continues, oblivious. “I tipped off some of the tab reporters to cover it in advance. Should make a nice, contrasting point to the story, no?”

Rian drags his eyes from me to Fetor. “You should have cleared that with security.”

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