She has to be fucking kidding. That’s what this is?
“Baltic Sea wire cutting, attacks on electrical substations, an EMP attack?—”
“That EMP attack cost me forty next-gen satellites and upwards of a billion dollars in classified government contracts. It’s the kind of loss that makes the Pentagon nervous.” My jaw clenches.
“Covered by insurance.”
Unfuckingbelievable.“Insurance doesn’t cover the strategic implications of losing military-grade orbital infrastructure.”
She turns the computer around. On the screen, I read through an exchange between CS and SF.
“Caroline Scott? Using your maiden name at work?”
She hasn’t legally changed her last name from Moore. If she’d done so, I would’ve been notified.
“Are you innocent?”
Way to bypass the question,Scott. “Of attacking the world?” I scrub my hands through my hair, aiming to corral my thoughts.
She believes this bullshit. And if she can believe this, she doesn’t know me. Definitely doesn’t love me. This weekend hasn’t been about us working things out or even closing things out. It’s been a ploy.
I push up from the table. I can’t sit there.
The screen on the mobile lights up. I don’t give a shit who’s contacting me, but I’m on autopilot and head to the counter.
ALERT: Explosion at Orange County Utility Leads to Extended Blackout
I flash the phone screen to Caroline. “Do you think I did this, too?”
I can’t deal with this. I need space.
“Where are you going?”
I don’t bother answering.
With one loud slam of the door, I’m out, charging away.
I’m halfway to the winding path when it occurs to me she can take an Uber into Denver.
Let her.
Leaves crunch beneath the thin layer of snow, and a biting cold slices through to my skin.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
I spin around, returning home.
Within seconds, I fling the door open right as my phone lights up.
Geoffrey Cromwell
Your father wants me to inquire if you made the requested changes to your portfolio.
Isn’t Dad drugged?
The drugs probably made him just lucid enough to fall into his worry track on whether I’m taking his investment advice.Fuck me.
Through the open doorway, I shout, “I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere.” Leaving will probably piss her off, but she’s got to understand. “I need to calm down, but I will return.”