Page 35 of Sloth
“Tony said you would call.”
“Tony?”
“You are stuck in an elevator.”
Narrowing her eyes, she met Max’s.
“How does she know?” he whispered.
“AIMI?” she prompted.
“Tony said, and I quote, ‘Debbie Downer needs to sort her shit out before we go on this hike.’ Then he ordered me to stop the elevator until you had. Debbie Downer is you, Sloan.”
“Very funny, AIMI. What happened to Oh, Masterful One?” Sloan laughed nervously. “Joke’s over. Start the elevator.”
“To answer your first question, Tony changed your salutation. To address the latter comment: Unfortunately, this is not possible.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re not supposed to do anything unless I tell you. How did he manage to override my access?”
“It’s perhaps best I play you his response.”
Two-seconds later, and Tony’s smug voice came over the speaker.“Who’s the dumbass now, Sloanie?”he laughed.“Now, you two sort out your shit. We’re not going on this mission tomorrow until you have. I expect rainbows and unicorns the next time I see you both.”
Then AIMI disconnected.
“When the hell did he find the time to do this?” Sloan ground her teeth.
“Must have been planning it for a while.” Max folded his arms, fighting a smile. “That Tony is a sly one.”
“He’s a dead one. Tony just moved up to numero uno on my hit list.” She tapped her cell, trying to access the app which gave her access to AIMI, but it wouldn’t open. She expected this level of tech savvy from Parker, but not Tony. This was why he’d gotten one over her. She’d underestimated him.
“Well.” Max removed his jacket and lowered himself to the floor, resting an elbow on his knee. “Knowing how stubborn you are, this could take some time. May as well get comfortable.”
“No.” She paced. “There must be some way to get out of here. Surely the hotel will notice an elevator has stopped. What about the cameras?” She looked up at the ceiling and squinted, then checked the instrument panel with a groan. “No cameras! How can a luxury hotel like this have no cameras? Wait.” She stopped. “What do you mean, stubborn? I’m not stubborn.”
Max huffed. “You kidding me? Woman, you’re the most stubborn person I know, including Bailey.”
“Am not. I’m totally easy going.” She pointed at herself with two thumbs. “Sloth, remember? It’s not in me to hold a grudge.”
“So why have you been pranking me from the moment I arrived in the city?”
“Pfft. Tss.” She snorted incredulously. “I am not.”
Clearly not fooled, he arched an eyebrow. “So, the cooling in my office magically switched to heating the other day. On its own?”
She tried not to smile. “That’s the first I’m hearing of it.”
“And, then I suppose you know nothing about AIMI calling me Maxi-Pad.”
She shrugged.
“Or switched my pizza order to remove the pineapple? Oh yeah, I noticed.”
“Not me.”
“Or the fact someone was logged into my internal office CCTV the other day.”
Heat flushed up her neck as she remembered how little clothing he’d been wearing when he’d caught her. “Look, sometimes AIMI does things I can’t control.”
