Page 77 of The Dis-Graced
“Um…sure.”
“If I were you, I would not trust Stephanie.”
“Why-why would you say that? I mean, she got me a job.”
“I would be wary of the job as it entails reporting in a way that would make you untouchable to other networks.”
“I’m already untouchable.”
“Also, based on her word choices, tone, and the items you discuss, there is evidence of deception.”
Deception?
I retrace the conversations I’ve had with Stephanie, trying to detect a hint that something was off. I don’t really think Stephanie would do anything to hurt me. After all, she did just land me a job, and even though it will turn other networks off to me, it’s still a job. He probably doesn’t understand her outlandish personality.
“I can understand why you would think that, but Stephanie wasn’t being deceptive. She’s actually my one remaining friend. She decided to stick with me when everyone else left, including my…”
Try as I might, I can’t say his name. I loved him once. I still do. I don’t even know what I’d say if I was in the same room with him again. Part of me thinks I’d apologize and beg for forgiveness, wanting to believe he had no part in my shaming. Another part knows I’ve been betrayed.
“I’m done. It was nice knowing you, ALAN. I wish you well. I hope Drake gives you access to virtual reality so you can fuck Rachel Green. I’m out.”
“Fare thee well, Grace Anders.”
Chapter 24
Drake
I’m fairly confident that the last twenty-four hours is shaping up to be the worst in my entire life. I was up all night after an epic argument with Grace. One I had no hope of winning because she was so hurt and completely justified for feeling that way. Then I had to deal with being bamboozled into a meeting with my ‘arch nemesis,’ the smug Gabriel Icor. Then, I find out my most prized and coveted tech has made it onto the black market. As if that wasn’t enough, I had a family meeting where I pushed an agenda that could very well end in disaster.
Of all of it, the fallout with Grace hurts the most.
I had tried to tell myself that what I was doing was right. I never lied to her. I merely let her go on believing a falsehood that violated her privacy. I told myself it was for the purpose of testing ALAN, and that was the truth. I absolutely in no way wanted to violate Grace. Well, maybe I did in a sexual way, but she wanted that too. Unfortunately, I violated her in a way that was unacceptable, and now, I’m paying the price.
It’s insane that I’m so messed up over this, when she may have had a hand in getting ALAN onto the black market, but it just doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe it.
I still can’t get her face out of my mind, how sad she looked when she found out I was taking her off the project. I assured her it wasn’t anything to do with her skills or the fact that I didn’t want to be associated with her. I practically begged her to go out to dinner with me, but she was aghast.
Focus. That’s in the past. Move forward.
I replay the morning in my mind, hoping to make better sense of it. The last thing I wanted to do was meet with Zevran Heartshire after a sleepless night, even worse than that, having to see Gabriel. As much as I can’t stand the guy, I believe that he’s telling the truth. If dirty tech makes it to the market, it’s not just bad for me, it’s bad for the tech industry in general. I can see why he’d want to help me.
I step into my apartment, and I can sense Grace’s departure. I know it sounds crazy, but even though she wasn’t waiting for me every time I came home, just knowing she was there had this unexplainable effect on me. It’s like she completed some part of me I didn’t know wasn’t whole.
Focus!
Try as I might, I can’t stop thinking about her, and her big brown eyes, her beautiful smile.
I push her from my mind focusing on the situation at hand. There are only two people other than myself that have full access to ALAN: Elliot and Luke. After analyzing the situation from every angle, it became glaringly obvious who had committed the theft and is selling me out.
My best friend, my chosen brother: Luke.
It makes perfect sense. He urged me to be cautious, probably because he knew once information was released, it would be harder to sell on the black market. He brought his over-the-top-sexy sister to come work with me, putting her right under my nose. Then, he convinced me to take ALAN out of the lab, testing him in a different setting and allowing his sister access. Distracting me just enough so I wasn’t paying attention. And I fell for it, all of it. Fuck, I was about ready to give Grace the proverbial ‘keys to the castle’, that’s now strongly I felt for her so strongly.
And now I feel like a fool. I still can’t get the image of her out of my head. It haunts me. I really thought we had something.
I’m furious at Luke. I treated him like a brother, doing everything I could to help him get to a position I thought he deserved in life, but I can’t be mad at Grace. Not after she was left with the aftermath of her brother being my best friend while she worked her ass off to stabilize her life. I just can’t be mad at her for being bitter and jealous. I was an asshole.
“ALAN,” I shout.
