Page 120

Nardi scoffs and stomps out of the room.
I listen to Renland’s concerns and field a few more questions from other team members. However, I’m far more impatient during this round of discussions and I keep checking my watch.
“Josiah,” I call when the crowd thins out a bit, “do you know where the computer lab is?”
His eyes brighten. “I saw it coming in.”
“Tell Asad to give you an unmanned station. You can play around on one of our experimental mainframes.”
“Sweet.” He darts off.
I figure that’ll keep him occupied for a minute.
Dr. Ko approaches me next. “Mr. Cullen, this was very enjoyable, but then that comes as no surprise. A programmer of your caliber would only surround himself with other brilliant minds.”
“We’re all working towards one goal at the end of the day.”
“Very true.” Dr. Ko checks his watch. “Are we still on for that tour of Adam Harrison’s engineering studio?”
I hesitate. Dr. Ko won’t be in town for long and I want to maximize the time he has to work on the PLP, but if I leave for a tour now, Nardi will be waiting for too long.
“Sara will drive you to your hotel first. Adam Harrison and his wife, Nova, are hosting an invention competition, but they promised to meet us tomorrow.”
“Great.” Dr. Ko nods. “I look forward to it.”
“Sara,” I mumble, jerking my chin in Dr. Ko’s direction.
My assistant smiles brightly. “Dr. Ko, I really enjoyed your presentation.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“Cullen asked me to prepare a tour of the city for you. Take a look at the itinerary and let me know if it suits your tastes…”
Sara and Dr. Ko head toward the exit while I stride in the opposite direction to my office.
Half of me doesn’t expect Nardi to be there and my chest caves in relief when I see her standing with her back to the door.
Without a word, I let down the blinds and shut the door for privacy. The lock clicks in the silence.
She points at the entrance. “What do you plan on doing to me in here that requires a locked door?”
I back away from her. “Don’t tempt me, Nardi. I’m barely restraining myself as is.”
“Restraining yourself?” She counts off on dark fingers. “Sending over your housekeeper, picking up my brother from school, oh, and canceling my gig with Sunny Hastings, which one of these was you restraining yourself?”
“Which one are you punishing me for?”
“Punishing you? Cananyone‘punish’ you, Cullen? Because it seems to me like you just do whatever you want and hide behind your money and your narcissism.”
“Narcissism?”
“The ‘oh I’m dying and time moves differently for me’ crap is just your way of hiding your sick, twisted desire for control. Well, I’m not your plaything. You don’t get to manipulate my world because you have too much power over your own.”
I prowl toward her. “If I’d asked for permission, youneverwould have let yourself rest. Picking up Josiah, sending Ashley, talking to Darrel Hastings, if you call that manipulation and control? Fine. You’d push yourself past your limits out of sheer stubbornness and I won’t let you do that.”
Her fingers reach up to massage her temple. She closes her beautiful eyes as if the sight of me worsens her headache. “You… you overbearing, presumptuousblowfish!”
“Blowfish?”