Page 85 of Neon Flux

“No. My AI wasn’t able to decipher it. It’s not based on any known language.”

“Well then, what’s the next move? Doesn’t seem likely it’s just gibberish with no meaning.”

She shook her head, fingers twirling a section of her long hair. “I said I couldn’t decipher it, not that it wasn’t decipherable. I knew someone at Elysium who was an expert in advanced translation and linguistics. He specialized in human-to-digital communication, was the tech lead on the latest universal translator model. If anyone in the world has built an AI that could tell us what this was, it’d be him.”

“So what are we waiting for?”

“He’s…likely not going to respond to an offer from POM.”

“What, Mr. Cunning Linguist doesn’t need money?”

Her face screwed up at my comment. “He’s the heir apparent to Yamamoto Industries. Even though he tries to distance himself, he wouldn’t work for one of his father’s direct competitors.”

“Well, that’s no issue. He won’t be working for POM—he’ll be working for you.”

“What?”

“You said you knew him at university? Are we talking in the biblical sense? Hell, we might be able to get him to do the analysis for free if you would just fuc—”

She hurled a pillow at me and hit me square in the face.

“Hiromi’s not—” She paused with an exaggerated huff. “It was never like that.”

“Oh, I get it. A crush, huh? Never went anywhere. Well, put your big girl panties on, because you’re setting up a vid with this guy. Now.”

She was blushing, and I knew I’d been right. The thought of her with a schoolgirl crush on some rich boy had my Flux pulsing in a way I didn’t entirely expect—and didn’t like. Why the fuck did I care?

She stormed off, slamming the door to a private call room.

A few moments later, she stormed back.

“He wants to meet.”

“Good. I’ll need an hour to get you ready.”

“Get me ready? What are you, my fairy godmother?”

“I thought someone in your line of work would understand the value of protection.”

“I’m not going to sleep with him.”

“Wish you would. His pay’s coming out of my bonus. Wish it was coming out of you.”

“You need to stop thinking about me coming, Cy.”

I had nothing to say to that, and she knew it. I grabbed her arm and dragged her back toward Maddox’s desk. She could have this round.

As long as she kept looking at me.

CHAPTER 30

EON

“Is this really necessary?” I asked through the secure comms Maddox had added to my Vysor.

“This is official business, doll. We need to record the conversation.”

I rolled my eyes, and Cy laughed. “Saw that.”