Page 11

Chapter Eleven

Sera

"NeuroDrive has moved their announcement up to this evening, giving the keynote spot to another company," Graham muses, adjusting his glasses as he studies his phone.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with…" I stop when I notice Graham narrowing his eyes at me. Most of the time, he appears to be what he is: a kind, generous older man, his grey hair combed over his bald spot, wearing stylish sweaters more often than not, even in the office.

Now, he frowns. "What would you know about their work?"

I shrug, staring down at my feet. "I actually met Luke recently."

" Luke ," he says, as if my using his first name is offensive.

"I helped with some work on an issue they were having. Well, tried to help. Is there a problem with that?"

Graham turns away, looking across the street at the Strip. He sighs. "We don't want NeuroDrive to think we'll work for free. They pay TechGuard a sizeable fee to use our AI department… With TechGuard considering removing the AI department before it thrives, we have to proceed cautiously."

"I wasn't there for TechGuard. I was there for me."

More accurately, I was there for Luke, but I don't think Graham needs to hear about our escapades. Reflecting on the short time we've known each other feels surreal. It seems like much longer.

"How did you even meet the CEO of NeuroDrive? I've never met him, and we work with them."

"He's actually the one who tried to fix the laptop," I reply.

"Oh."

"He's a good guy, Graham."

"I'm sure he is, but that doesn't mean we should work for free." He fiddles with his phone. "Eleanor is going to want a video soon." He extends his arm, putting the camera on selfie mode and starting a video. "Hey, honey, we wanted to say hello from sunny Vegas."

I wave, smiling. Even if Graham was just stern with me, I force a smile for Ellie. I still remember the first time she asked if everything was okay at home, reading my silence for what it was, then encouraged me to stay behind with her.

"Hey, Ellie," I say.

"Twenty-three years of marriage," Graham says ruefully. "And you'll still only let Sera call you 'Ellie'." He chuckles. "We love you, sweetheart, and though we're having fun, we're looking forward to seeing you."

"I can't wait," I say, waving again.

I miss her for sure, but my feelings are mixed. Going home now means leaving Luke.

"Try not to do any more work for NeuroDrive," Graham mutters after a long pause.

"I can't promise not to see Luke again, though. With all due respect, this is my personal life."

He adjusts, then readjusts his glasses. "Your… personal life. Seraphina, do I dare ask what you mean by that?"

"You probably shouldn't," I reply.

He takes a bite from his burger, putting his phone on the table and scrolling through it. He's not normally this rude, but recent stressors have affected him. My cell phone buzzes.

Luke: Did you see the announcement?

Sera: You've moved your speech. Why?

Luke: We can't fix the problem in time. It's the proper thing to do… and to be frank, the most tactically sound decision too. We wouldn't win any favors if we keep something like this a secret.

Sera: You're going to tell the truth?

Luke: Yes, Sparkplug, I'm going to go up there and tell the world a total stranger has stolen my heart.

Sera: Ha ha ha. You know what I meant.

Luke: I'm going to do the right thing. When I started this company, I promised I would never cover anything up. I wouldn't hide just because it would make my life easier. Something else happened.

Sera: What?

Luke: I had an employee once. He worked under Steve in the design department. His name was Damien, and he had problems. I'm not sure if he was bipolar or if it was another condition, but toward the end of his employment, he claimed he had come up with more ideas than he had, demanded credit, then demanded shares. He sent the other employees threats, caused arguments when others complained. In the end, we had to terminate him. NDA, severance package, the whole deal. Before he left, he promised he'd get revenge. Hell, I thought it was just his condition speaking for him. I wanted him to get help.

Sera: But?

Luke: Thirty minutes ago, I spotted him spying on a meeting between me and my team.

Sera: WHAT?

Luke: Yep. Lurking outside the room, watching us. God knows what he thinks he's doing.

Sera: Do you believe he was involved in the sabotage?

Luke: I'm not sure how he could be. He would lack access to our code.

Sera: You must be terrified. Some weird guy following you around… Now you know what I feel like.

I immediately regret my last text and send another.

Sera: Sorry. My attempt at levity to lighten your mood.

Luke: Don't apologize, Sparkplug – except to my team for making me erupt with laughter. Are you going to be at my speech?

Sera: Yes, I want to support you.

Luke: We'll be heading back tomorrow morning. So tonight, will be our last opportunity to see each other… I'm aware you don't want to do the long-distance thing, but Sera, I honestly feel I will be physically incapable of NOT texting you.

Sera: Your hands have a life of their own, do they?

Luke: You know they do.

I can't help but smile. I subsequently notice Graham staring at me, and something about his expression makes me wipe the smile away.

Luke: I'm taking you out tonight, and I don't want to hear any arguments about it. Otherwise, I'll have to move my entire operation to the East Coast.

Sera: I know you texted that as a joke, but honestly, I'd be pretty freaking happy if you did that. Let me check if I'm free this evening.

"Graham, do you need me for anything later?" I ask.

Again, he adjusts his glasses. It's always been his nervous tic. "Why?"

"I might be going on a date."

"With Luke Cross?"

"Is that a problem?"

Graham sighs. "He's much older than you, Sera. A powerful man. And a billionaire, to boot."

"I haven't heard a single viable reason why dating him would be a bad idea."

"You know we worry about you," Graham says in a tired voice. "I don't want you getting tangled up with some playboy."

"What makes you think he's a playboy? Have you heard anything, seen anything?" My tone gets a little too aggressive, but I can't help it. I don't want to think of Luke like that. He's told me he isn't a playboy, anyway.

"Nothing," Graham says. "But he's a billionaire . Men like him have more choices than the average man."

"And why would he choose me, right?"

Graham sighs. "I didn't say that. But please, be careful. Try to keep work separate from everything else. Spending time with him is one thing; giving him free labor is another."

"Okay, Graham. That's fair."

Sera: Yes, I'm free. What did you have in mind?

Luke: Do you seriously expect me to ruin the big surprise for our final night together?

Sera: Final night, woah. That has a seriously ominous ring to it.

Luke: Then let's give this long-distance thing a try.

Sera: I've seen it fail time and time again.

Luke: We're not everybody else. In fact, Sparkplug, what we have in such a short amount of time makes us pretty damn special.

I smile.

Sera: What happened to enjoying what time we have left?

Luke: If you think my phone is miraculously going to lose the ability to text you once we've gone our separate ways, you've got another thing coming. I'll look for you in the crowd during the speech.

Sera: I'll be there, sending you good vibes, not that you'll need them. You've got this.

I put my phone away, a warm feeling coursing through me... but it's bittersweet, too. He's talking a big game about making long distance work, but he's not seriously considering it. Long distance might have a chance if there's an endpoint, a destination when, finally, we'll be able to be together.

But Ellie could battle her condition for years. And if she loses her battle – which is horrible to even think about – will I be comfortable leaving Graham to deal with that alone? How many times did they say I'm like the daughter they never had?

"Are you okay, Sera? I didn't mean to be so stern before."

"I'm fine," I tell Graham. "Just wishing TechGuard was located on the West Coast, but other than that, I'm A-okay."

Graham frowns. "This might be fine for a fling, some fun at the show, but a long-term relationship, Sera? Surely it would be better to find somebody your own age?"

"No, it wouldn't," I snap. "But we'll have to agree to disagree there."

"Are you thinking of having a relationship with him, then?" Graham asks.

"You've never taken this much of an interest in my love life before."

He looks at me strangely. There's no need for me to guess why. Of course, he's never taken this much interest. Before, there was nothing to be interested in. Even if I told Luke that long distance would never work, dooming us to failure before we even try feels wrong somehow. Especially behind his back.

"I don't know," I say. "But that's my decision to make."

"I'm just looking out for you," he says. "I can't help that."

"I know," I reply in a softer voice. "I just don't like the thought of something as trivial as his age getting in the way. It's not like I'm some na?ve kid. We've got a lot in common. He's not a playboy."

"He lives on the other side of the country."

"Well, there is that."

"We value you at TechGuard. You're helping the AI department to become something special. I truly believe in the next few years, we could secure a bigger place in the company: better pay, better benefits, more recognition."

This is one of Graham's most cherished hopes. He's often talked about it. Our department is like the ignored stepchild of TechGuard, fighting for our chance in the sun, desperate for an opportunity to be noticed and respected.

"I'm not leaving," I say. "Don't worry."

"Then enjoy the time you have left."

That's what Luke said, and it stings. The clock is ticking. This fling is almost over. But do I really believe that when this is done, I'll be able to resist texting my silver-fox billionaire, the man who brought my bookish dreams to life? Do I seriously believe that?