Page 71 of Starrily

“By all means, then, go on your trip,” Everett said. “If you think it’ll help.”

Simon narrowed his eyes. “And you’ll take care of the company?”

“As I always have.”

But he’d do it his way. And the first things to go would be the grants for various science projects Simon had suggested, including Callie’s. If Everett thought Simon was far enough gone, he might even try to do it while he was still alive.

You’re not dying. Not yet. Stop thinking like you already have one foot in the grave.

The safest thing to do would be to fire Everett and employ someone else whose views aligned more closely with Simon’s. But he couldn’t afford that, not now. Everett knew the ins and outs of Aries Tech, and Simon didn’t have time to create more problems by having to find another CFO who could step in with the same level of efficiency.

He had to let this one go. For now.

“Good.” He pasted on a fake smile. “I’ll rest easy on my trip, knowing you have my back.”

Everett smiled back. “Absolutely.”

Stalemate. Something for future Simon to figure out. Who knew—maybe Callie’s family could give him an extra boost when fixing him. Make him a better businessman. Or one to begin with.

He walked to the door. “I’ll see you in two weeks. Take care.”

Everett tilted his head in goodbye.

“Oh, and,” Simon added and popped his head back into the office. “Don’t you dare pull any funding while there’s still an atom of me existing in this world.”

***

“You have my notes.” Callie wrestled the cat carrier through the entrance door to her apartment building.

“Yes, yes, I’ve got everything.” Ava followed her. “You’ll be gone for two weeks, not two years.”

“Remember to water—”

“The potted plants, once on Sunday, and then on Thursday.”

“And collect—”

“The mail every few days. Callie.” Ava grabbed her by the shoulders. “Everything will be fine here.”

Callie didn’t doubt that. She was trying to redirect her anxiety into something more solvable; otherwise, she’d keep thinking about how, in a few days, she’d have to face her family again. And how doing that might be the only way to save Simon.

Ava kneeled next to the carrier. “And goodbye to you, too, beastie.”

Theia hissed and moved further into the carrier.

“Yup,” Ava said to herself and rose. “You sure you want to take her with you?”

“What other option do I have? To leave her with you?”

“Only if you want one of us dead by the end.”

“She’ll be fine,” Callie said. “She never minded the carrier. It makes her feel safe, like a little hiding hole.”

“Your cat is weird.”

Any further discussions of Callie’s taste in pets were cut off by a red Cabriolet swerving into the street and stopping in front of the apartment building. Simon shut off the car, jumped over the closed front door with ease, and leaned on it.

“Ladies,” he said, taking off his sunglasses.