Hard Wired Trilogy by DeAnna Pearce (smart books to read .TXT) 📕

She leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath. “I’ll take all I can get. I thought about starting with Tessa.”

He looked around him and scooted to the edge of his seat, closing the distance between them. “We can go for a walk on the beach if you want, or maybe we could meet for a late-night bite to eat in my rooms?” His words were formal, his gaze intent as if trying to say more than he could.

“I want to talk to her directly.” She kept her voice soft but strong.

“Let’s plan on tonight then. 11:30 in my rooms. I can get a guest pass for personal reasons.”

“Of course.” Ari didn’t care what the company thought of why they were meeting.

He checked the HUB on his wrist. “I better get back to work.”

“One more thing. Where is your room?”

He pointed behind her to a huge information screen. “That will give you directions to the campus. Please don’t get into too much trouble before I see you next time. You don’t want Niomi calling Security on you.”

“I don’t think she wants that either,” Ari mumbled under her breath.

As Vinh took off, Ari realized she had quite a bit of time until 11:30 and had no desire to head back to the lonely rooms she was assigned to. She tried to reason why Niomi tried to keep her from the other employees on the island. Niomi said it was because if the others found out what Ari really was then she’d be in danger. But if they trusted Ari to go inside VLEX and lie all day, couldn’t she be trusted to do it here?

She ordered a large ice coffee and was determined to stay awake and avoid Niomi. Grabbing her drink to go, she headed over to the information desk to find where not only Vinh’s room was, but also Reed’s workplace and sleeping quarters. He had a break in thirty minutes, and she wanted to surprise him.

Meandering through the rest of the community center, she got to check out the variety of restaurants and recreational sites, including some intense VR gaming. She saw the ranking on a huge scoreboard along with a couple guys betting on the outcomes. After the chaos got to her, she stepped outside and took the path to the apartments on the inner island.

An afternoon shower rolled in and starting raining down, so she hurried inside. She realized how she must look, like a wet dog in oversized clothes, and a shirt she worried may be from an Asian death cult. Searching the room, she continued down the hallway, and Reed’s office door stood out down the hall with glass lining either side. She glimpsed the rows of desks and little boxes geared up to be offices.

An attractive young woman stood outside the door. Her strawberry-blonde hair was pulled into a high bun, and her face accented with bright makeup. Ari stayed back, a bit self-conscious of her own appearance.

People began filing out the door, speaking to each other. Reed emerged after a handful or so people. Once the pretty girl spotted him, she headed over to give him a hug. He stepped back after the hug but continued talking to her. He didn’t even notice Ari and continued their conversation to the woman as they walked down the hall.

“I loved the color in that one though.” The woman briefly touched her shoulder.

Ari smothered any jealously remembering just how Vinh and her must have looked in the community center. Looks can be deceiving. Instead she stepped out into the center of the hall.

Reed glanced up and stopped, surprise freezing him in place. “Ari? What are you doing here?”

She shrugged, not wanting to go into it with the woman nearby.

He hurried towards Ari. “Where’s your suit? What happened?” He wrapped her into a tight hug, and Ari could breathe for the first time in hours despite his grip.

“I’ll tell you later.” She whispered in his ear.

When they separated, the pretty woman watched them, waiting for something.

“Oh, Kimmy, this is my girlfriend, Ari. Ari, this is Kimmy. She’s my adviser in my art internship.”

A brief look of confusion crossed Kimmy’s face before, her bright pink lips curled up in a fabricated smile. “Here I thought you were making your girlfriend up.”

“Nope. Here I am in the flesh.” Ari offered a hand.

They quickly shook hands. Kimmy’s long nails were each painted with a united scene. Ari might have found them fascinating if those same claws weren’t just touching her boyfriend. Okay, maybe she couldn’t bury all her jealousy.

After a moment of awkward silence, both girls looked to Reed.

“Kimmy, can we meet later to talk about my project?” He motioned to Ari.

“Yes, of course. We’ll talk later tonight.” She walked past Reed, that same plastic smile glued to her face.

“Let’s go outside,” Ari suggested.

“Okay. I have ten minutes or so.” He led her to a nearby door, which opened for them. They headed towards a bench with a large umbrella to block out the slow drizzle of rain. He kept her hand and sat down next to her. There were only a couple of people across the courtyard.

“Where did your suit go to?

“These are from a teenager with angst issues, Vinh.”

“What?” His brows lowered in confusion.

“Sorry, I better start at the beginning.” She told the story, and her fury and frustration built.

“Do you think it’s safe?” he asked about Vinh helping her. “I could go with you?”

“That would look odd, since our cover is a romantic guest in his room that late.”

“Romantic? Should I be worried?”

“No. I’m not his type. He’s told me more than once.” She leaned a head on his shoulder, his strong frame comforting. “I’m more worried about what Marco is up to. My mom has to be okay.”

“Marco knows how to land on his feet. I’m sure they’re alright.” He traced little circles on the back of her hand. “Maybe you should just wait for Niomi.