by Atkins, Dawn
She nodded.
“Naomi and I have so much faith in you and your future, Genevieve.” His words thrilled her. Except he’d used “Genevieve” again. Uneasiness flicked like a snake’s tongue down her spine.
“Yours was a Threshold Quest, bringing you higher in the NiGo Family.”
She’d never heard of a Threshold Quest. She felt a little woozy and so warm.
“Now for your reward.” He smiled. “Tomorrow you begin your new duties as Dome Commander.”
Her jaw dropped. “Dome Commander? You’re kidding.”
“I never kid.” His smile went wry.
“But that’s so important. It’s a manager’s job, and—”
“And a perfect fit for one so skilled in battle as you.”
She took a deep breath. “But I can’t believe it. Are you sure?”
“You are more than equipped for the task.”
“I do have some ideas for the Dome.” She fought to gather her thoughts. Why was her mind so sluggish? It had to be her nervousness around Nigel, along with the effect of the sandalwood on her sinuses.
“Such as?”
“Like, I thought we could create multiple-player battles. They would be performances. We’d have to work out the routines during lag times and have full rehearsals on Lifer Mondays. We’d need strong fighters, of course. That means Watchers—” She stopped, feeling sheepish. “Sorry to babble.”
“Not at all. Your energy is proof you will be a stellar commander.”
“I’m so honored. I don’t know what to say except I’ll do my best.”
“You always do, Genevieve.” He patted her hand. “And further news…after your shift, a Watcher will provide you with a key card to your new Quarters. Your things are being moved to Level Eight as we speak.”
“Eight? But that’s three levels. You’re kidding! I mean, you don’t kid, but that’s huge.” Eight was the first manager level.
“You completed a Quest that challenged your faith. You’ve been tested and you won. For that you deserve great honor.” He was talking to her as though she was a child…kind of odd, but who was she to question such a great man?
“Thank you so much… I never dreamed… This is amazing…”
He looked serious now. “With honor comes duty, Genevieve. Prepare to attend the management meeting in Seattle beginning on Monday. There you’ll share your Dome plans with the Lounge managers in the western half of the country.”
“Share my plans? But that’s just six days. What will I have by then?”
“Knowing you as we do, you’ll have plenty.” He smiled. “One more item…” He spun the shiny black folder to face her, his fingers poised above it, like a spider on black glass. “This contains a prospectus and forms for contributors.”
“Contributors?” She picked up the folder.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Managers solicit investors for our Lounges and donations from the community for NiGo’s charities. Two thousand each month is the required amount.” He smiled warmly.
Her stomach turned over. “I have to get donations?”
“NiGo presents exceptional investment opportunities. Our investors feel privileged to join us.”
“I don’t know any investors.” Her upside-down stomach bottomed out.
“Many begin with family members,” he said, tilting his head.
“I’m not close with family.” For all Bingham knew, she could be dead. That was why she’d refused all but the first check he’d sent. She’d called the housekeeper to say she was safe, so caller ID must have shown the Phoenix hostel number because the check arrived two days later. Two thousand, two hundred, signed by Bingham’s lawyer, Geoffrey Harris.
She’d spent it on a car. Mass transit was for shit in Phoenix and she’d had to get to work. She’d lived in the tiny Civic until she’d earned rent, but the debt to Bingham had burned like magma inside. When the envelope had come the second month, she’d returned it unopened and had never returned to the hostel.
“There is pain in your past?” Nigel asked gently.
“I can’t ask.” She shook her head hard. “I can’t.”
“The Life often is the bridge to reconciliation.”
She’d wanted no link to Bingham, no obligation to the man who never wanted her, certainly not a penny of his guilt money. Except now… Two K would meet her monthly quota. Plus, she would be in Seattle in a few days…
Never. No way.
“I don’t see how,” she said. Not even for Nigel. Even if it meant she’d lose all she’d just been promised.
“Meditate on this, Genevieve. See what comes into your heart.”
Nigel stood, so she stood, too, feeling twisted up inside. She should be happy. She had new Quarters, new status, a new job—and a new debt she had no idea how she would pay. She swallowed, feeling light-headed and heavy with dread at the same time.
Nigel bowed. As she lowered her own head, she noticed her Girl Power brochure on the table and picked it up. “I don’t know if you’ve heard of our efforts,” she said, handing it to him.
Nigel unfolded the brochure and studied it, clearly for the first time. Rena had asked Maya to talk to him, but she obviously hadn’t.
“We very much need your support and Naomi’s,” she said, “since we require funds to train girl Lifers. Also, a word from you about boosting girl managers would mean everything to our cause.”
Lifting his eyes from the paper, Nigel put a hand on her shoulder. “This is a worthy effort that will touch Naomi deeply. She has suffered from the restrictions of race and gender in the past. And now, in your position as a new manager, you will be able to advance this mission of yours.”
“So, you agree? About the quotas? And the training and all?”
“In fact”—he pressed a finger to his lip and widened his eyes as if with a happy surprise—“you must speak of your ideas at the Seattle meeting.”
“Oh, I would love that.” Excitement replaced the floaty feeling in her head. “So we have your backing? Yours and Naomi’s?”
“You will be our vanguard, a new leader for the new NiGo.” He held out the brochure to her.
She raised her hand. “No. Please keep it for Naomi. It has our website there, too, to look over.”
He smiled, clasping the brochure between his hands in prayer. “A lovely meeting.” He bowed.
She bowed. “Thank you.” She turned to leave, her feet barely touching the floor. Her worry about the money faded. The pain of Cassie, too. At the door, the Asian woman smiled, as if she knew all the good in store. Maybe Rena had earned her place. Maybe it hadn’t been too easy or too fast. She had gained Nigel and Naomi’s support for Girl Power, hadn’t she? Everything was unfolding as it should. If the Life was right, that had to be true.
…
Body Artist was closed when Gage swung by after leaving Cassie at the shelter. He would try again tomorrow. On the way back to the Lounge, he’d stopped at a business supply store for a prop he needed for his visit to the accounting office to learn what he could about Beth’s money and Cassie’s ouster.
Deanne, the secretary Cassie had warned him about, met him at the reception desk with a flirty smile. He leaned in, smiling back. “I’m hoping to steal a minute with Mr. Thomas if he’s available.”
“And you are…?”
“Gage Stone.”
“Wait! I saw you battle in the Dome. Verry nice.” She looked him up and down, a sex point offer flashing in her eyes. “I’m Deanne.” She wore a barely there shirt and an equally revealing skirt. “Mr. Thomas rarely leaves his desk, but I’ll see if I can talk him into seeing you.” She made the interoffice call. When she hung up, she said Thomas would be out shortly.
“So, have you been a Lifer long?” he asked.
“Level Three.” She sighed. “For too long. All my friends are Fours, but I just can’t leave the catalog alone.” She put her fingers against the thick gold necklace she wore.
“That’s pretty.
You get that there?”
“I really wanted a tranquillity pendant like Naomi’s, but it was too much if I wanted these, too.” She lifted a leg to show a dangerous-looking heel.
“Very nice.”
“Worth thirty K, right?” She preened, holding out both legs for him to admire her shoes. And her legs, no doubt.
“Out of curiosity, while we wait, could you check to see if a payment from a friend has come through yet?”
“You’d have to ask Mr. Thomas.”
“You could save me some time…”
“Not with that. I don’t have access.” She scrunched up her nose, cute as a button. “Anything else though? I’d love to help you.”
“Actually, yeah. Some players complained they’d been overcharged for their EverLife subscriptions. Something about still paying after they’d quit?”
She tilted her head, puzzled. “Any concerns about subscriptions must be submitted in writing to Mr. Rockingham’s secretary.” She rolled her eyes at that.
“And you don’t think much of her,” he guessed.
“No one does. She sex-pointed her way into that job. Now she gets all Ice Queen with the rest of us. And I promise you, if a guy’s not Level Ten, she won’t give him the time of day. That is so not the Family way. We share and care.”
“Success spoils some people.”
“Whatever. Forget her. My friends are going up to a Level Five guy’s place tonight to play with his Wii.” She giggled. “That sounds sooo bad. Want to come with?”
“I’m booked tonight, but thanks.”
“I bet you’ve got a good stroke. In Wii golf, I mean.” She winked.
“May I help you?”
Gage turned to the voice, grateful to escape Wii jokes and sex-point talk.
“Leland Thomas.” The man was all business, dressed in a white oxford shirt and crisply creased khakis. Early thirties.
“Gage Stone. I appreciate your seeing me.” They shook hands and Gage stepped forward as if to move to Thomas’s office. Thomas hesitated, then gave in, leading Gage to a large room with several cubicles marked off by dividers.
Gage took a chair in front of Thomas’s desk, which held no pictures or personal items. Folders rested in a stand-up rack and there was a yellow pad and mechanical pencil by the phone. Squared off and neat as a pin. A guy this anal was unlikely to spill company secrets to a stranger.
“So, this is Accounting?” Gage pretended to look around the room, playing the eager, curious fool. “Where all the money goes, huh?”
Thomas kept his gaze steady. “You had a question?”
He needed to soften the man a little. “Cassie told me that you would help me. She said you’re a decent guy.”
Thomas visibly stiffened. “Cassie?”
“I met her yesterday. She works for you, right?”
“Not any longer, no.” He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
“What happened?”
“Hell if I know,” he muttered. He shot Gage a glance, guilty that he’d revealed his feelings about Cassie’s ouster. “She said I was decent?” That seemed to please him. “She did good work here. She’ll be missed.”
“I bet.”
Thomas frowned, then forced it away. “So, how can I help you?”
“I’m a new Lifer and I want to sell my land. So, I got this agreement…” He took from his inside jacket pocket the multipart sales form he’d bought and laid it in front of Thomas. He’d mocked up a lowball offer on his land. “Do you think I should accept this?”
Thomas eyed the document. “Did they meet your price?”
“I didn’t really have a price. I barely put up a sign, but I know I have to cash out before I get Quarters, so…what do you think?”
“Without knowing the value of your property, I can’t say.” He looked at Gage as if he wondered about his IQ.
“It’s four acres with utilities on a dirt road. I’ve got an Airstream on it right now. Should I hold out for more?”
“You need to talk to a real estate agent, Mr. Stone. Get some comparable sales data.” He turned the document back toward Gage, trying to wrap this up.
“Maybe you could look online at the area and tell me what you think.” He wanted to get beside the guy to see his screen before asking his real questions.
“I’m not qualified to—”
“I need help. I don’t want to miss a day in Quarters.”
“All right,” Thomas said wearily. “Let’s take a quick look.” He clicked his mouse and Gage moved to crouch beside the man, who’d opened Zillow and was typing in the property address. Gage already knew what he’d find.
Thomas clicked the values on nearby properties. “The offer you got looks low. You should get an agent or at least an appraisal.”
“I hate to wait. I want to contribute as soon as I can. Should I get the check made out to NiGo?” He sounded like an imbecile, but he had to prey on the guy’s kindness.
“Have the buyer pay you, deposit the payment in your account, then you write us the check. The donations must come from you.”
“Where will my money go? Can I see what you use it for?”
“Contributions go into several funds. It’s complicated.” He reached for a stack of paper bound by a thick clip and waved it at Gage. “This is the report I generate monthly to account for our spending.”
“Wow. A friend of mine gave a lot of money when she came into the Life. She goes by L.E. Not sure of her last name. It was like thirty grand. Do you remember?”
“I don’t accept every check, Gage.”
“But isn’t that a lot of cash for a new Lifer?”
“I suppose so, yes.” His eyebrows dipped. He was beginning to be suspicious.
“See, that’s what I thought. So I made a bet with her that it was total BS. If you’d check for me I could call her bluff and earn some cash.”
The guy studied Gage, irritated, but stuck, it seemed. He sighed. “Her name is Ellie, you say?”
“L.E., I think—initials, but it could be Ellie. You could check for both.”
Thomas clicked past a few screens, then typed L.E., scanning the results. “Looks like she was telling you the truth. L.E. Pearl gave us thirty thousand dollars almost a year ago.”
“Bummer. I lost the bet.” At least he was on Beth’s trail and now he had her last name. Pearl. Her middle name. He tried to memorize the form on the screen to analyze the details later. “It says pending in the next column. What does that mean?”
“Most likely she’s promised another deposit.”
“Does it say where she is? What Lounge?”
Thomas didn’t answer right away. He closed the file and turned to Gage. He spoke slowly. “I’m getting the feeling there’s a problem here…”
He had to give the guy a viable explanation. “The truth is that half of that money was mine. We did some work together before she got into the Life, but she ended up with the check. I figure that if I got credit for half, I’d get Quarters sooner.”
Thomas considered his words before giving a quick smile. “You’ve misunderstood our system. You earn your residency through work points, not by paying for it.”
“Oh. Right.”
“So get the comps, set a good price and Quarters will be here when you’ve earned them.”
“Thanks for your help,” Gage said, standing, holding out a hand.
Thomas stood and shook it.
“Did she screw up?” Gage asked abruptly, wanting to catch Thomas off guard. “Cassie.”
Thomas looked wary.
“I don’t want to make the mistake she made,” he said, trying to look earnest.
“Follow the guidelines and you’ll be fine. That’s how it’s supposed to work, anyway.” His tone told Gage that Cassie’s dismissal bothered Thomas. No way had the man turned Cassie in.
Gage knew a lot more than that. NiGo had Beth’s 30K and was drooling over her inheritance like jackals with a fresh carcass. His pulse kicked. He had to mo
ve fast. He had just six days until her birthday. Surely, he had a couple days’ leeway before she dropped the wad into NiGo’s coffers.
Now to figure out which Lounge she’d gone to. His PI could use “L.E. Pearl” on reference checks, but he might get stonewalled. If Gage could get at a manager’s computer, he could search a Lounge-wide directory and know instantly. The only computer he could get to was Rena’s and she was several levels down from management. Now what?
…
At five, Rena took out the key card a Watcher had given her, ready to head up to her new Quarters. She’d had trouble concentrating in the beta lab, preoccupied with her new job. Until the e-mail about her assignment went out, she couldn’t talk about it with anyone and it was killing her.
She paused at the elevator door, looking up at the indicator lights overhead. She was heading way up in the Life. She was a manager. What had Nigel called her? A vanguard. In EverLife, vanguards broke new Quests, earned big prizes. So amazing. The thrill of all that had happened made her dizzy, as if she’d just staggered off a Tilt-A-Whirl in some carnival, stuffed to the gills with cotton candy.
She wished she had someone to share this with. Cassie. Cassie would have whooped and bumped chests and danced on the sofa with her. Cassie would have made it real. But Cassie was lost…
Maya would see her soon and if Cassie would accept her help… Everything in Rena prayed that Cassie would be saved. She pushed away that worry. She would trust Maya and Nigel to know best.
For now Rena had new digs to explore.
Why so soon? Why so easy? Something deep within her wasn’t sure she’d earned this. It was her old distrust souring her mind. Gage’s suspicious questions called her back to her scared and bitter Dead World self.
Another reason she wanted him gone.
“Rena?”
She turned. Speak of the devil. Gage was loping her way. But this was his day off. “Why are you here? You’re not on shift.”
“I wanted to help out. You heading upstairs? Want company?”
Not you. But she did need to talk to him about his attitude. Now was as good a time as any. “Why not?” She pushed the up button.