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Gabrielle gave her a wry smile. “I didn’t think you could. I know you had strong feelings for the man, but you need to figure out where you stand and then make your own statement.”
If Jayna were being honest with herself, she still had strong feelings for Sid. And after seeing the security video, she couldn’t really blame him for questioning her relationship with Kalani.
A notification popped up in the corner of the display wall. “This is probably the most relevant commentary stream. Watch it and then call me back.”
Gabrielle disconnected the call, and Jayna hesitated before pulling up the stream.
To her surprise, the video featured Reggie and Coralie, a pair of virtual commentators Jayna had seen before. It shocked her that there was enough interest in their relationship to dedicate so many AI cycles.
The video started with highlights from the Jubilee Service Say where she and Sid had pulled the chariot with Andrea and her wheelchair. As she watched, she could see the things about Sid that had captured her attention that day: his energy as he sang, his tender, caring interactions with the children, the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t watching.
And those abs…
The people watching and commenting in the Myst saw all these things as well, and the virtual commentators debated the genuineness of the emotion on display.
But Jayna knew, at least for herself, the emotion had been very, very real.
Then Reggie and Coralie discussed their relationship—and breakup—in surprising detail.
Coralie took Sid’s perspective, explaining why the breakup had all been Jayna’s fault. Reggie, on the other hand, seemed to be taking Jayna’s side. As was typical with AI generated content, the longer Jayna watched, the more in-depth the analysis became.
The on-screen commentators focused on the ugly discussion between Jayna and Sid at the Jubilee Ball and analyzed their accusations. Reggie latched onto Jayna’s claim that Sid was a creepy stalker. He talked about the tracker in the gemphone and how he’d followed her on the security cameras.
Coralie responded that these were all normal and natural reactions. “The gemphone came with a tracker built in. Obviously, something so valuable and easily lost should be traceable. And, based on the video evidence, he clearly had every right to be suspicious.”
Jayna scoffed. Why would Sid have any right to be suspicious?
But then Coralie highlighted the parallels between Jayna and Crystal. “Look, they were both employees of companies purchased by Hayes Corp, and they both cheated on him.”
Jayna yelled at the image of Coralie. “I did not cheat on Sid!”
Yet as Coralie replayed the footage of Kalani comforting her, she had to admit that, out of context, the scene appeared rather damning.
Jayna felt sick.
Frustrated, she rewound the stream to the coverage of the Service Day. But the joy she’d felt during the event was gone. That was when she knew her connection to Obsidian had been something special, and now that connection was lost.
Jayna swiped at a tear as it ran down her cheek. She wished she could go back and do the gala all over again. If she had just talked with Sid first, they could have cleared up this whole thing. She had been upset and probably would have accused him in the same way. But he was a patient, understanding person. He would have talked her down. They would have worked it out.
She had made a terrible mistake.
With the clarity of hindsight, she called Gabrielle. “I’m ready to make my statement. Will you help me?”
Chapter 40
The light tropical fragrance Jayna had worn lingered in her room, and all the clothes Emmaline had bought for her were in the closet. Sid touched the silky dark-blue floral print dress she had worn to the beach party and remembered how it had felt under his hands as they’d kissed and held each other close.
Jayna’s accusations didn’t seem so outlandish now that he could see how Emmaline had maneuvered them both.
There was a light knock at the door, and Emmaline stepped into the room with a folded newspaper in her hand. At the sight of his former assistant, Sid tried to conjure up the indignation he’d felt that morning.
But despite the mess she had made, he couldn’t seem to stay angry with her.
He would never have met Jayna if not for Emmaline. But while he didn’t agree with the way she had gone about it, and everything had fallen apart spectacularly, he was finally ready to accept that—maybe—she had been right to try.
“Why did you do it, Em?” he asked.
“Excuse me?” Emmaline said.
