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The silence started to grow thicker as I watched confusion slowly infiltrate everyone’s faces. I let the wheels turn in my head until…
Wait. She wanted something different. She wanted another perspective to the drone.
“The materials have been ma—”
“Perhaps I could offer a different perspective.” My heart struck out of my chest as the general raised a brow. Shit. I shouldn’t have talked. First, interrupting the CEO, now talking without permission.
I could smell my doom looming as the company members turned their attention to me. Still I continued. “From a psychology perspective, I believe the concern about manipulation goes beyond simple hacking.”
The three military men finally turned to me.
I willed my voice to maintain a steady cadence. “Soldiers operating these drones will be under immense pressure. The battlefield is a chaotic environment, filled with split-second decisions and emotional stress. I’m sure that beyond… robust security protocols… the drone’s… interface minimizes cognitive overload and doesn't inadvertently trigger anxiety or confirmation bias.”
I could now feel my heart in my throat, thumping harshly against the walls of my esophagus. My palms became sweaty and with each second that the General held my gaze, my knees threatened to give way.
She couldn’t shoot me, right?
“And who might you be?” Steely gaze narrowed on me. Shit. The nanny?
Before I could respond, she leaned against her chair. “That is a brilliant and unorthodox perspective.” Her words were curt with no emotion.
The other military men nodded. “Oftentimes, technologies like these neglect the human aspect. I’m glad that was considered during this project.”
She turned to Mr. Thorne. “This is your secretary, I presume? I want her actively involved in every step of this project and future ones.”
What?
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Thorne. My team and I will get back to you with the finalized contract. Congratulations.”
My vision was hazy from the shock as I blurrily watched the General stand. Then every other person followed. She nodded briefly at Mr. Thorne before walking out of the room.
Releasing a deep breath, I summoned the courage to look at Mr. Thorne. I shouldn’t have. He didn’t look too pleased.
Eyes narrowed on me, lips set in a thin line, and hardened jaw. He didn’t look too pleased.
“This meeting is over,” he boomed. I watched with rising fear as the members picked their stuff and hurriedly rushed out. I quickly joined them.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Much to my dismay, his voice stopped me.
Swallowing thickly, I turned slowly. “To the mansion.”
I cowered under the weight of his intense gaze. He should be happy that I helped, right?
He reached for a drawer on his side of the table. His hands came out with a remote control, which he pressed before turning.
Everywhere turned significantly darker as the blinds rolled down the windows.
Suddenly he dipped his hands in the pockets of his pants. And the air crackled with tension. “Come here.”
Forcing a lump down my throat, I obliged. There was a certain lightness in my step that I didn’t understand. I finally reached him.
His gaze locked on mine, keeping me rooted in my spot. But this time they weren’t hard. They were… indecipherable.
Silence hung thickly in the air as his eyes darted around every inch of my face.
Slowly, he leaned in a fraction of an inch. The movement was barely perceptible, yet it felt like a seismic shift.
My breath hitched and the butterflies danced more aggressively in my guts.
