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“That’s terrifying to some folks, Therin,” Claude interjected. “To have the masses see the true importance of education over corporate aspirations, military endeavors…scary stuff…”
“And to have young champions such as yourself leading the crusade, is the cherry on top.” Marley slapped his hand against the cold chrome table he sat behind. “You’ve already got the support from stuffy old coots like Claude and me. But then there’s the glamour set from the movie and music communities—talk about affecting change on a grand scale!” Marley reclined in the uncomfortable chair and held the look of a man at ease. “Sure, I was terrified when those fools slapped cuffs on me over that concocted nonsense. But I’d gladly take the heat if it means keeping you guys in play.”
“What will you do?” Therin asked once he’d considered the man’s opinion.
Marley grinned. “What I’ve always done, son. Ride out the storms. One comes round every five to ten years or so. ’Course I’m getting older now so I tend to expect them every two to three years.”
The words sparked Claude’s infectious laughter. Therin wasn’t immune, yet the humor didn’t quite reach his eyes when he laughed.
Chapter 16
From his office window, Therin stared down at the Vancouver traffic. He couldn’t see anything but Kianti’s face. His focus was on her, as it had been for the two weeks since he’d brought an end to their involvement. She hadn’t tried to contact him, but then he hadn’t expected that she would. She was too gracious…and tough for that.
She had accepted his wishes without argument and any second thoughts on his part were moot then. He was certain her hatred for him ran deep. That was the way he wanted it…right?
Rick Dubose had stopped talking about the speech he was drafting. It didn’t take much for him to tune in to the fact that his boss was in another world.
Rick closed the folder he’d brought to the meeting. The crinkling of the papers must have brought Therin’s attention back to the matter at hand. He turned and fixed his speechwriter with a sheepish look.
“Sorry, man, you think we could do this later?”
“No problem.” Rick was already standing to collect the rest of his things, which were spread out across the coffee table he was using. “Can I make a suggestion, though?”
Therin waved a hand and turned back to glare out the windows.
“Take a break,” Rick urged, stacking his folder and pens to the laptop he’d brought along.
Therin bowed his head as a smirk curved his mouth. “Thought I’d been doin’ all right pretending I’m good.”
“Sorry, sir, but you’re no good at pretending.” Rick’s tone was playful.
“I should’ve asked you before I tried it.” Therin laughed. He folded his arms over the gray pinstriped shirt he wore and leaned against the sill.
“That’s what friends and speechwriters are for.” Rick gathered up his things. “You just need to get lost.”
“What?” Therin’s sleek brows drew a smidge closer.
“Get lost,” Rick called over his shoulder as he made his way to the office door. “Go someplace and clear your head, hide out for a few days—heck, a few weeks. Get away from the press and all this drama.”
“Sounds like good advice.”
“Hmph.” Rick turned the doorknob. “I suggest you jump on it because good advice doesn’t come out of my mouth very often.”
Rick was gone soon after. Alone then, Therin collapsed to the edge of his desk.
“Jesus,” he whispered.
Brody walked into the kitchen in time to see Kianti taking her pill. His surprise was unmistakable and Kianti dissolved into laughter at the sight of it.
“Did I just miss out on a chance to see one of the guys bullying you?” he asked, coming to lean against the counter.
“No.” She set aside the water glass while shaking her head. “I’ve just been taking all this time to put things in some kind of perspective.”
Brody hid his hands in his jean pockets and stepped closer. “Rucker have anything to do with it?”
“At first,” she admitted and took a seat at the breakfast nook. “But even then I was still against taking the pills.”
“So what changed?”
“Me.” She propped both fists beneath her chin and smiled serenely. “I always let that feeling of being different…of being less overshadow what was really important—my health, my life. Once I stopped to think about that, I realized what I was a slave to hadn’t been the pills, but letting myself feel belittled by having to take them.”
