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“Sure,” I say. “Tell you what, this week’s out of hand, but next Friday, I’mthere.”
“Great.” Her smile brightens another few watts. “Well, have an amazing timetonight.”
I take another look in the mirror and square my shoulders.You said you’d do this. Time to payup.
Five minutes later, I step out of the elevator on Jake’sfloor.
The lobby of Prince Diamonds struck me as grand the first time I saw it, but now, it’s like a festival for the rich and sensory-understimulated.
Men are in black tuxes, but the women are in every color imaginable—reds, blues,yellows.
A couple dozen booths are set up around the perimeter, each with its own signage and beaming host. A sign by the door declares the causes for the evening’s event. It looks like a list of national organizations, mostly supporting children andfamilies.
“Say it.” Jake comes up behind me with two glasses of what looks likebourbon.
“I’m impressed. I had no idea you were such aphilanthropist.”
We clink glasses, and I take a longsip.
“My family has always believed in supporting this country. At the end of the day, we’re all the same, though some have greater needs thanothers.”
Despite his words, I can tell these people—Jake’s people—have money, and it breeds. Even though I might look the part, under the surface, I’m not like any of the smiling, laughing men and women in thisroom.
I check myphone.
“Waiting on a call?” Jakeasks.
“Figured I’d hear from Rena.” I told him she’d agreed to help, but didn’t add the part where she’s doing it for free. I can afford to pay her—maybe not six figures, but I don’t believe in getting something without giving something in return. It’s hard on my pride, and it feels like a secret between us. “Get this—she’s going out with someone from myapp.”
Jake cocks his head. “You think you haven’t heard from her because somethinghappened?”
The glass stops halfway to mylips.
Nowthat’s what I’mthinking.
The slick interface isn’t the only thing lacking. I didn’t security-screen the people on theapp.
I rub a hand over my neck. I could’ve sent her out with anyone. All I know are nine of the guy’s alleles and that he’s between twenty-eight and thirty-five. I was too busy thinking about money and my own shit to think aboutsafety.
“Relax,” Jake advises. “I saw her earlier. She was getting set up. Let me show youaround.”
Even though I’m not ready to take his advice, I follow him through the crowd, getting interrupted every few steps as he greets someone who knowshim.
On closer inspection, the booths contain all kinds of casino-style games, plus some tests of strength, memory. There’s a fortune-teller and a fake archeryrange.
It’s not like any midway I’ve ever seen. It’s elegant. Beautiful. No discarded cups or laughingteenagers.
I take a sip and promptly choke on it. My gaze is focused on a figure behind abooth.
Here’s the thing about Rena—you’d have to be dead not to noticeher.
I might disappear into my office for days at a time, staying isolated to the point where every friend and my mom are texting to find out if I’m stilleating…
But a dead man I amnot.
Her dress is white and frothy and fitted to her body, showing her long, lean waist and hips, but there’s a layer of sheer, gauzy fabric over it. She’s like a planet with rings, pulling everything—me included—into hergravity.
Her hair is up but not in the ponytail. It’s something fancier, twists and knots too complicated to have been done only fortonight.
