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“You need to get that working ASAP,” Melvin told him.
“I’m trying,” he said in a tight voice, “but this equipment is outdated, and the online system…” He trailed off as I dropped my bag to the floor and went over to help. I had worked with this system’s maddening inconsistencies before my transfer, so within a few minutes, I had the computer hooked up and the presentation ready to go.
“I can’t wait to see your presentation, Melvin,” the thin guy said. “It’s going to be epic.”
“Sure, Evan, if I can get any of this tech to work.”
Wait. That was Evan? The hater who always seemed so jealous of Indiana? He looked a lot like I’d imagined.
Evan made no move to help Shane and me fix the equipment. Instead, he stayed focused on Melvin. “The Artemis team is shaping up well, don’t you think?” he asked.
Melvin ignored him. “Now can you hook this up to my phone so I don’t have to use the pointer?” he said, handing his phone over—not to Evan or me but to Shane.
Shane looked at me, then wordlessly handed the phone over. I adjusted the settings, added the network, and synced the Bluetooth.
“You should be good,” I said to Melvin as I handed the phone back.
He took it and turned to Shane. “Thanks.” Finally, Melvin turned to me. “Miss, if you’re not here to take coffee orders, then you need to see yourself out. I don’t have the energy or the patience to take on an intern right now.”
“I’ll take a Grande Frappuccino with extra whip,” Evan said.
“Seriously?” I turned to Melvin. “I just set up your presentation and synced your phone, two things you didn’t seem able to do—” I said before I could stop myself. None of this was going according to plan.
“Good for you,” he said. “Go back to class. Maybe you can get a job here when you grow up. I have an important meeting after this.”
A couple of Artemis team members came in at this point, nodded, and sat in the farthest chairs.
“With Indiana Aaron?” I asked slyly. I had just about reached my limit with him. He’d stolen my coffee, and I had no filter at the best of times. Uncaffeinated, I was downright dangerous. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Shane watching us with interest.
Melvin blinked in surprise. “Yes. Do you know him?”
An evil smile broke free. “I do. You could say we’re in constant contact.”
Shane and Evan both looked over at me with new interest.
“Is he your dad?” Melvin asked me. He looked over at the other team members who were sitting and others who were slowly trickling in to start the meeting. He lowered his voice. “If so, make sure he gets here for this meeting soon. We have a potential client we need to land. If we don’t, Artemis gets shelved. And anyone who lands that client will be well-suited for a position at the head of the creative department. So, as you can see, this is a big deal. Heneedsto come through on this.”
That wiped the evil grin right off my face. I’d been about to out myself and let him have it until he droppedthatlittle bomb. A promotion or losing the job altogether. All I could do was blink.
“Run along,” he said, gesturing to the door. “Let the big boys talk.” The rest of the team members began filing in.
I swallowed and grabbed my bag.
“Don’t forget my coffee order,” Evan called after me.
What should I do? I couldn’t say who I was, but Indiana couldn’t miss this meeting, meaningIcouldn’t miss this meeting. So this potential client meant life or death for Artemis, and I hadn’t met any of these people in person before. I didn’t want to go. But I had to. I needed a new plan, and fast. I gulped in a breath and practically ran out of the conference room. The second I was outside, I sent an SOS.
What do I do???I texted Heidi and Patrick.We have to keep this monster we created alive. I can’t be in that meeting but I can’t not be. Help!
This whole mess belongs to you and Heidi, but I got you.Patrick.
I backed up against the wall outside the conference room and waited. I had about ten minutes before the meeting started. Should I go back in? But what would I say? Should I stay outside? Both options sucked. The minutes ticked down, taking all my hope with them. I was about to text Patrick again when suddenly there was an earsplitting shriek of a fire alarm over the sound system. The noise was at such a decibel that people immediately got up from their desks and scrambled for the exits. The Artemis meeting room emptied, everyone shoving their laptops back into their bags as they pushed past me with Melvin stomping after them.
Patrick?I texted.
Someone tried to make popcorn in the break room. Looks like they put it in the microwave for ten minutes. Idiot.
Be nice, Heidi wrote.We have a lot of remote workers in today who don’t know how to use microwaves.
