Chapter 35 #2
“He’s not gone,” Grey cuts in, looking up from where he’s replanting a fallen fern.
“I told you. You can’t just get him out of your system.
There’s too much security involved. If they tried to extract him, he would have uploaded a backup into my cloud and uninstalled himself.
Same if they took your laptop with the hardware.
Jamie isn’t gone. He probably just pushed the self-destruct button because of the threat. ”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but the knot in my stomach remains.
My work is still gone.
Grey stands and brushes his hands off his sweatpants. I notice that Misha is in workout attire too.
Where were they?
Grey steps closer, tilting my chin up with his thumb. His piercing gaze searches my face, concern etched in the lines around his eyes. “What is it? Are you hurting that bad? We should get you to the hospital.”
“No… it’s not that,” I murmur, averting my eyes. The weight of my loss presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.
“What is it then?” he presses.
The reality is sinking in like a stone in my stomach. My AR, my work, everything I’ve poured my heart and soul into… gone. Vanished into the ether as if it never existed.
What are they going to do with it?
Did they just want to have it for themselves?
Misha moves closer, his hand warm and comforting on my shoulder. “What is it, Bug?”
They’re all around me now, touching me, trying to comfort me. Their presence is both reassuring and suffocating.
How can I explain?
It’s not just data or code. It’s a piece of me, my dreams.
“I don’t know,” I whisper.
Grey’s eyes narrow, his brow furrowing. “Why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying,” I protest weakly, but even to my own ears, it sounds unconvincing.
“Tell me,” he insists once more, his tone brooking no argument.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “I had a project, an AR project. I was working on something… and it’s gone now.”
“Tell us about it,” Oliver probes gently.
I hesitate, my fingers twisting nervously. Grey’s voice cuts through the tension, firm and unyielding. “Amelia, we need to know to help. Whatever it is, we’re here.”
Let’s hope he still thinks that way when Elysium fires me for this.
“I… I made AR visible to the naked eye,” I confess on a whisper.
To my surprise, they don’t react with astonishment or disbelief. They just nod as if this revelation isn’t earth-shattering, as if I hadn’t just admitted to achieving what many thought impossible.
I blink, stunned by their nonchalant reaction. “You don’t believe me?” I ask, my voice tinged with confusion and a hint of hurt.
I can’t even prove it now.
Grey shakes his head. “Oh, we do. And that explains why someone would break in here to get it.”
Oliver shifts nervously, his fingers drumming against his thigh. “Should we call the police?”
“No,” I say quickly, panic rising in my chest. “I… I could get into trouble for this. Let’s just say it wasn’t authorized by Elysium, and I may have used some resources from them. Off the books, so to speak.”
Fuck, did I just admit to that?
They exchange glances, and Grey mutters, “That explains it.”
“Explains what?” I ask, but he ignores me.
“Sounds like we have to find out ourselves,” Grey says, glancing at Oliver, who nods in agreement.
“What are you even saying?” I ask, rubbing the back of my head. “Ouch.”
Oliver bends down with gentle hands, ready to lift me. “Come on, we’re going to the hospital.”
“No, I don’t want to. It’s just a bump,” I protest, determined to avoid making a fuss.
Even if avoiding making said fuss is making a fuss.
“Fine,” he sighs. “Then I’ll carry you up to our apartment. I’m going to call Morgan to come check you out, at least.”
“It’s already late,” I protest again, not wanting to wake her up for this.
“Amelia, you’re going to let her check you out, or I’m going to put you over my shoulder, spank your ass and carry you to that goddamn hospital. Do you hear me?” Grey’s patience seems to hang by a threat.
Fine.
“I can walk,” I mutter to Oliver.
“I know.” He utters quietly but doesn’t relent, scooping me up in his arms. The warmth of his body against mine is comforting and despite my protests, I find myself relaxing into his embrace.
As we move toward the door, a thought strikes me, cutting through the fog in my mind.
Wait… how?
“Why are you here?” I blurt out.
“What?” Misha asks, confusion evident in his voice.
He exchanges a quick glance with Grey, who’s hovering nearby.
“Why are you here? I mean, the three of you just came over. How did you know I needed help?” I press, suddenly aware of how odd the timing was.
Oliver was just heading back to their apartment. There was no reason they’d be coming back.
They exchange a glance, and the silence stretches just a tad too long before Oliver says, “I wanted to come back for my birthday socks… and maybe another kiss.”
He leans down, pressing a kiss on my lips that sends a flutter through my heart and momentarily silences my critical thoughts, now more concerned about Grey and Misha watching that kiss. But when I glance over, they’re both pointedly looking in other directions.
“Thank you for coming,” I whisper before leaning my temple against his chest, tired all of a sudden.
“Always,” Oliver murmurs when we step out of my apartment, and Grey closes the door behind us.