Chapter Eleven
After the previous long, eventful day, Savannah allowed herself a sleep-in, arriving at work a tad later than normal.
She figured Stratos would do the same, having stayed even later.
That turned out to be the case. All was quiet when she entered her office, but she peeked inside his lair to verify he hadn’t come in.
Nope. For some reason, he hadn’t closed out the holographic model before leaving. Huge, it covered his entire desk and obscured the window behind it.
She retrieved the empty tray from the credenza; he had eaten the dinner she’d brought him.
With time to spare, she strolled to the cafeteria where she ordered the two kaffiis and nuknuks and then took the tube back so the kaffii wouldn’t cool before she could drink it.
Not until she entered her office did she realize the tube hadn’t made her queasy. I must be getting used to it.
She checked that he hadn’t gotten in during her absence and then perused her inbox for messages from him. None. Satisfied she had a few more moments to herself, she sat back to enjoy her morning kaffii and nuknuk.
Her system dinged with a holo message. Kyra. “Good morning,” she said.
“Let me speak to Stratos,” the R&D lab manager said.
Did no one at this company say good morning? Apparently simple courtesies were not part of the Oberian culture. However, she sensed no animosity from Kyra. She was just direct and to the point.
“I’m sorry, but he’s not in yet. I can have him call you when he gets here.”
“He’s not in?”
“He worked super late last night.”
“He messaged me that he had a new design to be prototyped and tested. He told me to contact him first thing.”
“I’m sure he’ll be in touch then when he gets in,” Savannah assured her.
“Fine.” The hologram evaporated.
“Goodbye,” she said to empty air.
She truly had expected him to make an entrance before now. He had stayed very late, but he never failed to show up bright and early.
You don’t suppose… She’d checked his office—but she hadn’t peeked behind the model. Could he still be working on it?
She poked her head into his office. All quiet. “Stratos? Are you here?”
No answer.
She entered and walked around the massive desk and model.
Fast asleep, he sprawled in his chair, his head thrown back.
Sleeves rolled to the elbow, one masculine arm dangled at his side, the other rested on his lap.
His stern mouth had softened into full lips.
Thick crescent lashes dusted his lavender cheeks.
He really does have gorgeous skin, she thought enviously.
And the intricate markings on the sides of his head were works of art…
and slightly raised? She peered closer. They weren’t just darker pigment on his skin.
In slumber, he appeared younger, more approachable, his nose less imperious, his chin less intractable, and she could see traces of the boy he had been before the years had hardened him.
She had a hunch he spent many all-nighters. Given he might head up OberTech one day, the devotion to work made sense, but still…
Did he have a life outside the company? Hobbies or interests? A social life? She knew he wasn’t married. But, what about friends? She could not envision family get-togethers with mom Frysta and sis Corona.
Athletics maybe. Perhaps Oberia had a native sport.
Stratos would be a player, not a viewer.
He didn’t acquire his super-toned, muscular physique sitting in meetings or inventing stuff—or watching sports.
Aggressive and commanding, he would dominate the field or court or whatever arena where the sport was played.
“Stratos,” she said.
He continued to sleep. She gave him a little shake. “Stratos!” His muscular shoulder felt hard, his skin warm through the fabric of his shirt.
He opened sleepy, soft gray eyes. He blinked. “I thought you were going home,” he said.
“I did.” She chuckled. “It’s morning. You’ve been here all night.”
He sat up straight, sleepy eyes becoming alert. “I’m expecting to hear from Kyra.”
“She called a few minutes ago.” She glanced at the model. “Is it finished?”
“To the point that I can take it. It’s up to the prototype team now.”
Although reluctant to show her ignorance, she asked, “What is it?”
“You can’t tell?” His lips twitched as if amused. “It’s a portable med-bay for first responders, enabling them to treat serious injuries at the accident scene.”
“That sounds very…medical. You have that kind of specialized knowledge?”
“I do have a degree in medicine,” he said.
“I thought your background was in engineering.”
“That’s one of my degrees. I also have degrees in mathematics and medicine.”
“Holy shit!” No wonder he was so smart. She felt even more outmatched. She only had an associate’s degree in business administration.
She’d planned to attend a four-year university, but her father had fallen ill her senior year of high school.
She held off going to college to take care of him while her mom worked.
Then he died. Savings had been eaten up by medical bills.
She could have taken out a student loan but decided not to incur more debt, so she’d settled for the more affordable community college.
“If you have a medical degree, why didn’t you become a physician?”
“I got the degree so I could design things like this.” He paused. “Besides, I don’t think I have the required bedside manner.”
“Good call.” She laughed.
An undefinable emotion flashed across his face, and then he broke into a broad grin, which turned to a chuckle then a rough, rumbling laugh that caused her stomach to flutter. “You do keep me humble,” he said.
If he were like this more often, she could almost see how some women might find him attractive. “Will you be going home to change, or will you call Kyra first?” she asked in a businesslike tone.
“Have Kyra come to my office.”
“On it,” she said and headed for the door.
“I don’t suppose you got me a kaffii and nuknuk?”
“Actually, I did. I’ll bring them right in. The kaffii should still be hot.”
She contacted Kyra by hologram and then carried the tray into his office. “Kyra is on her way.”
He nodded and returned to studying his work.
“I’ll put this on the credenza.” She motioned with the tray.
“Fine,” he replied distractedly.
“I’ll get to work on the comms report.”
“You haven’t done that yet?”
“No.” She wasn’t going to make excuses. She headed for the door.
“One more thing,” he said.
She halted and peered over her shoulder.
“Good morning,” he said.
Yes, it is. She left his office smiling.