Chapter 1 #2
"You think everyone’s nice."
"No, I don’t. He remembered my birthday. Sent me a birthday card and he personally signed it himself. It even had a gift card to Nordstrom. You know that is my favorite."
I smirked. "Wow. A gift card. Saint Victor."
"You’re impossible."
"And yet, here you are. Everyone’s nice to you because you're beautiful, smart, and say all the right things. You're every guy's dream girl."
Her blush deepened. "That’s not true."
"It is."
Before she could argue, the room went silent.
Tabitha Cross entered from a side door. She stood there, green eyes sweeping the room like a searchlight, before taking her seat. "Mr. Scarpetta will be joining us, but he’s running late. We’ll start without him."
Hearing the name irked me, and I let out an audible sigh, louder than I intended.
Tabitha’s gaze snapped to me.
Cassie elbowed my side. Stop it.
I straightened up. It was stupid, but the empty chair beside Tabitha made my skin prickle.
"As you’re all aware," Tabitha began, "Sum Zero Tech has been selected as the primary tech partner for the city’s new public safety initiative. We’re going to help stop crimes before they happen."
Someone raised a hand. "Like Minority Report?"
Tabitha’s smile was thin. "More efficient."
I tuned out as she droned on about algorithms. I stared out the glass walls at the city where Fulcrum fought while we sat in air-conditioned safety. I couldn’t help but let my mind drift away.
A superhero team fighting a supervillain team. Over what, no one had any idea. But at least I had insurance for it.
"Mandie." Cassie nudged me. "Are you paying attention?"
"Yeah, of course."
The back doors opened.
The room shifted. Victor Scarpetta didn’t walk; he arrived.
I kept my eyes forward, but I felt him. Cassie glanced back, then at me.
Tabitha stiffened slightly. "Ah, Mr. Scarpetta. Thank you for joining us."
His voice was rich, perfect for late-night radio. "My apologies. Traffic was… unpredictable."
Chuckles from the crowd. He settled into the empty chair, adjusting his cufflinks. He looked like a man who’d never had a bad day. His gaze swept the room, landing on me.
He smiled. Not the charming one he gave everyone else. Something smaller. Knowing.
I looked away. Cassie squeezed my hand under the table, trying to warn me not to open my mouth.
Someone behind us started calling out to Tabitha and Victor. “Are we sure everything we are doing isn’t breaking the law? I mean, stopping crime before it happens… that has always been a tricky legal situation.”
“We are law-compliant. This isn’t about prosecuting crimes that don’t happen; it is about preventing crimes that are going to happen. The data we are using is—"
Victor stood up, interrupting Tabitha mid-sentence.
"Thank you, Ms. Cross. I think I can clear some things up.
As I said, I was delayed in coming here.
Traffic wasn't just a jam. It was chaos.
That creature, Capital Punishment, is destroying downtown.
And our solution? The so-called heroes of Fulcrum.
" He smirked. "It seems they make things worse every time they show up. "
He tapped a folder. "Forty civilians in the hospital. Six children. People are terrified. And they should be. We cling to the hope that these six untrained, reckless heroes will save us. Let’s be honest, they are nothing more than messy children playing dress-up."
He started listing them, mocking each one.
"We have the one in his yellow cape flying around, afraid to finish the job, always letting the villain live. The speedster in baggy clothes, like that is aerodynamic. That massive blue alien who does more damage to our homes than he does to villains. The rubber band man that can’t even fight.
And that water boy," he scoffed. "Power to clean floors? "
Laughter rippled through the room.
"And Quantum Knight. The worst of all. Bad leadership destroys a team like it destroys a company. They are selling you on hope."
The laughter stopped; he had everyone’s attention.
Victor leaned forward. "We’re not in the business of hope. We’re in the business of results. Unlimited overtime. Whatever you need. We must finish this project."
"Hell no," I whispered to Cassie. "I am not working overtime."
"Ms. Weaver." Tabitha’s voice cut like a scalpel.
Fuck.
"Yes, Ms. Cross?"
"Sounds like you have something to say. If you have concerns, now is the time."
I laughed dryly. "Concerns? I’ve got plenty. But I doubt concerns are what Mr. Scarpetta is interested in."
Victor’s smirk deepened. "On the contrary. I’m very interested in concerns if they improve efficiency."
"Right. Because nothing says efficiency like burning out your entire team to stroke your ego."
Victor started to speak. "That’s—"
"Accurate? Yeah. It is," I shot back.
Victor didn’t blink. "Passion is an asset, Ms. Weaver. But insubordination is a liability."
I lifted my chin. "Then consider me a very valuable asset."
"Enough," Tabitha snapped.
Victor straightened his cuffs. "Ms. Weaver’s enthusiasm is noted. But enthusiasm without direction is just noise."
Tabitha dismissed the meeting. The room scattered like roaches. Cassie stood up, but I stayed seated, glaring at Victor.
He watched me for a moment, then walked toward us with a slow, deliberate smile.
"Ms. Beck," he said, voice smooth as silk. "Did you receive my card?"
Cassie beamed. "I did! Thank you, Mr. Scarpetta."
"I’ve been following your work. Impressive efficiency."
“Thank you. I have been trying my best.”
Then his eyes swiveled to me.
"Amanda. How are you finding your time at Sum Zero Tech?"
"It’s all very… interesting."
"Interesting," he repeated, rolling the word around. "That’s one way to put it. Especially with your concerns."
The air thickened. He was waiting for me to crack. I could see the thin white scar on his neck peeking above his collar.
Finally, he broke the silence. “I know it is hard starting something new. New job, new apartment. It is a lot of change for a person. Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
I let out a huff. “Really, you of all people are quoting Frankenstein?”
“Oh, you like that? Another quote I like is ‘Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.’ One of my favorite books. I gifted it to all my children when they graduated high school.”
“Mandie and I read it in college. We loved it too.”
“Ms. Beck, can you join us for a minute over here?” Tabitha called out.
“Oh, excuse me. Thank you again, Mr. Scarpetta,” Cassie said, as she left me alone with the one person I couldn’t stand the most.
Victor turned his attention back to me. “I have one more quote for you. ‘If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear.’ Remember that, Amanda.”
"Mr. Scarpetta? Jason has an idea!" Tabitha called out.
His jaw tightened. The scar twitched. "Excuse me." He turned and glided away.
Cassie ran back to me. "That was… something. Tabitha wants me to be the team lead."
“Fantastic.” I tried not to sound sarcastic.
“How did it go with Victor?”
“What do you think?”
“Then I am sure it went fine.”
"How can you not see how creepy he is?"
"He’s just intense. Focused."
"Focused?" I laughed. "Yeah, like a serial killer."
"You’re being dramatic."
"Am I? He called you Ms. Beck and me Amanda. That wasn’t an accident. It was a power play."
We walked out into the hallway.
"Why do you always defend guys who give off ‘I am the most important person alive’ vibes?" I asked.
Cassie stopped, eyes sharp. "You know what I think? I think you hate him because he reminds you of Teddy."
The words hit like a punch. I opened my mouth, then closed it.
"I’m sorry." Cassie sighed. "That was uncalled for."
"No," I muttered. "It wasn’t. He is like Teddy. Older, but… yeah."
She touched my wrist. "Mandie—"
"But that isn't the only reason," I cut in. "I don’t like the way he looks at you."
"What do you mean?"
"He’s too… interested. And not in a ‘mentor’ way."
She pulled back. "You think he’s into me?"
"I think he’s into something. And I don’t trust it."
Cassie exhaled. "You don’t trust anyone."
"Yeah, well." I forced a smirk. "Turns out when your mom sells your toys for crack, you develop a keen sense for bullshit. But I trust you."
She stared at me, eyes dark. "Not everyone’s out to hurt you, Mandie."
"I know."
"Do you?"
I looked at my tattoos. "I’m trying."
Cassie’s phone buzzed. "I have to go. Talk later?"
"Sure." I stopped her before she walked away. "Hey, come to my place tonight. I'll cook. We can watch nineties movies with good-looking rich guys."
She smiled. "Sounds perfect. I'll be there."