“Please have a seat.” Maxim wore his black hair short with a neatly trimmed beard. This time, though, he wore a dark suit and a striped tie that spoke of money.
His pleasant demeanor unsettled Ari. Did he think he still had the upper hand? She scanned the code and found an impressive defensive code built around him. She wondered how he’d feel about all those programmers he hired when they tore that code to shreds.
When no one moved, Maxim repeated the invitation with a smile. “Please. We don’t want to hurt you.”
Ari glanced at Patrick who nodded his approval, and she moved to take a seat. Blur was the only one that remained standing, she could feel him at her back. In the VR, warpers could attack just as easily sitting or standing, but it was hard for Ari to sit still and pretend to be cordial with this murderer.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to talk for a moment. I believe we’ve met before,” Maxim flashed a smile at Ari.
A cold chill scratched along her spine. He shouldn’t have known it was her; she’d worn a different skin last time they met. She didn’t give him the satisfaction of agreement.
He crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair. “You’ve created some problems for us in the VR realms.”
“You caused them when you started treating people like price tags,” Blur said from behind.
Without losing his smile or missing a beat, Maxim continued. “I know we’ve disagreed on certain things, but it doesn’t mean we can’t get along.”
Blur started again, but Patrick lifted a hand to silence him. “No, we disagree on most of the things you do. So, how do you suggest we, as you put it ‘get along’? I’m not going to let you continue this genocide until everyone bows to you.”
Maxim shrugged. “You know what I’m capable of. It doesn’t have to be this way. I’m willing to provide you all positions within my company. If you choose to decline my generous offer, I only ask for you not to return. I cannot guarantee your safely in any realm anymore.”
“I’m not interested in employment or compromise.” Patrick kept his hands still on top of the table, with a patience Ari couldn’t feign. “We alerted a variety of diplomats to your activities and illegal behavior. You’ll be done. There will be other realms that the world uses to host the governments.”
“One realm is just as easy to overthrow as another. And while there may be a rumor of danger in the realms, the world would never give up on virtuals. It’s the break, the drug, the love, and the living everyone is scared to do in the real world. Everyone’s life is a pathetic shell in comparison.” Maxim sat up now, straightening his suit jacket before continuing.
“I’m not worried about the diplomats or gamers you thought you alerted. You can keep trying, and I’ll keep putting you in your place. You guys aren’t leaders. You’re the worker bees created for the good of all. And you’re dying off quicker than you can repopulate. And while your gifts are valuable—”
“How did you know about the others?” Ari couldn’t fathom where he got the information on the mission so fast. There was no way he could have known… or was there?
“People find security in working for us.” He kept a pleasant grin pasted on, as if he was a child holding onto a secret. “My offer for employment wasn’t false. One of your friends has already taken me up on it.”
Ari spun towards the others. Did that mean what she thought it did? Someone on their team worked for Maxim? No. No one could ever stoop that low. Fury etched deep in every line on Patrick’s face as he pieced together the traitor before Ari could. His hot gaze rested on Harini.
“Harini?” Patrick voice sounded vulnerable. “I thought we were family.”
“A family that hides out in the woods? And, what? You’re the dad, feigning no romantic interest in anyone until she shows up?” She motioned to Ari with her chin. Harini pushed back from the table tears in her eyes.
“Don’t.” Patrick reached a hand towards her. “They’ll use you up and then what?”
“Then I’ll have the money to rest comfortably. Not bumble around like Sketchy.” Harini’s hands trembled with emotion.
“You don’t get to even say his name. Not anymore,” Ari said, her throat tight with rage. Harini had been the first person she really bonded with on the team, the first person she really trusted. “This isn’t about money. Why did you do this?”
“You haven’t been around long enough to know what it’s really about. It’s been the golden era since you arrived. And you’re so not worth it.” The contempt on Harini’s face was etched into ugly lines as she stood to move into the chair next to Maxim.
Patrick paused for a moment. In the real, he was closest to Harini if he wanted to stop her. It depended where he thought the biggest threat was. She already made her decision and betrayed the team. What more could there be? Turning back to the others, Patrick still had his mask in place, only now it had an edge to it.
Ari could feel Blur grip the back of her chair. Having been around longer than Ari, Harini must have known what Blur and his sister went through with Maxim and she still chose to betray everyone.
Reeling in shock, frantic thoughts of all the implications of Harini being a traitor spun through Ari’s mind. Did she tell Maxim when Ari and Tricky went inside VLEX? Was Tricky hurt because of her? She remembered Harini’s help while Tricky struggled in her coma. Was it guilt? Ari blinked back the outrage and fury at Harini and concentrated at the
