We entered the dome, and almost instantly, an Auto Shuttle Pod arrived, the doors sliding open for us. “After you.” I motioned to Luther, ignoring the advertisements playing on the dash.
The Pod carried us the short distance to the palace and let us out at the front entrance. There were twenty steps leading to enormous double doors. No one greeted us, so we just walked into the home.
“I thought this was a party,” Luther whispered as we entered.
“It is…” The space was silent. A cleaning bot rolled by, its motor whirring as it vacuumed the floor.
“Hello?” I called, but no one answered. The foyer was gigantic, and my voice echoed through the open cavity. Everything was white: the walls, the floors, the ceiling, the furniture. Another robot rolled nearby. No wonder they needed so many of them. I couldn’t imagine keeping a place like this immaculate.
I reached for my PersaTab, about to call Jade, when I heard voices from down the hall. I went cautiously as someone shouted. Glass shattered.
Luther jogged past me. The former security officer was in his element as he chased down the disturbance. I ran after him, bumping into his broad back as he stopped at a doorway.
“We mustn’t let this happen, Erik. Do you understand the ramifications of disbanding the Primaries? We can’t get our positions back without a fight once we’re removed.” It was Frank Under, the Sage CEO. Luther stepped away, and I hid from sight. They hadn’t spotted us. There was brown liquid on the floor near the door, and shards from a crystal tumbler. One of these rich CEOs had thrown it in rage.
“Calm yourself.” Erik’s voice was deep and reassuring.
“Don’t tell me how to act. I’m leading the biggest and most powerful Corporation ever in existence. Sage Industries doesn’t bow to the Board for anything. Not before the invasion, and not after!” I could picture the jerk’s face, a vein throbbing in his oversized forehead. I despised the man. He’d put on a good show at the boardroom table with Octavia Post and her sister Eclipse a few months ago, but the true snake would always shed its skin.
“I understand your trepidation, Frank.” I recognized the Espace CEO’s voice. “But this is about more than quarterly profits and stakeholder buy-in. It’s an attempted hostile takeover.”
“And how do we deal with those?” Erik Trevors asked.
“We crush them. We cut their throats, and we spill their blood until there’s nothing left.” I’d never officially met the Orion CEO before but knew it had to be her, since she was the sole female CEO. Her words had a prophetic ring to them.
“That’s right. The Velibar are trying to abolish us. We won’t let that happen. So the ranks and the Primaries be damned.”
I risked a glance into the room and spied Frank as he rose from his chair, almost knocking it over. “Promise me we’ll return to our regular practices when this is done.”
Erik stayed calm, standing beside Frank Under. “We’ll discuss it. You are the biggest Corporation, and we all appreciate that, but I have to concur with Post on this decision.”
The others chorused their agreement, and Frank’s face turned beet red. “This isn’t the end of this conversation.” He stormed from the room, and I spun on a heel, hurrying from the doors. Luther and I stared at the wall, pretending to discuss the basic art piece, but Frank paid us no attention as he rushed in the opposite direction. He was so self-involved, he didn’t see anyone unless he wanted something from them.
“That was quite the show,” Luther said softly.
“What are you two doing?” It was Jade, and she was frowning from halfway up a set of stairs.
“Nothing! We… uhm…” I couldn’t make a coherent sentence. I glanced over to find someone had shut the door after Frank ran off, and I imagined they were contemplating ways to rid themselves of the potential problem.
“The dinner’s being held in the east wing. No one’s allowed here.” Jade glared at me while I appraised her outfit. It was tough not to stare. The black dress sparkled, the asymmetrical hem contrasting directions from the dropping neckline.
“Arlo, would you pick up your tongue?” Luther teased, bumping me as he strode by. “We’re sorry. The Pod dropped us off nearby, and we let ourselves in.”
“It’s a good thing I found you instead of my uncle,” Jade said. “Come with me.”
Finally, we heard sounds of life in the palace, and exited a lengthy hall into the largest dining room I’d ever seen. The table could probably sit a hundred, but there were only a handful of seats placed.
“It’s just us?” I asked, wondering if the other CEOs were joining the dinner party.
Jade nodded. “I’m sorry for deceiving you. My parents wanted to meet you.”
“If I’m being honest, this is a little low-brow.” I started to unbutton my collar, but Jade shook her head.
“Keep it formal. My parents should be here…” The door opened, and she sealed her lips.
Mrs. Trevors was the spitting image of her daughter. She could have been an older sister. I refrained from saying so, not wanting to sound like a suck-up. Mr. Trevors was a big man, almost Luther’s size, and his eyes burned with intensity.
“We finally meet.” He stuck his hand out. “William Trevors.”
I shook it. “Arlo… Arlo Lewis.”
The man brightened. “You put on one hell of a show, son.”
The tension melted from my shoulders, and I finally relaxed. “Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without your daughter.”
“Luther.” He shook next, and Jade’s mother came over, gently kissing me on the cheek.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Trevors,” I said.
“Call me Ginger.” Her voice almost purred.
Jade smiled at me, probably glad to see how cordial everyone was being. Her parents sounded like pieces of work from the stories she’d told me on Pilgrim.
“Would anyone care for a drink?”
