Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 169266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 846(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 846(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Mia, abeg, I can practically hear Bayo admonish me.
“Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s told me that,” Vanguard says smoothly. “At least you’re upfront about it.” He leans in closer now, his face just inches from mine. It takes all my strength to not back down or flinch, to not breathe in his woodsy, manly scent. “Tell me, Mia Baxter, why should I agree to be interviewed by you if you already view me in unfavorable terms? Sounds like this would be a hit piece.”
“On the contrary,” I tell him, lowering my voice until it’s husky, what Cal says is part of my sexpionage persona. “I’m going to give you a chance to prove me wrong. Prove what good Global Dynamix has done for America—sorry, the world—by creating you.”
“They didn’t create me,” he says, that tick in his jaw returning for a moment. “They enhanced what I already was.”
“A Green Beret and Delta Force Operator. I know your specs. But the world does think your overlords created you. If that’s not the case, this is the time to set the record straight about your autonomy. This would give you a voice. For once.”
“I’ve made my voice clear plenty of times,” he says, straightening. I can feel the tension between us dissipating like a leash gone slack, though perhaps it was never really there.
“Not in detail,” I point out. “Nothing deep.” I pause. “But I suppose your superiors don’t want you to talk about the truth. About yourself. Would ruin your image.”
“Nothing could ruin my image,” he says, flashing that smile again. “What you see is exactly what you get.”
Somehow, I doubt that.
“Great. Then let’s show that.” I pause, about to unleash the bait. “Unless you’re afraid.”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. “There’s nothing I’m afraid of. Except, perhaps, being seen as antisocial at a party.” He places his very large hand on my shoulder and gives it a strong squeeze, the warmth of his palm radiating through my skin, making my knees feel weak. “If you’ll excuse me, Ms. Baxter. It was nice talking with you, but I’m afraid I’m a guest of honor here, and I need to make the rounds.”
I eye his hand for a moment before meeting his gaze. “I suspected as much.”
He takes his hand away and hesitates. “Suspected what?”
“That you don’t have autonomy. That your every move, thought, action, and word is controlled by Global Dynamix. That the soldier you once were no longer exists, and you’re now just property, an expensive chess piece that belongs to one of the world’s largest and most dangerous corporations.”
I’m taking a risk. I know I am. Bayo is probably yelling at me for putting all my cards on the table, but I have to play my hand this way. I don’t think I have a choice. He needs to be provoked into this, even if he knows that’s exactly what’s happening.
Vanguard stares at me for a moment, his nostrils narrowing as he takes a sharp inhale. He swallows and nods. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Ms. Baxter. Please enjoy the party.”
Then, he turns around and strides off.
Leaving me red-faced and alone and reeking of failure.
CHAPTER 2
MIA
I let out a little growl of frustration, giving in to my feelings for two seconds, before raising my chin and heading over to the nearest traveling tray of booze. With a quick glance, I can tell there are a couple of partygoers eyeing me, probably wondering what happened between me and Vanguard.
That makes two of us.
I twist my earring before grabbing a glass of passing champagne and downing it in one gulp, putting the empty one back and grabbing another.
“Mia, what the hell was that?” Bayo cries out from the now-online transmitter.
“Look,” I say quietly, holding the glass over my mouth. It takes a lot of alcohol to affect me, and downing several glasses won’t even calm my nerves. “I could tell he wouldn’t be up for it.”
“So you decided to insult him?”
“I had to stand out,” I tell him, looking around the room again. No one is paying attention to me anymore, not even Vanguard, who I see standing by one of the outside heaters, talking to a bunch of elegant women who laugh and smile at everything he says. Oh, to have that kind of power. “He’s used to everyone fawning over him, sucking up to him.”
“For good reason!”
“I know. But I’m not just anyone. At least now, he knows I won’t sugarcoat things, that I’ll tell the truth.”
Bayo sighs, and I picture him running his hand over his face. “They want you to sugarcoat things. That was the whole point of this PR piece. It’s not just Vanguard, it’s Global Dynamix. Even if Vanguard is more open to the gritty truth, the company won’t be.”
“But—”
“No. You know it, Mia.” He lets out another sigh. “Now, have you laid eyes on Van Veen this evening? I’ve been scouring the CCTV footage all night and I haven’t seen her once. Doesn’t help that this gala is a sea of blonde European ladies with rods up their asses. They all look the same.”