“A problem I hadn't cleared.”
“Still sounds like your job.”
“Maybe.”
Marcus leaned against the glass.
“But you were right when you said we're good at different things.”
Elias nodded.
“So?”
“So I'm trying to learn the difference between a threat and something I don't understand.”
Elias looked at him.
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It is.”
“Good luck.”
Marcus laughed.
Victoria joined them.
“Am I interrupting emotional growth?”
“Yes,” Marcus said.
“Excellent.”
She handed Elias a folder.
“What is this?”
“Payment authorization.”
“No.”
“You worked.”
“I changed a tire.”
“You prevented my convoy from driving into multiple hazards.”
“I did not invoice you.”
“I know.”
She pushed the folder toward him.
“That's why I'm paying fair market consulting rate rather than whatever ridiculous amount you'd charge because you think helping people should be free.”
Elias stared at her.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“I hate that answer.”
“You'll survive.”
“I didn't agree.”
“You signed the visitor consulting form downstairs.”
He looked at Marcus.
The security chief suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
“You set me up.”
“Legal did.”
Victoria smiled.
Elias opened the folder.
The amount made him close it again.
“No.”
“What?”
“This is too much.”
“It is the standard emergency specialist rate.”
“I was there by accident.”
“Competence is not worth less because it arrives accidentally.”
That silenced him.
Victoria softened.
“You told your daughter you're working today?”
“Yes.”
“Then get paid for working.”
Elias thought about Lena offering to quit dance lessons.
He accepted the folder.
“Thank you.”
Victoria nodded.
“You're welcome.”
Then she said, “Now, unrelated question.”
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“I recognize danger.”
Marcus laughed.
Victoria ignored him.
“We are creating an external vehicle-risk advisory panel.”
“No.”
“Not employment.”
“No.”
“Three meetings a year.”
“No.”
“Remote.”
“No.”
“Paid.”
Elias paused.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
Victoria smiled.
“There he is.”
Elias sighed.
“Send me information.”
“That's all I wanted.”
“You are manipulative.”
“I run a technology company.”
“That isn't a defense.”
“No. Just context.”
He left at 1:43 p.m.
Well before school ended.
That mattered more than everything else.
When Lena came through the door that afternoon, Elias was standing in the kitchen making grilled cheese.
She stopped.
“You're home.”
“I live here.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
“Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“That means no.”
“Why are you interrogating me?”
“Because apparently adults need supervision.”
She dropped her backpack.
A folded check authorization from Hale Cybernetics sat on the counter.
Lena looked at it.
“What is that?”
“Work.”
“Big work?”
Elias glanced.
“Bigger than usual.”