Like, really freaking happy. The connection between Riven and me is wild and reckless, but at the same time gentle and unwavering. There’s a tug that pulls me toward him even when he isn’t near. There are also thosethree little wordsthat keep rearing their heads, trying to escape my lips unannounced. I don’t know why I don’t justsaythem. Well, actually … Idoknow. I am an utter control freak who keeps all of my inner thoughts on theinsideunder lock and key, carefully allowing them freedom only when I deem necessary and in perfect circumstances. Why must I be like this? I hear the stream of thoughts parading through my brain.
What if he doesn’t feel the same?
What if it’s too soon?
What if you get hurt?
What if. What if. What … if.
I rub my palms into my eyes until I see stars, huffing out a sigh. It must be karma for flicking the little angel onto the floor, because I suddenly remember that I don’t exist alone in a bubble with only Riven. I remember that I haveseveralproblems that need addressing in my life right now. I don’t have thetimeto think about whether Riven feels the same. I have to make room in my mind for my dead fa—Gideon, for Sabel, and the Eden Frequency. I have to make room for the suspicious earpiece and Lydia.
I consider my options for exposing Sabel and Sonus Corp. I could go the legal route and obtain an actual interview. Icould sneak in and snoop around her office, illegally. One option carries more risks than the other, but offers the premise of a higher reward. I consider asking Lydia, only to answer for her in knowing that she’d one thousand percent be sneaking into Sabel’s office if given the chance.
I, however, amnotLydia. I’m not spontaneous and fearless. I need plans, outlines, andcontrol. So, I’ll be setting up an interview the legal way. I sigh again, this time in displeasure over the multiple scenarios playing out in my head. Not one of them ends well, and I hope that I’m at least half wrong about my theory and that Van wasn’t lying about his lack of involvement. I wince at the thought of Van. I genuinely hope that he’s doing well and that he and the guys truly find a way to put a stop to Sabel before the release of the Eden Frequency.
I could play a hand in her demise. Even though Van and Alex have attempted to warn me off. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. Right? I need to get Sabel alone and interrogate her. It is, after all, what I do best. If I ask all the right questions in all the most indiscreet ways, then she’ll never even suspect that I’m onto the fact that she’s acold-blooded,murderous bitch. I don’t even want revenge for Gideon, I just want the truth. That little elusive thing that all investigative journalists seek to unveil.
I reach for my phone, pull up the search engine, and type in “Sonus Corp” to get the number. I squeeze my eyes shut and bite my lower lip. I open my eyes and hit the call button before I can change my mind. The phone rings a couple of times before the voice of an older woman filters through the phone.
“Sonus Corp. How can I direct your call?” she says, all business and no play.
“Hi. Can you connect me with Sabel Matthews, please?” I ask.
“One moment,” she says. Elevator music starts playing over the line, and several seconds go by before I hear another female voice.
“Sonus Corp. Who am I speaking with?” I’m searching my memory, trying to remember what Sabel sounded like that night at the meet and greet.
“Hi. My name is Sloane Keenan, with Obsidian Press. I was trying to reach Sabel Matthews.”
“Ms. Keenan, Hi. Sabel is out of the office at the moment. Can I take a message?” Just my luck.
“Yes. Can you let her know that I called, and I was hoping to set up an interview to further discuss Reverb? I interviewed Van recently and would like to hear from the face of the company who helped Reverb rise to fame.” A partial truth that I hope she buys. There’s a brief pause that I hope means she’s writing this all down before I hear her voice again.
“Got it. I’ll pass that along. What’s a good callback number for you, Ms. Keenan?” I silently breathe out a sigh of relief and then rattle off my number to her before ending the call. I set my phone down next to me and direct my attention back to the show I was watching before my mind wandered off. Before long, I’m dozing off into a dreamless sleep.
? ? ?
I wake in a daze to the sound of my phone ringing. I squint my eyes at the assaulting sun filtering in through the living room window. I blindly pat around the sofa for the phone that’s now assaulting my eardrums. It suddenly occurs to me that I must have fallen asleep after calling Sonus Corp, and that Sabel must be returning my call. I manage to get my eyes to fully open to see “Lydia” on the screen. I peek at the time on the phone beforeanswering, noting that I’ve been asleep for three hours. I hit accept.
“Hey,” I say, groggy.
“Lo! Hi. Why do you sound like you just woke up?” She practically screams into my eardrum. I pull the phone away from my ear and sit up, stretching.
“Because I did. I fell asleep on the sofa. Late night.”
“Oh,really? Can’t wait to hear what the professor did to you this time.”
I sigh. “Shut it.”
She interrupts my “What’s up?” with her “So the reason I called is …” We both laugh.
“Do you remember that high-profile client I told you about? The one that I had to schedule for an early morning?” she asks.
“Yeah?” I ask, confused about why this had to be a phone call.
“Well, you aren’t going to believe what she told me.” Her voice is laced with excitement, the way it usually is when the salon drama is at an all-time peak. I sit up, intrigued by the new Hollowcrest gossip that I’m about to become privy to.
“What?” I ask enthusiastically.
