I released the breath I’d been holding. Why did my body and even my heart continue to give Paxton Naese such a hold over me? He was going to break my heart again. If not right away, then once he saw my scars—or when a more fun, more beautiful woman caught his eye. That’s what he’d told me before, that I wasn’t enough for him.
I couldn’t forget that lesson.
“Well, I see you and your young man are still together. How delightful.” Dr. Gerenstein beamed at me from behind smudged lenses. “Let’s head upstairs. The team’s all assembled and ready for you.”
I forced my grimace into a smile. “Great.” My word of the day meant anything but. “Lead the way.”
I really wanted to go to the restroom and adjust my brace, maybe splash some water on my face and give myself a pep talk. Instead, we were headed straight into the lion’s den, and I’d have to hope I didn’t embarrass myself.
I shifted my weight once we hit the elevator, thankful Dr. Gerenstein hadn’t pushed for the stairs. He peered at me over the rim of his tortoiseshell spectacles. “There’s a restroom to the right when we exit. I’d like to use it before we get into this meeting. If I know some of my colleagues, they’re eagerly waiting to press you on the space elevator, so I’d recommend being prepared for a marathon session.”
I blew out a breath and some of my nerves. “That would be great.”
He leaned in closer as the doors opened. “Well, much as I wish I’d been the one to think about all this, I had an email from one of our patrons earlier today, and he told me to be gentle with you.”
“Who?”
Dr. Gerenstein winked. “Well, now. If he’d wanted you to know that, he wouldn’t have contacted me. Let’s just say he’s an excellent ally.” Dr. Gerenstein ushered me off the elevator as I struggled to absorb the information he’d just dropped.
“He said you were therealarchitect of the project you’d been working on at Space Elevated, and he has grave concerns about Jeremy’s leadership moving forward. In fact, he’s recommended that NASA buy the company and roll it into our space program so the project can be completed—with you as team lead.”
Nausea roiled through my midsection. Who was pulling these strings for me? Paxton? But how?
“Here’s the restroom. I suspect your car accident left you stiff, so if you need to walk a few laps, just let me know.”
My eyes widened. “Who told you that?”
Dr. Gerenstein had known of my car accident, of course, as he’d been one of my professors. But I’d tried hard to downplay my needs.
“I read the emails you sent me from the hospital, Hana,” he said, looking at me evenly. “I’d hoped to meet with you, but you checked out earlier than you’d told me you would, and then you accepted the position with Jeremy—again, before I was able to talk to you.”
The gleam of intellect sparked in Dr. Gerenstein’s eyes, and I was certain he’d come to the same conclusion I had—that Jeremy had preempted his attempts to get me here, to NASA, a few years ago. Granted, then I’d needed the Space Elevated salary. Now, though, thanks to my diligence—and more years of penny-pinching—I’d be able to make a government salary work. Probably.
I’d figure that out because I wanted the job
“As you well know, the industry is small,” he noted, “and I’d been pretty vocal about my desire to have you join us on this particular team, just as Gunnar’s keen to have you join us now.”
“Gunnar?”
Dr. Gerenstein tilted his head. “Gunnar Evaldson. He’s the Wildcatters’ owner and involved in Space Elevated… He said he’d met you at an event?”
“Oh…oh!” Gunnar, the man I’d chatted with before Jeremy whisked me away. He was Paxton’s boss? I rubbed my forehead. That was a lot of coincidence. Had Paxton leaned on him to show an interest in me? “You’re sure this is from Gunnar Evaldson? Not Paxton?”
“He’s sure,” a voice said from behind me.
I whirled too quickly and had to catch myself on the wall as my leg threatened to give out for a second time. I sucked in a breath as pain seared through me.Dammit. I wanted to be at my best for this meeting. And here I was, wracked with near-crippling pain. My own fault, all of it. I hadn’t counted on Paxton being here or on Gunnar Evaldson, this eccentric, ice-eyed billionaire, to be interested in my work—my life.
Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe he wanted to ensure Paxton was happy and focused. That made more sense than a bigwig being interested in me.
“Gunnar Evaldson,” the man said, offering his hand. He wore a faint smile, and his eyes were the steeliest gray I’d ever seen. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you again, Ms. Sato.”
I inhaled sharply as we shook. “Did Paxton put you up to coming here today?” I hesitated. “Did he ask you to put in a good word for me?”
“No. He didn’t. And even if hehad, it’smymoney andmytime. I came to hear your interview, mainly because I want some answers on the ballast plans you created for the elevator, which I think show exceptional promise.” He made a face. “And also because Jeremy Dorring refused to let me talk to you when I last visited Space Elevated.”
I was acutely aware of Gunnar’s sharp eyes as he stated that last bit. “I had no idea, Mr. Evaldson. I’m pleased to answer any questions you have on the design—as long as I don’t break my nondisclosure agreement.”
Gunnar leaned in a little closer. “Naese and I share an interest in spaceandin you, but I’mmuchmore interested in space.”
