“You’re awfully quiet, Heath,” Quinn finally said as they entered the outskirts of Seattle.“Are you nervous about meeting these people?”
“A little.I’ve followed them since I played that first app they sold for billions.It was vindication for so many computer nerds and gamers like me to have those four guys do so well.”Heath shrugged, taking the lane to the airport.“And it wasn’t simply luck in coming out with an app that happened to catch on.They took the money from its sale and invested in creating a new game that’s even more successful.It’s an impressive story.”
“I would like to learn more of this.”Viktor leaned forward.“This company in North Carolina has been a good thing for the local economy, I imagine.”
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I’m sure it must have.More tech companies have moved into the area, I hear, and it’s already a college town.”The thought made Heath wonder if complementary businesses would want to move closer to Wildstone.“One partner is originally from Boone.I imagine that was part of the giving back they’re known for.They can hire the best.”
“And yet they chose to hire you,” Viktor said, but then frowned.“I apologize.That did not sound the way I meant it.What I wished to say is such a business would be a draw for many talented employees who would be happy to live there.It is forward thinking of them to allow you to work from your home across the country.”
“Well, a tech company would be the most capable of pulling it off,” Quinn said.
“I’m grateful they’re willing to try it.”Heath’s stomach tightened as it did every time he considered it.“I’m a test case for them.They did it during the pandemic, of course, but everyone lived close.If I mess up, it could ruin things for other potential employees who might want to work remotely.”
“No pressure there,” Quinn said, her tone dry.
When she put her warm hand on his to give it a sympathetic squeeze, he laced their fingers.Something flashed in her eyes and Heath was afraid she might pull away, so he glanced in the rearview mirror at the duke-let.She narrowed her eyes but kept her hand in his until he needed both of his to make a turn.
Now in the city, Viktor asked questions about Seattle, which Quinn could answer better than Heath since her family lived there.The thought gave him pause because he knew how close she was to her mother, yet she’d made no mention of wanting to stop by to see her mom.Then he felt like a dunce for missing the obvious.No way would Quinn visit her mother with the Glenlorian in tow.
It took another half hour to get to the airport, and Heath turned on the road to the long-term parking.Once there, he opened the rear door and helped Quinn with her luggage and then got his own.When she looked like she meant to help Viktor, Heath shook his head at her.
“If he wants to be a regular guy, he needs to know what it’s like,” he whispered.
She gave a resigned sigh.It was just as well because between her bag, camera case, and laptop case, she had plenty to juggle.Heath’s situation was the same.But Viktor was struggling with his three large bags, so Heath took pity on him and grabbed the man’s laptop case.
“When you’re responsible for hauling your own luggage,” Heath said in a low voice to the man, “it’s good to bring only as much as you can physically carry yourself.”
“Are there no… what is it you call them?Skycaps?”
“There will be at the terminal, but we still have to take a shuttle there.”
“It is something I should have considered.”
“Live and learn, right?”Heath had to give the guy credit for being a good sport.
Once the shuttle dropped them off at a terminal, Heath looked for someone carrying a sign.
“What do we do now?”Quinn asked, but then nodded at a tall, mature black man.“Oh, he has a sign that saysSavage.”
“That must be him.”Heath nodded at the man.“I’m Heath Savage.”
“Joe Brooks, REKD security.”He tossed the sign into a nearby trash can and pulled out his phone.“These the two guests you told Mr.Rafferty about?”
“They are.She’s Quinn O’Brien, and he’s Viktor von Essenberg.”
Brooks took a quick photo of each of them.Then he signaled to a man in one of the motorized passenger carts.They quickly stowed their luggage on it and climbed aboard.
“This is much better than walking,” Viktor said, glancing back at Heath.“I must remember this.”
The security man had such a serious demeanor that it killed any desire Heath might have had to make small talk.Except for the one comment, even Viktor remained silent as they made their way through the labyrinth of the airport.They finally reached a section with fewer people and eventually out on the tarmac, where a full-sized jet waited.
“Wow,” Quinn said.“Is it all fancy inside?”
“You might think so, but they’re not like that.It’s nice but business functional.”Brooks said, but his expression lightened with a touch of humor.“Though I expected it to be ostentatious when I first saw it.”
He led the way up the stairs to the plane’s door and paused at the top.
“Mrs.Wallach, they’re here.”He stepped out of the way and indicated that Heath should enter first.“This is Heath Savage, and these are his guests, Quinn O’Brien and Viktor von Essenberg.”
