“I’m just not sleeping. My cat is keeping me up at night. He’s mad that I won’t let him out since it’s getting colder.”
Emilio nodded. “They like to go out, don’t they?”
“Yes. He loves to go out and bring me his hunt.”
“Maybe some earplugs would help with the noise? Help you get some sleep?”
“Maybe,” she said, wanting to get out of the room. While she appreciated her boss’s concern, she wasn’t about to dump on him the real reason she wasn’t sleeping.
And earplugs wouldn’t help.
If anything, it would make it worse—any little noise has her on edge all night, fearful that Phil might be up to something.
Her gaze darted around the office. Pictures hung around the room—his family, company artwork from projects Emilio had worked on and other signs he’d been in that office for a long time.
He’d been her boss since she started here.
“Jenny?”
She met his gaze. “Yes?”
“I have known you a while. I don’t think it’s your cat that’s keeping you up.”
“It’s okay, it’s not anything?—”
“Please. If there’s anything I can do to help you.”
She forced a smile on her face for a second. “Moving to Mars would be helpful.”
He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “I don’t have a ship to Mars, but if you’re ready to get off this world for a bit, I might be able to help you.” His gaze darted to the window.
She looked as well.
At The Bridge. A flutter started in her stomach.
A tremor, really.
To go up on that? She couldn’t believe it.
She looked back at Emilio. “Really?”
“They want a bioengineer with genetic skills, and you were the first one that came to mind.”
She blinked. “I, uh… I would live there?”
“Temporarily, of course. But it’s starting in a couple of days.”
“For how long?”
“Just a few weeks. I know the holidays are coming up, and if you’re not interested in being away from family this time?—”
“I’ll do it,” Jenny said.
3
“Step onto the platform,” came the male medic’s command. He stared at his tablet, his verbal commands dead, and no care about what he was asking.
Neither did he, really.
