Hard Wired Trilogy DeAnna Pearce (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

“Welcome, dear Arianna.” The director stood, motioning with a hand to the seat across the table from them. His appearance was perfect, not a strand of hair out of place.

Ari slid into the seat, trying to paste on an innocent, totally relaxed smile. “Hi.”

“Relax, Ari,” Niomi said. “We’re here to help you.”

“Yes,” the director replied. “Also, here with us today is Dr. Davis.”

The word ‘doctor’ pulled Ari up short. With the machines today able to function better than any human doctor, it was rare to meet one in person. Usually there were just nurses to help administer treatments. “Is there a reason I need a doctor?”

“Dr. Davis is a psychiatrist that specializes in… well, in you.”

The doctor was what Ari and her old friends from school would call a plastic. A very expensive one at that. Some people’s plastic surgery was so good, they looked flawless. But humans aren’t flawless. So, their perfected bodies almost looked plastic to Ari, who grew up in a neighborhood where nobody even bothered with cosmetic surgery.

The woman gave a light laugh. “The director means to say I specialize in people with your ability, commonly known as warpers, as well as holding advanced degrees in neuro-psychology. I heard you’ve been having headaches, and I came to help you.”

Looking between the three adults on the other side of the table, Ari couldn’t help but wonder what they weren’t saying. “Why now?”

Doctor Davis pulled back a second, but then asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, the headaches have been happening for a while, but you show up after my first failed mission.” She left out meeting another warper. Maybe they didn’t buy Ari’s story as much as she thought.

The director lifted a hand. “Let me, Doctor.” He focused on Ari. “You are a highly intelligent young woman, but you’re still young. After recent events on assignment, we decided it would be best for us to ensure your mental and physical health by recruiting the best in the business. It took us a while to hire Dr. Davis, but she is worth it.

“We’re hoping she can help you process things like being away from your mother and brother, and give you the tools you need on assignment as well. Being young, others can influence you, especially people inside VLEX that can appear as friends. And after certain self-destructive behavior in the VR, we want to make sure you are getting everything you need.”

So, it does come around to the assignment. “Okay.”

“Does that mean you’re willing to work with me?” Doctor Davis’s grin was a tad too large for Ari’s taste.

“Yes.” What could it hurt?

“Also, we want you to take a break from work for a week.” The director motioned to Niomi who had remained quiet for most of the meeting. “Exercise with Niomi and spend time with Dr. Davis.”

Her stomach dropped. Not that Ari wanted to go into VLEX, but how else could she contact Tessa or her family? The islanders may be able to help but she doubted they had that kind of access unnoticed or unmonitored. “I’d be willing to participate in the required therapy, but I want to go back in to check on my family.”

“I’m sorry. It’s too dangerous right now. We need to do what’s best for your health.” The smug smile on the director’s face burrowed under Ari’s skin.

“You mean what’s best for you and your investment.” Ari knew she was a tool for this company and nothing more. It came down to money and she was worth a lot.

Niomi leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Ari, we both want you healthy and strong. Don’t be stubborn about this. You get a week off to hang out with Reed and go to the beach. This isn’t that bad.”

“Is my assignment with Kari closed?”

The director answered in his condescending tone. “Let us worry about that.”

Ari gritted her teeth. Of course, she’s just the dumb teenager. Forget about the fact that Kari had a life, a boyfriend and a job, that’s just silly responsibility. Niomi narrowed her eyes at Ari, like when they’d fight, and Ari would lose her temper. She forced herself to calm down and remain silent. If she learned anything here at VisionTech, Niomi taught her the best fighters kept their temper, and Ari felt like this battle had just begun.

Chapter 29

Seething as she returned to her rooms, Ari couldn’t figure out why she was mad at first. Given an opportunity to not work or go into VLEX was a true vacation. She could spend more time with Reed, at the beach, or even with Tamar and Oliana. Yet, this was a punishment. Not going inside the VLEX or a VR meant she couldn’t reach out to her family. Yes, being grounded on a tropical paradise was nice, but she was still grounded.

She headed to the cafeteria to grab a bite before her next meeting but stopped short. What about Antoine? He and Kari were supposed to go on vacation at the end of the week. She still needed to end things with him. If Kari failed to show up, that may be more suspicious than safe.

Turning around, Ari headed to Niomi’s office. After a brief scan the door opened for her. Niomi and the director stood near the door, in what appeared a heated discussion that they promptly stopped once she walked in.

“Sorry to bother you, but I needed to talk to Niomi.” Ari touched the necklace Reed gave her, which was becoming a nervous habit.

“I’ll be with you in a moment. Wait over there.” Niomi waved Ari away.

Not one to revel in awkward conversations, Ari headed over to Niomi’s long work bench. It held several stools in front of her array of computers.

When she sat down, she saw one of Niomi’s computers was still logged in. The argument behind her vanished as Ari read the file in front of her, her file. Niomi must have left it open by