Page 90 of A Barista's Guide to Love & Larceny
And then, slicing into their northern lights like a knife of darkness—
“Miss Lionet. What. Are. You.Doing?”
Silva’s voice jerked them apart. Dani gawked at her like a deer in headlights, her thoughts scrambled. “Professor,” she started to say.
“Wait,” Kass said. “This isn’t the professor who—”
“I’m not interested in hearing from you,” Silva said harshly, a slash of scarlet in Dani’s inner eye. Dani glanced at the stage and saw Dr. Rodriguez holding a potion bottle, telling the audience somethingabout the plant-based origins of the formula. “I was talking to Miss Lionet. And it is from her that I still require an answer: What onearthdo you think you’re doing?”
Kass opened his mouth to respond, indignation drawing his brows together, but Dani put a hand on his arm before he could talk.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’ve got this.”
“Do you?” Silva said, turning her icy gaze on Dani. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks a lot like you’re jeopardizing everything we’ve worked toward over a boy.”
Dani’s fingers were trembling. She curled them into fists. “That’s interesting,” she said, forcing herself to speak calmly. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks a lot like you lied to us about who you really are.”
Silva clearly hadn’t been expecting that. The stony expression on her face wavered, and she blinked several times like she was trying to readjust herself. She started to speak, then stopped, her gaze going fuzzy. The woman touched one finger lightly to her ear, and Dani realized she was listening to the shell. She dug hers out of her pocket and fitted it back into her ear.
… taking the whole thing, Wyatt was saying.Gonna get us out of here, stat.
Fine, Silva said. It was weird to hear the woman in her head when she was standing in front of Dani, blank-faced and motionless.Grab the laptop and get out. The presentation is about to wind down.
I’m grabbing a few plant clippings, too, Oliver said.Gods, I wish I had more time, there’s so much here.
I can’t keep the door jammed much longer, Katya said.Hurry, you two.
What was going on? Dani must have missed something significant when she’d been melting into Kass.
Porting now, Wyatt said, and Dani felt a muscle she hadn’t known was knotted unclench in her neck.
“What’s going on?” Kass asked. “Why are you guys just standing there?”
Shit.She still had a lot of explaining to do.
It would have to wait. Mr. Gianakos was making a bellowing pronouncement to the gala, and the three of them turned magnetically toward the dais in the center of the room. Projected in the air behind him was a video from a first-person perspective looking up past a Roman-style temple at an unimaginably starry sky. Dani could only assume this was a recording of someone’s dreams while taking the product, as Dr. Rodriguez had mentioned on the tour—carefully clipped, of course.
“And we’re proud to announce that this special product will be coming to market soon,” he said, nodding with pleasure as a responding wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. “While our launch date remains tentative, we plan to manufacture it at scale starting in the spring—so you can expect this product on shelves within the year!”
Chills passed down Dani’s spine as she looked around at the beaming faces of the gala attendees, took in their uproarious cheers. They had no idea what they were clapping for.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Kass muttered. “I really can’t get through to him.”
“We’re not done speaking about this,” Silva said to Dani.
“No, we’re not,” she agreed. For now, though—they needed to see this to the end.
Miss Amari, Silva said over the shell.Be ready—any second now.
Dr. Rodriguez and Mr. Gianakos were still on stage, waving to the audience, thanking them for their attention and enthusiasm. The string quartet had started playing, a cue for them to wrap up their speech, but the crowd couldn’t seem to get enough of them.
Shit, Katya said.Shit!
What is it?Silva asked.Are they stuck inside?
No, we’re out, Oliver said.We got some clippings and Dr. Rodriguez’s laptop, but—
I think Dr. Rodriguez might have rigged it with some kind of summoning charm, Katya finished.
