“Microcontroller and optical sensors.”
Beth looked toward Jimmy.
He shrugged.
“I understand engines.”
“She understands everything else.”
Lucy looked at Beth.
“My dad said you're investigating why he got fired.”
Jimmy stiffened.
“Lucy.”
“What?”
Beth answered.
“Yes.”
“Was he right?”
“Yes.”
“Is he getting his job back?”
Silence.
Jimmy looked toward Beth.
He had not asked that.
Beth answered carefully.
“If he wants it.”
Jimmy said:
“We haven't discussed that.”
Lucy looked at him.
“Why wouldn't you?”
“Because sometimes going back isn't the same as fixing something.”
Lucy thought.
Then nodded.
Beth noticed.
She was not a normal twelve-year-old.
Dinner was spaghetti.
Jimmy apologized.
Beth said it was better than boardroom catering.
Lucy asked whether Beth had a private jet.
“Yes.”
“Do you use it?”
“Yes.”
“Is that environmentally terrible?”
Jimmy nearly dropped his fork.
Beth laughed.
“Yes.”
“What are you doing about it?”
“Lucy.”
Beth raised hand.
“No.”
She liked the question.
“We purchase sustainable fuel where available and consolidate travel, but yes, it is still a legitimate criticism.”
Lucy nodded.
“Okay.”
Jimmy looked at Beth.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
Later, Lucy showed Beth robotics competition videos.
Jimmy washed dishes.
Beth joined him.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“You're terrible at drying.”
“I own companies.”
“That is unrelated.”
She bumped him with her hip.
He looked at her.
Too close.
Again.
The kitchen light was soft.
Lucy was in living room.
Beth whispered:
“You keep looking at me like that.”
Jimmy smiled.
“You warned me about that this morning.”
“I remember.”
“What happens now?”
She leaned slightly closer.
“Maybe I finally give you a reason to stay.”
Jimmy kissed her.
Slow.
Not impulsive.
The kind of kiss two adults share after spending twelve hours pretending attraction is less urgent than everything else happening.
Beth’s hand touched his chest.
Jimmy’s hand settled lightly at her waist.
Then Lucy shouted from living room:
“Dad, the robot is smoking.”
Jimmy broke away instantly.
“What?”
He ran.
Beth followed.
The robot was not smoking.
A loose wire had warmed insulation.
Jimmy stared at Lucy.
She looked between him and Beth.
Then smiled.
“You were taking too long.”
Beth covered her face.
Jimmy pointed toward bedroom.
“Go.”
“It’s eight fifteen.”
“Go somewhere.”
Lucy laughed.
Beth whispered:
“I like her.”
Jimmy sighed.
“She likes you too.”
“How do you know?”
“She sabotaged a robot to interrupt us.”
Beth smiled.
“Protective.”
“Terrifying.”
“Impressive.”
Jimmy looked at her.
“Same category?”
She stared.
“How did you know that phrase?”
He smiled.
“Guess.”
The internal investigation broke open three days later.
Pete's copied maintenance logs showed repeated alarm events.
Corporate server records showed those events had been deleted under credentials belonging to Alan Pike.
Pike claimed Martin Voss ordered him.