“When will he be back?” I ask.
Magnes shrugs. “He didn’t say.”
I laugh, feeling uncomfortable. Neither of their expressions change. “You aren’t kidding? That’s it? He built this company! He poured his entire being into this place, and he just has to leave it behind?” I stand up, feeling like I need to get out of my chair. "Because of me? That's not fair."
Sacha sighs loudly.
Magnes stands up and crosses his office. “Would you like a drink, Ms. Hamilton?”
“No, I don’t want a drink.” My feet have me pacing the office. “Does he think that’s what I want? Him just gone?”
“He’s trying to do the right thing.” Sacha remains very sensibly seated.
"Well, he’s not going to makemethe bad guy! I won’t let him. I'm not going to be the reason that he abandons everything that he worked so hard to build!" I feel myself ranting as I stab my finger into my own chest, but I don't have the self control to stop myself. "He's not going to blame me."
“No one is blaming you, Ms. Hamilton,” Sacha says.
“Because it’syourfault.” My stabbing finger points toward Magnes.
“Excuse you?” The Lake Monster flinches, although I’m feet away.
“She’s not wrong,” Sacha mutters.
"There's nothing you can do; he’s made up his mind.” Magnes opens a cabinet and stares at a row of bottles of alcohol for a moment before he closes the door again with a huff.
“If you don’t want to work with us any longer, we understand,” Sacha interjects. “We’ll cancel the contract, cut you loose, no strings.”
I stop in my tracks. “You’re punishing me for this?”
“No.” Magnes says quickly. “No, and we don't want you to leave!"
Sacha puts a hand up, and Magnes stops talking. "Pontius was very clear. He wantsyouto do whateveryouwant, Ms. Hamilton. It was the only thing that he insisted on before he left. You are free to stay, to leave, break the contract, or move your headquarters to another city. We will help with whatever you choose.”
“My choice?” I tap my fingers on the table. It isn’t really my choice though, is it? It affects my employees. Some of them have been with me since the beginning. They depend on me for their livelihoods. I can’t ask them to relocate to another city or go back to those crappy offices or go back to insecure paychecks. I can’t stand the idea of disappointing them.
No. This choice is between me andhim.
He should have to answer for this. He’s forcing my hand, making me the bad guy. Removing himself from my life, just like Colin did.
What I need is to talk to Ant. To yell at him, face-to-face. My employees’ opinions matter, but ultimately, I know they are going to choose the higher paychecks, better office spaces, and better benefits. I can’t leave Cryptech.
This issue is between me and the Mothman.
“Where is he?” I demand.
“At his home, probably. He rarely leaves it during the day.” Sacha sighs loudly. Magnes just continues smirking as I head for the door.
I don’t exactly rememberwhere Pontius lives. It takes me a couple hours driving around the waterfront area of town, before I finally stumble on a building that I am sure is his house. From outside, in the daylight, it looks just like a lot of the other industrial buildings. Except for the nerdy little concrete fire flower out front.
The drive gave me plenty of time to compose a long angry rant. When I finally park my car outside his place, I know exactly how I am going to tear into him.
I step onto the sidewalk and freeze. Like the fresh air has knocked some sense into me. This is a terrible idea. Confronting him, alone, in his house. Last time I was here, I was falling in love.
Crap. Not love, something less intense than that.
I shift my keys back and forth in my hands several times. This is silly. I can’t be in love with him. I barely, know him. I start toward the front door. Halfway down the sidewalk, I stop myself and head back to my car. Three steps later I stop again and turn back toward his apartment. I repeat this at least three more times, loosing track of the exact number.
I just need to walk up to the door. Knock on it. Talk to him. See him again. Confront him. Tell him that he doesn’t just get to wash his hands of the situation.
