Daiyu picked me up in her white limo. It was only my second time riding a luxury aircar, and I tried not to gawk at the projections across all the windows as I sank into the long white leather seat. Daiyu had chosen an underwater scene, submerging us in blue waters shimmering with faint sunlight. Iridescent jellyfish floated by, and strange puffer fish bobbed in and out of view. And although there was plenty of space, she slid down to sit right beside me, close enough that our thighs touched.
I dialed down my suit’s temperature with a thought command. I had kept my distance from Daiyu during my recovery, and her proximity now brought a flush of warmth that had nothing to do with a fever. I was grateful for the suits that separated us. She spent the time talking about the strange sea creatures that drifted past: a majestic lionfish on full display, and a slithering bright blue–and-yellow ribbon eel. “The lionfish have venomous fin rays,” she said as one swam past our window.
The rendered image was so real, I was half convinced we were gliding beneath the sea.
“The beautiful creatures are often the most dangerous,” she murmured.
We had both taken off our helmets, and I raised an eyebrow at her comment, but she was studying the lionfish intently. We swept through clusters of seaweed, and Daiyu pressed a button on the panel. The images slowed on our windows, and we drifted among the seaweed.
“These are one of my favorites,” she whispered and pointed at a stalk of pale green kelp. “A leafy sea dragon.”
I didn’t see it at first but then discerned a fantastic creature among the leaves, as if made from foliage itself. It nestled against the seaweed, almost completely camouflaged. “That’s amazing,” I said. The seahorse perched among the green, quiet and serene. “It’s so peaceful.”
I felt Daiyu’s gaze turn to me, and our eyes met. I grinned, but her own smile barely touched the corners of her mouth. Unnerved, I reached over and clasped her hand for a moment, her skin cool against my own hot palm. “What?” I asked.
I remember, I waited for her to say.
You were the one.
She shook her head, then smiled again, but it was wistful, tinged with sadness. “So many of these sea creatures are gone now. Extinct.”
“Ah,” I said. “That is sad.”
She nodded solemnly and pressed something on the panel again, and the oceanic views disappeared, revealing a hazy Taipei skyline, shimmering just after dusk. A few airpeds zipped past us in the other direction, toward the heart of the city. She pressed close to me and rested her head against my shoulder, twining our fingers together, the gesture natural and familiar.
I hoped she couldn’t detect how fast my pulse raced. I knew that I liked her more than I should, and she acted as if she liked me back. It was exactly what I wanted—what I had set out to do: win her trust, charm her. Yet I couldn’t stop the guilt that expanded through my chest, couldn’t separate the truth and deceptions caught between all the jumbled emotions I felt.
We began to descend, passing high-rises, their windows glowing like beacons. Bright advertisements played across glass buildings, illuminating our interior in neon greens, reds, and blues—very different from the underwater scenes.
The airlimo landed down in front of Jin Corp, and the door opened automatically for us to get out. She rose and slipped the helmet over her head, and I did the same. “Keep your glass tinted,” Daiyu said to me in helmet as she walked to the wide golden doors. “And let me do the talking.”
“As you wish,” I said, more than happy to oblige.
The doors slid open noiselessly and we stepped inside the grand vestibule. Daiyu crossed the expanse of ivory stone floor to stop in front of the large circular rosewood counter and removed her helmet. “Ah Ming,” she said. “I’m bringing in my classmate Edward. We’re working on a school project together.”
“Miss Jin,” the young security guard said. “Of course. If I could just get a palm scan and collect his details . . .”
Daiyu gave an imperious wave of her hand. “My father knows. Edward is my guest.” She graced Ah Ming with a stunning smile.
Ah Ming grinned back. The guy didn’t have a chance. “I suppose . . .”
But she was already sweeping past him to the curved golden doors leading into Jin Corp proper. “You are a darling, Ah Ming.”
She winked at him while punching her eight-digit code into the glowing blue touch pad set beside the doors. I had already memorized the sequence—the same one Lingyi had found hacking into Daiyu’s Palm.
“We’ll be done in a few hours,” she said breezily and waved toward the young guard and nodded for me to follow.
I hid my smirk and stepped into a wide corridor behind Daiyu, as the doors slid closed behind us. “You can keep your helmet on and tinted,” she said in a low voice. “There are cameras everywhere, and you look nothing like my classmate Edward.”
“Is that a problem?” I asked.
“My father knows Edward’s family. They are loyal clients and have bought at least a dozen custom suits.” She led the way down the corridor. “He wouldn’t object to my giving Edward a tour. Anyone else, and we’d be in trouble.” The ivory stone floors continued here, and the walls were painted in a dark green bamboo design set against a pale golden background.
“Well, thank you, Edward,” I said.
Wide redwood doors lined both sides of the hallway, each carved with Jin Corp’s symbol. Lights set in the arched ceiling overhead cast the corridor in a warm, welcoming glow. The setting exuded professionalism, along with wealth and class. You were left with the impression that important tasks were being performed here, and performed well. I scanned the hallway, searching for emergency exits leading into stairwells. We passed one farther down, a nondescript ivory door with a discreet red EMERGENCY EXIT sign lit above it.
We would use those stairs when we were ready to bomb the building. A shiver ran down my spine. The thought of blowing up Jin Corp, creating destruction and mayhem, seemed surreal juxtaposed against this composed and swanky backdrop.
Soft classical music was piped in from the building’s sound system. A small tour group of five people was clustered ahead, led by a woman dressed in a stylish red you suit with a gold sunburst design across the front. Her hair was swept back in a clean bun, and she spoke animatedly, but in soft tones. They had stopped in front of a long display case set into the wall, showcasing the prototypes and styles of Jin suits throughout the years. The tourists’ heads swiveled around, taking it all in.
“The first floor of Jin Corp is open to the public for our investors, business partners, clients, and tourists,” Daiyu said as we walked past the tour group. She smiled and nodded at two women dressed in expensive business attire. They cast curious glances my way, but neither stopped to speak with us. “Tours are conducted daily, but everyone is subjected to a palm scan and background check before entry is allowed.”
Except for me, I thought.
“I’m fortunate to be your personal guest, then,” I said.
Her eyes widened. “Why? Do you have something to hide?”