Chapter 48
Chapter 48:
He threw his phone at the seat opposite him.
The Butler Library at Columbia University was a cathedral of silence. Rows of mahogany tables were illuminated by the soft glow of brass lamps. It smelled of dust, parchment, and intense academic pressure.
Aurora wasn’t there for a class. She sat in a secluded corner of the Rare Books section, wearing a cashmere sweater that cost more than ten months of her old rent. Spread out before her were three texts from the 18th century on botanical toxicology. She needed inspiration for the crafting system in the next expansion of Apex Ascendant.
A girl with bright blue hair slid into the empty seat next to her. She was wearing a leather jacket that cost more than a car and combat boots that had seen better days. She dropped a $5,000 Hermes bag on the floor carelessly.
“Is this seat taken?” the girl whispered loudly. “The guy over there smells like Axe body spray and desperation p>
Aurora laughed. It was a genuine sound. “It’s yours p>
The girl groaned, putting her head on the table. “I’m going to get disowned. My grandmother expects me at a sonata on macroeconomics, and I’m staring at a blank page p>
Aurora glanced at the girl’s open laptop. She saw the prompt. Without thinking, she slid a piece of paper over. On it, she had sketched a perfect outline of supply-side elasticity in emerging markets—something she had learned in her previous life as a corporate shadow.
The girl’s eyes widened. She looked at the paper, then at Aurora.
“Holy shit. You just saved my life,” the girl panted. “I’m Yvonne. Yvonne Blue p>
“Aurora Vance p>
“Coffee on me,” Yvonne insisted. “It’s the least I can do p>
They sat at a campus café. It smelled of roasted beans and old books.
“So,” Yvonne said, taking a sip of a latte that was mostly sugar. “Why are you here? You look like you’ve lived a life. You have ‘I’ve seen some shit’ eyes p>
Aurora smiled wryly. “I’m restarting. Just got divorced p>
Yvonne’s eyes widened. “Trash husband p>
“The trashiest,” Aurora confirmed. “Narcissist. Momma’s boy. The whole package p>
“High five,” Yvonne held up a hand. “Men are garbage p>
They high-fived. It was instant friendship.
Aurora’s phone rang on the table. She glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number, but the prefix was from the Thorne Industries private exchange. She answered, thinking it might be legal regarding the contract details.
“This is Aurora p>
“Aurora, stop this childish game. Come to the office,” Sterling’s voice barked. He sounded exhausted and angry. The volume was high. The sound leaked out of the phone.
Yvonne raised an eyebrow. She leaned in, listening.
Aurora’s expression turned icy. The warmth she had shown Yvonne evaporated.
“Listen to me closely,” Aurora said. Her voice was low, dangerous. “You are a footnote in my past. Do not call me again p>
She hung up. She pressed Block.
Yvonne whistled. “Damn. Badass. I like you p>
“Who was that?” Yvonne asked.