Page 248 (1/2)

"Where's the prototype?" she asks me "You left here with it yesterday, but I don't see it anywhere"

"I left it at home"

"You what?" Cheryl asks She looks genuinely shocked

"It's fine I'll bring it back in tomorrow"

"Ethan, do you realize what you've done? You've left our only prototype—the one piece of technology that we're banking on and pouring all of our resources into—exposed and unguarded Would you leave a million dollars on the sidewalk and expect it to be there the next day?"

"It's not like I left it on the street corner," I say "That's not a good analogy This is oing to touch it"

"Are you sure about that?" Cheryl asks, her eyes narrowing "I don't think that was the wisest thing to do because you weren't alone … You had Brittney over"

"How did you know that?" I ask

"I dropped her off near One57 yesterday and just as I thought, she ended up at your place”

For ame at my own apartment now

"Look, I know you worry, but I trust her," I say

"Since when have

you becoers?" she asks

"It's not like that … I've gotten to really know Brittney She's not a stranger I can trust her She's opened up to me You can trust her too"

Are you listening to yourself?" Cheryl asks, shaking her head "Prove to me that she can be trusted"