Free Spark - ARC by Anthea Sharp Page B

both still worked for VirtuMax, but Jennet’s dad was now lead on a new project, while Mr. Chon got Feyland.
    “I hear the demo went well,” he said.
    Nice of him not to be there. She swallowed the words. “Yeah. Fun times. Hey, I’m going to grab a cup of tea. Good to see you.”
    She could play politician with the best of them, but she hoped Mr. Chon wouldn’t be seated next to her on the panel. There were limits.
    “Spark!” One of the younger VirtuMax employees, a guy named Wilo, waved from a nearby table. “Come join us.”
    “Will do. Let me grab my lunch.”
    She went to the buffet table and selected a box that supposedly contained a panini and a Caesar salad, then chose a beverage. Strong black tea, with milk and sugar—the way her Irish grandma used to drink. The taste was as comforting as going over to Nana’s and sitting in her soft lap, getting her hair braided while Nana crooned old melodies into her ear. Too bad the feeling didn’t last.
    Wilo, a lead artist for VirtuMax, and Tia, a tech goddess, were good company and didn’t make Spark feel like she was some sort of distant diva. Their lively conversation helped lift her spirits. Too soon, lunch ended and the panel moderator began rounding everyone up.
    “Spark,” Vonda called, beckoning to her from the corner. “I need to talk to you.”
    Her voice held a suppressed urgency that made Spark frown as she walked over.
    “What’s going on?”
    “I just found out VirtuMax flew in more guests for the panel. They decided the launch was too big for you to do solo and pulled a couple more gamers in.”
    “No.” Spark’s lunch turned to stone in her stomach. “Oh no. By a couple, you mean two, right? Please tell me it’s not the Terribles.”
    Though it couldn’t be anyone else. The Terabin twins were VirtuMax’s second-place celebrities. They used to be the first, until VirtuMax hired Spark. A year older than she was, Roc and Cora hadn’t taken well to losing their top billing. Or their cash bonuses from extra sponsorships. Any time she had to cross paths with them, things got nasty.
    VirtuMax finally figured that out after the twins set up a “prank” that almost ended in severe injury for Spark. Though nothing could be proven, the company made sure to keep them far apart. Until now.
    “It is.” Vonda’s gaze went past Spark, and her lips pinched together.
    “Well, well.” The voice behind her was like an ice cube sliding over Spark’s skin. “It’s the pink-haired punk. How special.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

     
    S park slowly turned to see Roc and Cora Terabin standing shoulder to shoulder behind her. They were dressed identically, as usual, in one of their many gamer outfits. The current one was silver and violet, with sleek pants tucked into big black boots.
    Even though they were fraternal twins, they liked to play up their physical similarities with a twist of gender ambiguity. Roc was taller, his face squarer, his voice deeper. Some people said he was handsome, with his chocolate-brown hair and amber eyes, but the flatness in his expression invalidated his superficial good looks.
    His sister, Cora, wore platform boots—subtle, but enough to bring her closer to her brother’s height. The eyeliner they both wore looked more flattering on him, though Spark wasn’t about to say so. The less she spoke to the Terabins, the better.
    She’d tried before to field their barbed words with snappy comebacks. At the moment, though, the two of them felt like more than she could face.
    “Ready?” the panel moderator called. “Showtime!”
    The noise from the banquet room increased as the moderator opened the connecting door: conversations layered on monologues layered on laughter, the clink of silverware on plates, and clatter of ice in glasses.
    Mr. Chon led the way, gesturing for Spark to follow. Vonda gave her arm a squeeze, but there was nothing she, or anyone, could do.
    Pasting a smile on, Spark felt the crowd’s attention veer