Free United (The United Trilogy Book 1) by Jaci Wheeler Page B

felt like we were talking behind his back and felt bad. She may be my boss more or less, but she needs to know to whom my loyalties belong.
    “He may be quirky, but Wes is the most brilliant person I’ve ever known.  I get just as much out of our friendship as he does” I state fiercely.
    She studies me again, for longer this time, and a huge smile breaks out on her face.  “Yes, I can see that.  I’m very happy to have you here Rosaline.  I think you are going to fit in wonderfully.  There is going to be a lot to get used to, but I have a feeling you can handle your own perfectly well. Now, let’s go meet with the rest of the Foundation.”  Just as she was making me feel as though I could actually do this she had to bring up the Council.  My stomach flips over and I pray they are all as accepting as Annabelle.  I have a feeling it isn’t going to be that easy.  If I am going to pick someone to represent a group, I would pick the one easiest to get along with as well.
    I took another calming breath, something I find myself doing often lately, square my shoulders and look Annabelle in the eye “After you.” And off we go.
     

Chapter Seven
    I followed her, hardly paying attention to where we were going.  My only concern at this moment was to make sure I kept breathing.  All too quickly we have arrived at a series of doors.  I’m pretty sure we took two of those cylinder type tubes to get here but I’m not really sure.  Annabelle scanned her hand on one of the doors panels, once her picture appeared on the screen I assumed we would be let in but then I was surprised to see her back up and a body scan came out of nowhere.  Once the body scan was finished she stepped aside and gestured for me to do the same.  I quickly went through the same ritual and soon the glass doors opened and shut behind us immediately.
    Compared to most of the rooms I’ve been in, this one was rather sparse.  There was a large picture window overlooking the grounds.  A beautiful view, in fact, of the lines of trees and you could just make out the lake in the back ground.  Other than a large round glass table in the center, the room was completely void.  There were eleven glass seats at the table, which had no head and from what I could tell no leader.  “Please have a seat Rosaline.” I did as Annabelle asked and to my relief she took the chair next to me.
    “Everyone, as you know, this is Rosaline Thatcher.  Please do your best not to scare her off on her first day.” There were a few chuckles around the room and it helped ease some of my fears.  Most everyone looked friendly, if anything maybe a little guarded and doubtful which I completely understood; I myself was both.
    “Hello, it’s nice to meet you all.  I am in fact a bit terrified so I hope you go easy on me.”  There, that was polite but also the truth.  This earned me several very big smiles from around the table and a few hardy chuckles as well.  Annabelle smiled and patted the top of my hand.
    “That’s alright dear, it will be painless I promise.  I would go around and introduce everyone to you, but I doubt you would remember all of their names so let’s do this the easy way.”  She again tapped a few buttons on her wrist watch and all of a sudden the plain glass table was transformed.  A blue- like light emerged and small holograms of everyone appeared before them along with their names.  “Now that that is done I’m going to turn things over to Seamus for a while so that he can catch you up on a little history.”
    “Thank you Annabelle.  It is very nice to meet you Rosaline.  We know this can be rather overwhelming and a lot to take in, so we are going to take this slow, alright?” I nodded, feeling my nervousness start to abate.  Seamus was a sprite of a man.  Thin and wiry are the only ways I can think to describe him.  He had wire rimmed glasses and a very curly mop of graying red hair that was more gray than red