JACKIE:

  When I attended my first High Flyer party, my skin felt borrowed, and I couldn’t stop tugging at the seams.

  Cocktails flowing. Passed appetizers. Classical music. Important people mixing and mingling. The intimidating soiree spilled onto the balcony overlooking the volcano, tainted further by the ghosts of what happened here.

  I grabbed a glass of red wine from a server’s tray and slunk to the back corner to hide.

  “This sucks.” I tugged at the tight dress Jeffrey from Wardrobe persuaded me to wear. It was Beatrice’s style, which looked nice, but turns out, is incredibly uncomfortable.

  I couldn’t wait to get back into my sweatpants—and the Slipstream. That’s where I felt at home.

  “Is that who I think it is?” A familiar voice rang out.

  I froze at the sight of my roommate, Gabby, forever haunted by the past.

  “Jackie, where the hell have you and Baxter been? The house went into foreclosure, and we all had to move out.”

  I hadn’t thought about my old life since this whole adventure kicked off. I left for work one day and hadn’t come home since.

  I ignored her question. “How’d someone like you get invited to a party like this?”

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Gabby retorted. “My ViewMe channel has forty million subscribers now, I’ll have you know. My coverage of the Life Rite pill sent me to the stratosphere.”

  She pointed to the press badge hanging around her neck.

  I pretended not to be impressed.

  Pulling at my tight dress, I ran my fingers through the red streak in my hair, wondering what Gabby thought of my new look.

  She downed a glass of champagne in one gulp and placed it on a cloth-covered high-top table. “So, Jackie, are you gonna tell me what happened or what?”

  She pressed the record button on her pocket cam and shoved it in my face.

  I looked away and put my hand up, not wanting my face slapped all over her ViewMe channel.

  “Jackie Cooper, are you really a Claudi? I wouldn’t have believed it, but that red streak in your hair is unmistakable. The news used a terrible picture of you, by the way. When I saw the announcement that Beatrice Claudi had a long-lost daughter, I was shook.”

  I started sweating, unsure how to answer.

  “Are you some bastard love child or something?”

  “Well…” I shuffled my feet, my toes aching in those stupid high-heels.

  I heard Beatrice’s fake laugh nearby. Thankfully, she saved me from answering.

  “Jackie!” Beatrice called. “Come and meet Mr. Wilson.”

  I threw Gabby a smug glance and walked over to Beatrice.

  It felt good to be summoned by the most important person in the room. I would have held my head higher if I was better at walking in heels.

  Wearing a fake smile, I joined Beatrice and a man in a tailored three-piece suit.

  “Hi Jackie, pleasure to meet you. I’m from the Global Gazette. I have to say, your philanthropic pursuits on this island are commendable.”

  “Oh?”

  “The way you and Mrs. Claudi saved the locals from the volcanic eruption. They would have died if you didn’t put out the fires.”

  “We couldn’t stand idle while those poor people suffered,” Beatrice said.

  I shot her a confused look, and she winked at me. This conversation was going worse than the last one.

  Mr. Wilson added, “Jackie, I have to ask… You’ve done so much for humanity. Saving the islanders, curing the PX virus. It’s incredible.”

  “Thanks,” I said hesitantly. “What’s your question?”

  “How do you manage all that and look so fabulous?”

  Beatrice and Mr. Wilson laughed.

  I pulled at my dress. What was I supposed to say to something so ridiculous? It killed me to wade in such shallow waters.

  Beatrice came to my rescue again. “Like I said, Lee. We do it for the people. Let me know if you need anything else for your article. In the meantime, go mingle. Grab another drink and enjoy yourself, okay?”

  “Sounds great.” Mr. Wilson clinked his champagne glass against Beatrice’s.

  She linked her arm to mine. “Don’t forget to grab a swag bag, Lee.”

  He nodded and walked away.

  She took me aside. “At least pretend you’re enjoying the party, Jackie.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “You told them we saved the islanders from a volcanic eruption?”

  “Yes, I did. This is your coming out party, dear, so start acting like a Claudi.” Beatrice grabbed my hands and looked me in the eye. “Besides, you’re the family I always wanted. I’m so glad we’re doing this together.”

  I was speechless. Her compliments were hard to get used to. I desperately wanted a relationship with my real mom, but perhaps this was the next best thing.

  I managed to say, “Me too.”

  Beatrice smiled.

  An older Indian gentleman saddled up to us. “Excuse me. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

  “Not at all.” Beatrice plastered on a smile, too big to be real. “Jackie, I’d like you to meet Mr. Tal.”

  I gave him a limp handshake, and he turned his attention back to Beatrice.

  “I need to talk to you about my son, Feraz. He’s terribly sorry for the trouble he’s caused. He’s promised it won’t happen again if he’s given access to more treatments.”

  I thought back to that fateful day in the lab when Feraz rebirthed. I tried to make eye contact with Beatrice, but she had her eyes locked on Mr. Tal.

  “I’m sorry, but Feraz was in breach of contract. He’s lucky I didn’t get my lawyers involved.”

  Mr. Tal lowered his voice. “Between you and I… When he was a child, Feraz suffered a head injury in a boating accident. Despite receiving the best care, he still has… shortcomings.”

  “What does that have to do with being a selfish playboy?” I thwarted a laugh, but it came out as a snort.

  Mr. Tal ignored me and stayed locked on Beatrice. “My son has a lot to learn. There’s no argument about that.”

  She nodded. “Agreed. That’s why he cannot have any more Life Rite.”

  My body relaxed with the news.

  “Yes, but he’s promised to–”

  Beatrice cut Mr. Tal off. “I’m sure you understand the liability of resuming care after a breach of contract. It would set a dangerous precedent.”

  “Of course. Perhaps I buy out that contract in full, so we could begin anew. Please don’t answer right away. Think about it.”

  “I’m listening,” Beatrice replied.

  Feraz’s rich dad was going to pay, who knows how much, to clean up his careless mistakes.

  I couldn’t believe I was privy to this High Flyer conversation. I took a sip of wine, and it dribbled down my chin.

  Mr. Tal adjusted his gold cufflink. “Mrs. Claudi, I’m also considering investing in the Life Rite Institute.”

  “Wonderful,” she said. “I’m looking for additional partners for the Institute. It’s not profitable yet, but we’re learning more about the Grid every day. I could use another set of eyes on the matter.”

  “I’m sure there’s money to be made from the endeavor eventually.”

  “You’re very wise, Mr. Tal.” Beatrice took a sip of champagne. “When we solve life’s greatest mysteries, we put ourselves at the forefront of innovation.”

  “Has the Institute made any conclusive findings?” Mr. Tal asked. “Rumor has it you’ve been poking around the Grid for sometime now, and you’re on the precipice of an important discovery.”

  “I would love to tell you.” Beatrice put her hand on her chest. “But that is extremely confidential.”

  “Of course. Regardless of any significant announcements, I’m interested in investing.”

  “I’ll have my team send you the prospectus.”

  Mr. Tal smiled. “Fabulous.”

  Was he going to invest in the Life Rite Institute in exchange for the Life Rite serum for his son? I don’t speak rich people, but I thought that’s what was happening.

  I lost my manners. “What’s the Institute? What are you doing with the Grid? Do you know why it’s there? What’s it made of?”

  Beatrice ignored my questions and said to Mr. Tal, “Have Feraz call my office. I’ll arrange an interview. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

  “Excellent,” Mr. Tal said. “That’s all I ask.”

  The idea of having somebody like Feraz get access to the Slipstream gave me ants under my skin.

  I blurted out, “Life Rite is only for people who will better society. That’s our new mission statement. Isn’t that right, Mom?”

  Beatrice pursed her lips and threw me some side-eye. “That’s right, Jackie.”

  “Of course,” Mr. Tal agreed.

  “No, like, for real,” I retorted. “Not just pretend.”

  Mr. Tal looked at Beatrice, perplexed.

  She changed the subject. “Did you hear about how we saved the islanders from a lava eruption, Mr. Tal?”

  “Yes, how noble of you, Mrs. Claudi.”

  My skin flushed.

  Sure, she stopped making mutants, and no longer created uncontrolled fire portals, but she was still peddling her immortality serum to the highest bidder. Feraz would get Life Rite over my dead body.

  I knew I’d get further on that topic with Beatrice alone, but I still wanted to assert myself over Mr. Tal.

  Not coming up with anything witty to say, I pretended to sneeze so I could spill my drink all over his expensive suit.

  Red wine splattered on him like blood.

  “Geez, this is Armani!” Mr. Tal blushed as he wiped his jacket.

  “Oops.”

  Not a significant move, but it was something. I cupped my hands over my mouth to catch my laughter.

  “Hey, you,” Mr. Tal called out to a nearby server. “Get some napkins to clean up this disaster.”

  It took the server a second to realize Mr. Tal was speaking to him, so he hesitated.

  “Are you stupid? Move it!” Mr. Tal snapped, steam coming from his ears.

  He yelled at the server because he couldn’t scream at me in front of Beatrice. But boy, did he want to.

  I took the remaining sip of my red wine and put the glass on a high-top, ignoring Beatrice’s glare. I had immunity as her new sidekick, but would she listen to me about who couldn’t have access to the immortality serum and Slipstream?

  The server returned with a pile of napkins and wiped Mr. Tal’s chest.

  He snatched the napkins out of the server’s hands and yelled for him to leave. “You’ve made it worse, you imbecile!”

  The server shrank and slinked away.

  Not long ago, I was a Climber, used and abused however they liked, too.

  Beatrice apologized for the server’s delay and insisted that she’d reprimand him. “I assure you, Mr. Tal, it won’t happen again.”

  I saw red.

  “Reprimanded?” I asked. “For what?”

  “That’s enough, Jackie,” Beatrice whispered.

  “Whatever.” I pulled at my tight dress.

  Mr. Tal excused himself to the bathroom. “Good day, ladies.”

  Beatrice grabbed my arm. “What was that? I know you did that on purpose. You’re so gauche.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Beatrice curled her nose, refusing to answer.

  My heart beat faster as I made my demands. “His son can’t have more serum, okay? And what’s the Life Rite Institute? What dirty little secrets is that branch keeping?”

  Beatrice tightened her hand around my wrist. “Keep your voice down.”

  I lowered my voice to a whisper. “If we’re actually partners, you need to let me in. You promised me a vote in the family business.”

  She released her grip. “Of course, Jackie, but not now. There are snakes in the water.”

  Do you think Jackie made the right decision to work with Beatrice?