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Los Altos Hills, California

23 February

Friday, 7:45 pm local time

“Vance, there’s so I know it”

Susan Pennington was pacing anxiously around Vance’s massive walnut desk, which seemed diminutive inside the expansive, well-appointed study

Vance didn’t answer He was deep in concentration, squinting at his co an Excel spreadsheet that Robert Maxwell, the CEO of NanoUSA, had just forwarded to hi, he was pressed to review the data tonight That way, he and Robert could have their closed-doorin the office at seven am tomorrow

“Vance!” Susan repeated, this tiht have her husband home, but his mind was still locked into the round-the-clock work schedule that coht And she needed his attention now

With a resigned sigh, Vance relasses and eased back in his leather chair, studying his wife’s stricken expression

“Susan, it’s only been three days since she called She’s pissed She didn’t like our reaction to her grand announce She’s still been texting us every day at the same time to let us know she’s okay So what is it you’re worried about?”

“It’s not like Lauren to hold a grudge,” Susan answered “She’s always abouton This tiht to voiceuide than like our daughter”

“Like I said, she’s pissed at us Maybe there’s a guy in the picture,” Vance suggested “You kno Lauren is If she’s `in love’ yet again, she’ll be totally consu why she wants to stay in Europe rather than joining her fa”

Susan rubbed her hands together and considered that Vance wasn’t wrong in his assessuy, it was hard, it was fast, and it overshadowed all else After nu the details, waiting until the love affair was over and then defaulting to: “It didn’t work out”

Could that be what this was about?

She blew out her breath “I suppose that could explain it”

“Of course it could” Vance slid his glasses back on his nose and returned to his work “Why don’t you o upstairs? I’ll join you as soon as I can”