Page 38 (2/2)

“This is good news, Vance,” Aidan told hiy badly They’re not going to hurt Lauren—not when that would eli to talk to her and see her toraph the entire conversation from your end and to reiterate the do’s and don’ts that you’ll adhere to The coet the at the hotel around ht, delivered to my hotel room I’ll explain the technical aspects of the computer to you and then head back to Silicon Valley toto her With the proper guidance fro them what they ell before the noon deadline”

“And what do I do until then?” Vance asked

“Exactly what you’ve been doing Leave for Nano now Check in with Si interviews of your staff, supposedly to better your depart with Robert Maxwell Get updates from Ethan”

“Business as usual? I’m not sure I can do this anymore”

“Yes you can For Lauren Now head out You’ll be back for lunch Spend the afternoon with your family—calmly and in vacationto Tahoe tonight, probably by eight I have a ten o’clock videoconference with my team, so I’ll have to interrupt for that You and I will have ample time to educate and orchestrate”

Silicon Valley, CA

27 February

Tuesday, 10:05 am local time

Jia li Sung picked up her burner phone and punched in the country code eight-six, followed by the memorized number

Several rings later, a man’s voice answered in Mandarin “Xu”

“I’ue,” she replied, also in Mandarin “I was told to inforo, e all met in California, it was explained to you that we have a narro of ti to an end and you have nothing to show for your efforts My colleague is beginning to think that you are the wrong partner for this venture”

She paused, listening to the livid reply, punctuated by so

“There is no reason to use that kind of language,” she responded calmly She’d been warned to expect this reaction “Results are e require here, not excuses or expletives”

The CEO at the other end of the phone sucked in his breath, clearly striving for calue that in a week this will be done Further, a sa for will be transood faith”