Chapter 93: Influence

Femke was waiting for us outside the Council meeting room when Quaid and I arrived in Hong Kong. From the grim expression on her face he'd either filled her in on what happened or things weren't going well on her end. She greeted me warmly and personally, so I could only assume the latter and was actually bummed. At least if she was mad at me that meant there might be progress made.

"Welcome," she said to Jiao after Quaid introduced the young woman in black. Jiao simply nodded her head and left us as Femke instructed her secretary to lead the Empress's envoy inside. Femke faked a little shiver when she turned back to me, voice low. "Is it just me or is there something... off about that girl?"

"Max gave me the impression he knows more than he's saying," I said. "So, yeah."

Quaid's scowl told me he was about to give me trouble, but I saved him the effort.

"You're probably not going to like how I handled the Empress," I said.