Chapter 156: Pure Static

"How was your Christmas?" she asks politely.

"Nice enough," I reply honestly. "You?"

"Christmas like..." Her answer is vague. "How are Landon and Aurora?"

"She's not awake yet," I tell her.

"Oh dear," she looks suddenly gloomy, "she missed Christmas... that's just too sad."

The journey in the lift is awkward. Even in my nervousness about the directors meeting I can still feel the tension between us.

It's electric.

Pure static.

I straighten my tie and try to focus my mind. She finally turns to look at me and I see compassion in her eyes. I hate that she sees my weakness. I'm not like my mother. When I find a weakness, a fault in myself I resolve to fix it. She steps towards me in the moving lift.

"You are going to do brilliantly."

"Y-you think?" I hate how unsure I sound.

"I know." She sounds sincere.