Shutdown (Glitch)

things we hate now?” The smile was still on his face. “My list is oh so long. Starting with the fact that you’re in love with another man.”
    People all around had stopped to stare at us. They did love a good piece of gossip. I hoped we were performing to their standards.
    I tipped my head to the side and laughed in Max’s face. “He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be. You’re just a bad imitation,” I couldn’t help adding, “A copy who could never live up.”
    His smile was gone now. “You never gave me a chance. Besides, there was a while there when I lived up just fine.” He leered at me. “I didn’t hear any complaints.”
    My face heated up. “Only because I was looking at you but imagining him.”
    He pulled back. “I should have known from the start you’d break my heart. You always were a cold-hearted bitch.”
    My hand flew to slap his face, but he caught my arm midswing. I glared at him, letting the hatred pour off me. I didn’t have to fake it.
    “If I divorce you, you’ll lose everything,” I said, getting back on script. “My father will make sure you end up with nothing .” I spit the last word.
    He only looked momentarily daunted, but then smiled. “Your father was glad to get rid of you. He’s happy I have to deal with you now so he doesn’t have to bother.”
    I glanced around at all the people watching now and tried to look embarrassed, even hurt. I glared back at my pretend husband. Then I let out an angry huff and stalked out of the room toward the door my target had left through. It was the perfect excuse to make a believable exit.
    Once I was out, I hurried down the hallway toward Warnost’s room, trying to let go of my anger at Max so I could focus. I hoped our little charade hadn’t lasted too long and I’d catch Warnost before he disappeared behind the locked door of his bedroom suite. But as I approached, the door sealed shut behind him. I put my ear against the chrome door. If I buzzed, I could still slip inside after he opened the door and stun him. But then I heard two voices inside and swore silently. There was someone else there. I couldn’t use the stunner on both of them at the same time.
    “ Shunt ,” I swore under my breath. I stood one second longer, frustrated at how close I was to getting the key drive. But it was too risky if I tried it now. I finally pulled away from the door. I was so frustrated I wanted to kick something. Or punch a certain doped-up socialite for getting in my way.
    I headed down the hallway to my own suite. We hadn’t intended on going to the preparty before the fight tomorrow, but now we’d have to so we’d have another chance to snatch his key. I didn’t like cutting it that close, but there was no other choice. I flopped on the bed in our suite and let out a long breath. Imitating Darl was exhausting, and my feet were screaming from the too-tight shoes I’d been wearing all night. I took a long bath, as if I could wipe all traces of her off me.
    I dressed and came back into the main suite. Cream-colored silks and other manufactured gauzy fabrics were draped all over the room. They cascaded from a bar along the top of the bed and were bunched along the sides of the windows. I backed away from the window on instinct. We kept the heavy drapes always drawn so no one could peek in, but I was still glad it was nighttime. Even though I could control my allergies now, the outdoors still unnerved me.
    I curled up on the plush couch to study the detailed schematics of Central City’s layout some more. Tomorrow we’d need to be perfect, especially now that we’d have to work in time to get the second key drive too.
    Max came in a couple hours later. He tossed his shoes away and sat heavily on the bed. I looked at him and saw Max’s own face again, but I turned away anyway. Max was no more welcome a sight than Nihem.
    “I couldn’t make the switch,” I said. “That ridiculous woman kept clawing my arm, and by the time I got away from her, he was gone. We’ll have to get it tomorrow.”
    Max nodded. “Okay.”
    “Any problems with yours?”
    “Nope. She was more than willing to go somewhere to be alone with me. But nothing happened,” he added quickly.
    I frowned. “You didn’t get the drive?”
    “No, I got the drive.” He reached in his pocket and produced the tiny device. My breath caught. As disgusting as Max was, what he held in his hand made it all start to feel real. We were one step