More importantly, it would create an inconvenience I don’t need.
There are too many projects to evaluate and some funny anecdotes I want to test on those I see daily to measure their worth of humor. If it’s high enough, I may work one or two into this year’s speech.
“In fact, Blake, that type of shit would change a normal per-”
“I’m not normal,” the interruption is accompanied by me shoving the stick between my teeth. “And for the scientific sanctity of this conversation, it’s better not to use what is considered average or commonplace to predict my personal actions or responses.”
My brother momentarily concedes.
“You’ve explained that who and their why. What about the other?”
“The alternative threat possibility is a low-level criminal organization.”
“Because the high-level ones actually use our services?”
Brandon sneers at the statement prior to having another sip of his Wilcox whiskey.
Haworth is a private company. Private military. Private security. Private technology. Pretty much anything you can put the word private in front of they have a branch for it. And they use that one little word to shield themselves from direct ties to any one side of anything. They are not in it for the “right” or to battle “the wrong”. They are not in it for “pride of country” or “to protect their nation”.
No.
Services provided by this enterprise are given to those that can afford the contract.
End of moral conversation.
“Personally,” Brandon casually begins again, “I think that one has less merit. While coming after one of our higher-ranking team members-”
“Oh, good, Professor Pep Talk is back.”
“-would be a powerful flex for them and a devastating blow for us if they got away with it, it seems…too risky for a group at their level. Someone with better reach, ranking, or clout – say a branch of the Synful Syndicate as an example – I could believe; however, if they were up to something of this nature, I believe that would be a declaration of civil war considering who holds the number one spot in our company.”
The desire to ask more questions involving how everything is run is non-existent.
Less I know of said details, the easier it is to sleep at night.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss and sometimes ignorance just helps you stay alive to keep doing what it is you love to do.
We were taught early on in life that nothing is ever black and white.
That rarely is anything ever that simple.
People are complicated; therefore, the world will always be a complex equation with no single definite answer.
Again, pretty sure learning that at the age of four made it even easier to gravitate towards doing things with more reliable results.
Like putting a person in a room with a flaming floor and mildly fire-resistant pants and expecting them to get a little burned.
I did the math pre-hand to accurately calculate the range of pain Reynolds would be receiving.
I knew what to expect.
I prefer to have some awareness of what I can expect to come in life.
Unpredictableness is only allotted so much room in my realm of existence.
“The when and the where of this kidnapping attempt are currently unknown,” Brandon professionally proceeds. “The most we’ve been able to decipher regarding those details is sometime between now and the conference.”
Tacky – a name I fought like hell to give the event because it makes me giggle – is the only thing I love almost as much as I do creating the gadgets that get displayed and demonstrated. For three days, all types of people – both men and women, intellectuals and physical specimens – gather to ooh and awe over the latest developments, test products, and discuss needs and desires from their in the field standpoints versus those that have never stepped foot outside their cushy offices. It’s a meeting of the minds and more often than not a meeting of the bodies, too. Could be from all the adrenaline the weekend kicks up or it could be the fact that this is the only “vacation” some of them have seen in months.
Which is the case for me.
Dating is needlessly perplexing, obnoxiously aggravating, and ridiculously time-consuming.
It’s basically the worst type of scientific experiment.
However, at Tacky, I’m able to enjoy the perks without any of the woes. There’s no need to spiral over the will he or won’t he text me in the coming days or if I even want him to, considering the fact he didn’t know who Katherine Johnson was. I don’t have to pretend I’m not smarter than he is or that I can stomach the fact he has no idea who the Four Tops were. And best of all, there’s no overwhelming sense to behave by a bunch of outdated rules to make myself seem more appealing as a permanent mate in the long run. Having sexual encounters at Tacky is a socially stress-free experience I can and do appreciate. I mean, what’s better than getting that itch I can’t quite properly reach finally scratched without all the hassle and hustle that comes from bars, clubs, and dating apps?
What’s a more convenient, no strings attached way to get my back blown out – a phrase I learned long before it happened to me – that doesn’t involve hookers or escorts?
Mmm.
Well, an almost no strings attached way.
Occasionally, someone ends up tangled in them; however, it has yet to be me.
I’ve thankfully never been pregnant – that’s not even a scenario I am willing to hypothesize about – and I’m equally grateful I’ve never gotten an STD or STI during my spurts of sexual exploration.
Condoms are not an optional PPE for me.
They’re mandatory.
And while I know they are not 100% effective; the percentage of success and reliability is high enough I can take comfort in it.
Brandon drops his stare to his glass and swishes around the liquid inside. “Due to this situation-”
“I’m not sure it has reached the ‘situation’ level yet.”
“-and our commitment as a company to protect one of our most valuable assets-”
“You’re gonna make me blush speaking so sentimentally.”
“Look,” he sharply returns his gaze to mine, “I know you think I’m just here on behalf of the organization-”
“Haven’t really heard anything that would convince me otherwise.”
“However, I’m not. Yes, H.E. wants you well protected. We can’t risk anything physically or mentally damaging you because that, in turn, would put numerous projects in jeopardy.”
“There’s only room here for one twin to be incapable of having emotional depth, Brandon.”
“But,” he releases a loud, exasperated breath, “you’re my fucking sister, Blake.”
The statement prompts me to chew harder on my gum.
“I’d come out of this custom designer suit and these Italian fucking loafers and put on some tactical shit without a second thought if anything happened to you.”