***
Glynis stared at her computer screen. The data came and went in colorful blips. Roland wasn’t using her. Could she say the same about herself? He thought her brothers were doing the background on him and casting the deciding vote. She leaned back in her chair. Roland would be loyal to the Supercell. Would he be as loyal to her?
“Is it true?” The blonde tech from yesterday stopped in front of Glynis’s door.
“Is what true?”
“That Hauz has taken Tane’s place on the Anvil?”
Glynis blinked. “Whereever did you hear that?”
“So it is true?”
“What’s true?” The brunette, Trix, stopped next to the blonde.
“Hauz is on the Anvil.”
“I thought they voted for Roland.”
“Roland.” The blonde rolled her eyes. “He has more than a touch of frost in his blood, besides, this makes the fifth or sixth time he’s been nominated. The purebloods would never allow him on the Anvil.”
Trix shook her head. “He’s popular and the bloods have had more than their share of scandal and bad wind lately. They’ll need his image.”
“It’s all over the news.”
Glynis resisted the urge to turn on the news. She had given her parents her recommendation last night but she had yet to officially vote. Unless... “Ladies I don’t think there’s time for this. We have work to do.”
“Of course, Miss Ahdeed. There’s a phone call for you on line one, it’s Roland James.”
Glynis stabbed the button on her desk and her walls and door turned opaque. Her phone screen floated above her desk. Roland moved in and out of the image. “Hi. I just wanted to say congratulations on the vortex you pulled out of that mesocyclone. I don’t know why they reported it as stable. Our tech was having trouble holding it together. No one could have pulled a mature anvil out of it.”
Roland stopped for a moment and looked at her. “It would have been different if you had been behind the controls.” He ran his hand through his hair, a soft voice sounded behind him. He turned for a moment then faced her again. “Yeah, um, look. I’m sorry but I can’t meet you tonight.”
“What?” A woman’s silhouette appeared on the wall behind him. “Oh, sure. I understand.”
“Are you okay?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Glynis snatched a stylus off her desk and bent it. She couldn’t possibly get attached to him after one date.
“I have to go. I’ll call you later.” The screen flickered off.
“Sure. Bye.”
“It’s time, Glynis.” Her father stood in the doorway to her office. “The Anvil is waiting.”
“I thought they’d already voted.” Everyone thought they’d already voted. Even Roland.
“Without you? I don’t think so.”
“I’m ready.” Glynis squared her shoulders. She would vote. She knew her duty. Good old reliable Glynis. Would Roland have broken their date if he had known the reports were false?