Chapter 23: Every's House

Every Red lived on a cliff above the harbor, in a long white house with a lit pool and no neighbors.

She showed him to a guest room at midnight, with a bed already turned down.

There was a pair of pajamas on the pillow, grey cotton, in his size.

He looked at them for a moment.

"I keep spares," Every said from the door. "People are always staying over."

"Thank you."

"Sleep late. Nobody will wake you."

He slept for nine hours, and woke to sunlight and the smell of coffee.

She had set the table on the terrace, with eggs and fruit and a pot of tea.

She poured it for him, no sugar, and sat down across the table in a silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

She looked younger without a suit.

"Better?" she said.

"Much."

"Good. Eat."

He ate.

Down below, the harbor was bright and tiny.

The grey blade of the Ross tower stood at the end of it, small enough to cover with a thumb.

"I did some thinking in the night," Every said.

"About what?"

"About you. About what you're worth and what's being done with it." She turned her cup in its saucer.

"Shieldon is yours, Evan. I want you to know that I know it.

"You built something in a week that I've been trying to buy for five years."

"The team built it."

"The team follows you." She smiled. "I'd like to make that official."

She slid a folder across the table.

It was thin, cream-colored, with a silver edge.

He opened it.

*Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Shieldon. Ten percent of the company, vesting immediately. Exclusive services for five years.*

"Five years," he said.

"It's only a number."

"Exclusive means I can't build anything outside Shieldon."

"It means you'll never need to." Her voice was warm and reasonable.

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