Chapter 8: The Handshake

Victor Stahl arrived at our press event with a basket of fruit.

Eight Gyms Night was five weeks off, and the flagship had put out folding chairs for the owners of all eight gyms and thirty reporters.

Stahl walked in last, in his camel coat with a bodyguard on each side, and handed the fruit to Dad.

"Declan. I wanted you to have the best of what the city grows."

"It's January," Dad said.

"It's a very good greenhouse."

Dad gave him the Bills Sigh, which is the one for people who owe him nothing and want something.

Dev stood up from the front row with his arms folded, and Finn pulled him back down by the sleeve.

Stahl shook every hand in the room, and then he came down the row to me.

I was in a folding chair at the end, in my biggest sweatshirt, with Cal standing at my shoulder.

"And this must be the famous Birdie," Stahl said warmly. "I've seen the video. The water bottle."

"Forty thousand views," I said. "I'm told it did well."

"Let me help you." He took a sealed bottle off the table and held it out to me. "Please. Try."

The cap was screwed on hard. I could see his thumb mark in the plastic.

I took it in both hands and made my face do something very brave.

I twisted. My knuckles went white. I let out a small whimper on the third try, and the bottle did not open.