by Lilly LaRue
“I’m not.” Bari proceeded to back up her words with action.
During the next six weeks, Bari and Cooper spent nearly every night together, and most of the weekends. They’d striven to keep their relationship under wraps, without much success. Everywhere Bari went, she was offered advice from the townspeople, or given congratulations, or winked at by others, as if they were her conspirators in the romance of the decade.
Bari was in love with Cooper, but she held the words back. He gave no sign of wanting anything permanent, and she was afraid of damaging their fragile relationship. She was a modern woman, but she couldn’t help wishing for something more. Bari wasn’t going to mention marriage to him, but she would love to be Cooper’s wife.
Over dinner that night, she gathered her nerve. “What do you want from me?” The words she’d rehearsed all day bore no resemblance to the words coming out her mouth, and she winced.
“Well, you could brew some coffee, then we could go upstairs,” he suggested with mock lasciviousness.
“I’m serious,” Bari snapped. “What do you want from this relationship, Cooper?”
He frowned, setting aside his fork. “What do you want?”
Bari ground her teeth together. “I hate it when you do that. Whenever you don’t want to commit yourself, or you want to scope out the situation, you answer a question with a question.”
He seemed surprised by her observation, as if he didn’t realize how much she knew about him. “I think what we have is pretty nice.”
“You don’t want something more stable?”
“I’ve been married.” Cooper shuddered slightly. “Permanence is the last thing on my mind at the moment.”
“I see.” Bari removed the napkin from her lap. “I’ve never been married,” she said in a brittle tone, “But it’s something I’d like. I want a normal life, Cooper. Husband, children.” Her voice broke. “White picket fences and a mongrel dog. If you aren’t looking for that, then I don’t think this relationship can work.”
“That’s your decision,” he said in a distant voice. “I’m not saying I’ll never want to get married again. I’m just not ready right now.”
“What about a family?” Bari asked desperately. “Don’t you want children?”
Cooper shook his head firmly. “What kind of father would I make, Bari? I can’t run with the kid, or play baseball. I’m stuck in this goddamn wheelchair for the rest of my life, and I won’t be a liability to some helpless kid.”
Swallowing heavily, Bari rose. “You have so much to offer, Cooper. Being a father isn’t always about playing with them. I want children very much, and I’m not going to waste an unknown chunk of my life on someone who isn’t even open to the possibility.”
Cooper’s hazel eyes froze over, and his voice lost all tone. “If that’s how you feel, I won’t try to change your mind.”
“Right.” Bari kept her face expressionless. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” she added with as much composure as she could muster. Gracefully she put on her coat and left the house at a sedate pace. It wasn’t until she was in her apartment that the tears flowed from her green eyes, soaking the pillow she was crushing against her.
♥♥♥
The week was hellish for Bari, mostly due to the reaction of her co-workers. “He’ll change his mind,” Myra counseled after Bari poured the story out in a moment of weakness. “He’s not like Molly’s father, Bari. I’m sure Cooper likes children and he’ll come around.”
“It’s for the best,” Dylan told her as he flicked a comb through his carefully styled black hair. “Office romances never work out.” Bari didn’t even bother to ask where he’d heard about the breakup.
Most of the people in the company were sympathetic, but Freddie was not. He barged into her office as she was doing a search on the internet for job openings. She’d already emailed her résumé to three companies, but she was either too qualified or not qualified enough for the available positions. “What do you want?” she demanded crankily, fighting back a bout of nausea.
“I wanted to gloat.” Freddie grinned. “Now that the romance is over, I guess you’ll be moving on.” He was practically whistling, he was so happy. His eyes lingered on the computer screen. “It looks like I’ll get my job after all.”
“I wouldn’t start packing your things yet and mentally placing them.” Bari punched the “Save” key. “I won’t be leaving this job unless I find a comparable one that appeals to me.” Though that was an outright lie. She wanted out of here, and soon. “Cooper and I are both adults, and we can deal with any lingering awkwardness,” she said. “You should try being an adult sometime, Freddie. Now get out of my office and get back to work.”
She didn’t wait to see if he left as she rose from her chair and strode to the bathroom. In the stall she promptly lost her lunch, angry that Freddie had upset her so much. After washing her face and mouth, Bari returned to her office, relieved to note Freddie was gone. She returned to her job search, making a wordless sound of pleasure when she saw a listing for a small research company near Salem, Oregon. They were looking for a researcher, and Bari immediately emailed a resume and cover letter. It was a step down in the pay scale, but it would get her out of Hyperion and away from Cooper.
To her surprise, she received a response by the end of the afternoon, asking her to call the Personnel director that evening after six at his home. Bari printed out the message so she could refer to the phone number. “I’m eager to discuss what you could bring to our company. Please call me at…” The phone lit up with three calls, and Bari minimized the message. In the bustle of the afternoon, she forgot to close the program and left her computer on when she left. She was trying to get home in time to speak to the representative and never noticed.
♥♥♥
The phone interview went well with Langley Medical Technology, and Rink Fossner asked her to fly up for an interview the following weekend. Bari agreed and wrote it in her calendar. She fell into bed, trying to get some sleep. Every time she’d closed her eyes lately, Cooper’s face had intruded, making it nearly impossible to sleep.
It wasn’t until later that night that Bari remembered she’d left her computer on, and she drove back to Hyperion to shut down. It was a lot of trouble for such a minor thing, but her computer contained lots of sensitive information. While most of it required a password, Bari didn’t want to take any chances.
♥♥♥
When Bari got to work on Monday, the guards eyed her warily as she went through the security points, and one reached for the phone. Bari frowned a little, but shrugged off the incident as she went into her office. She was surprised to see two suited men sitting at her desk. “May I help you?”
“Mr. Fielding wants to see you,” one said in a deep voice. Frowning, Bari followed them to the elevator banks, and they rode to the top floor in silence. Kady didn’t look at her as Bari was led into the office.
Cooper and two more men were sitting at the conference table in the corner of the room. “Ms. McKenna.” Cooper’s manner was formal. “Please be seated.” Bari sat in the chair, growing more confused and frightened. What was going on? “On Friday night you attempted to access the PAQ-MAN research program and make a copy.” Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Mobile Nanotechnology. “Can you provide a valid reason for trying to copy such a highly classified program?”
Bari shook her head in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She was vaguely familiar with the project, but Cooper oversaw it personally. She’d never been involved with it in any way. In fact, she’d only heard about it from Cooper once in bed. He’d been excited by a breakthrough.
“Your special clearance badge was used to access the room,” Cooper said evenly. “Right before that, the cameras had a mysterious problem that wasn’t resolved until the security company came on an emergency call.”
“It wasn’t me.” Bari tilted her chin defiantly.
“Do you deny being in the building Friday
night?” Cooper asked.
“Ye…” Bari trailed off, remembering she’d returned to shut down her computer. “I was here, but only to shut down my computer. I accidentally left it on Friday before leaving work at five-thirty.”
“I suppose you were rushing home to speak to Rink Fossner of Langley?” Cooper asked. He slid the email across her desk. “This was found during a search of your office this morning. I quote, ‘I’m eager to discuss what you could bring to our company.’ Obviously you were trying to bring them a copy of the PAQ-MAN to secure a position with their company.”
“That’s a lie,” Bari said loudly. “I don’t deny I’ve been looking for another job, but that is because of personal reasons. I would never steal a program from Hyperion—especially not that one. I know what it means to you, Cooper.”
His eyes were stony. “The evidence is stacked against you, Ms. McKenna. You logged in with your card at ten oh-eight and logged out at ten-twenty-five. The lab where PAQ-MAN is being stored was accessed by your special clearance badge at ten-twelve. At ten-twenty, after the copy was denied, a virus was loaded into the system. Fortunately, it did very little damage.”
“Why would I use my own card?” Bari searched for a logical counterargument, but only succeeding in clutching at straws. “That’s the stupidest thing ever.”
Cooper continued in a monotonous voice. “Grady…” One of the men beside Cooper nodded. “Checked out your computer and found a decryption program that was used on the PAQ-MAN computer without success.”
“I’m an intelligent person. If I was going to steal from you, I wouldn’t leave heaps of evidence lying around, would I?”
“I expect you thought the virus would cover your tracks,” Cooper said harshly. “As for the decryption program, it had been deleted, but was still in the hard drive. You didn’t take the time to cover your tracks thoroughly, Ms. McKenna.”
After all the times she’d heard Cooper cry out her name with passion, the constant use of her surname was grating on Bari’s nerves. She knew that should be the least of her worries. “Someone’s framing me.” Her tone was even, though her emotions were tumultuous.
Cooper and Grady shared a skeptical look. “Because you were unsuccessful in copying the program, thereby unable to steal years of research, and because the virus did little damage, I’m not going to press charges. I’m dismissing you immediately, but I will put the reason for the dismissal on your employment record. You’ll never hold a position of authority in this industry again.” Cooper didn’t even attempt to mask his satisfaction.
The man on Cooper’s other side slid a piece of paper across the desk to her. “This is a waiver of your contract. If you go peacefully, Mr. Fielding will pay your severance and 401K out-of-pocket.” He slid the check across the desk and Bari thought the amount wasn’t worth much when compared to her pride, but she was facing hard times and would need it just to survive.
Reluctantly, she picked up the pen proffered by one of the security men, scrawling her signature across the legal waiver. She held the check gingerly, knowing accepting it was tantamount to admitting guilt. “Would you leave us for a moment?” Cooper asked unexpectedly. The men looked reluctant, but they filed out. “Why did you do it?”
“You have all the answers. You figure it out.”
“Not all the answers.” Cooper shook his head, his complexion ashen. “Was having an affair with me part of your plan, Bari? Or did you decide to steal the program after our relationship ended? Did you ever feel anything for me, or was this a setup from the start?”
Raising her head, Bari bit her lip to keep it from trembling. Proudly, she said, “I guess you’ll have to live without knowing.” She waved the check. “At least I didn’t leave empty-handed,” she said bitterly, though she was not referring to the check.
To her humiliation, Bari was escorted to her office by the two goons, who’d taken her to Cooper. Everything she put in her box was scrutinized by them, including the photo of her father. Myra gave her a commiserating look as Bari walked by her. Her head was lifted high and she tried to ignore the presence of the security men. “I know you didn’t do it.” Myra boldly stepped up to Bari to hug her. “I’m so sorry that this has happened. Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m such a professional at this that I’ll be ripping off another company within the month.” She shot blistering looks at the two men.
“What about—” Myra started to ask, but broke off after looking at the men. “Good luck,” she said lamely. Bari knew that Myra would not risk her reputation and position to maintain a tepid friendship with her, and she felt sad at yet another parting.
They insisted on walking with her to the Accord, and Bari barely resisted the urge to run over them as they stood behind the car while she started it. They finally stepped back and Bari roared out of the lot. Anger and adrenaline carried her to the apartment, and then she threw herself across the bed in a fit of tears.
God, what was she going to do? It was bad enough to lose the job at Hyperion, especially under the circumstances, but it didn’t affect just her. Thanks to a broken condom, in seven months, give or take a few days, Bari was going to have a baby she would be unable to support. After soul-searching over the weekend, having decided she couldn’t move out-of-state without telling Cooper about the baby, she’d decided to tell him today and remind him of the incident that had led to her accidental pregnancy. Instead, he’d blindsided her with his accusations, leaving her alone—and unemployable. When prospective employers learned of the reason for her dismissal, they wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. She had a little savings, and the check would help, but she would be penniless within a year.
Whoever had framed her should have dropped dead at that moment from all the hateful thoughts directed towards them. Finally, Bari drew herself together, fixing a cup of weak tea to settle her stomach. The teabag was steeping when the phone rang. Bari answered it eagerly, hoping it would be Cooper, and that he’d found the culprit responsible. She wouldn’t go back to Hyperion, but at least her employment record would be cleared. Her fantasy lasted all of ten seconds.
“This is Rink Fossner.” His voice was much cooler than the last time they’d spoken. “I’ve had a disturbing phone call, Ms. McKenna. A man called me Sunday to tell me you were going to be dismissed this morning for attempted theft. In light of those circumstances, I don’t think there’s a place for you at our company.”
“I see.” Bari hung up without another word. Cooper must really be angry if he’d called Fossner at home to share the news of her dismissal. It was truly over now, and there would be no more fantasies of him begging for forgiveness.
♥♥♥
Drawing upon unknown reserves, Bari managed to pack most of her things and rent a moving truck within three days. She’d decided against professional movers to save several hundred dollars, so she hired two teenage boys from down the street to load her heavy furniture on Wednesday afternoon after school. Early Thursday morning, she drove away from Nevada without any particular destination in mind, only heading north.
She ended up stopping in a medium-sized town in Washington. The welcoming scent of apples greeted her nose. The streets were clean, and the buildings, mostly brown clapboard, were well-maintained. A greenbelt stretched through the city, and everywhere her eyes fell, there was greenery. Green trees, green grass, carefully trimmed bushes. Once she saw the place, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace fill her. The name of the place was New Beginnings, and it brought tears to her eyes.
Bari took a cheap two-bedroom apartment and hired two young men from the local college to unload her furniture. It took her a few days to settle in before she started looking for a job. It made more sense to find work before her pregnancy became obvious.
It sounded far easier than reality turned out to be. After three weeks, Bari started applying at restaurants and retail stores. Because of the gap in her work history from leaving Hyperion off her résumé, Bari had not even
been offered anything as menial as a receptionist. She was hired by Rigley’s Deli as a counterperson.
A month after that, she applied for a job at Ashby College, as an adjunct professor of computer science. She was hired, but not for that job. The Personnel director offered her a teaching job, working six hours a week, teaching ESL students how to type. Even that was offered on an one-year probation, and Bari could have wept as she signed the contract. Cooper, and whomever had framed her, had reduced her to this. Her future had been so bright before Hyperion. Bari hadn’t killed herself studying and finishing college at nineteen to be a deli clerk and a typing teacher. But pride would not feed her baby, she reminded herself as Teresa Cullins went over the course guide with her.
♥♥♥
“How’s it going?” Cooper asked Freddie as he wheeled into the office that had once belonged to Bari. He couldn’t look at that desk without seeing her sitting on it as she leaned forward to put her mouth on his shaft. Cooper blinked and focused his attention on Freddie. He had to admit Freddie was more stable lately. Since he’d been given the job as Acting Research Director, most of his alcohol indulgence seemed to have disappeared. He was much happier and no longer snapped at everyone. At least Bari’s departure had a positive effect on someone.
“Oh, it’s going.” Freddie shrugged carelessly, though he was relieved he’d shoved that bottle of vodka back into the desk drawer a few minutes ago. He doubted Fielding would overlook his occasional intake. “Finally got the mess straightened out that McKenna left.”
“Hmm,” Cooper said blandly. “You didn’t give me your weekly report,” he reminded conversationally. “You’ve canceled the last two weeks.”
“No offense, Cooper, but I don’t need you to hold my hand. I know you like to take a personal interest in some of your employees, but I don’t need the constant supervision. I’m not some inexperienced usurper.”
“I see.” Cooper did not like Freddie’s tone, but he maintained a calm façade. “Anyone in particular you’re referring to?”
