Primed: A Kayla Madison Story

Primed Part 15

CHAPTER SEVEN: DANCING WITH DANGER (CONT)

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After washing off with the bizarre shower from time-forgotten, or rather time-ignored, I plopped down on the long bay window seat in the living room. I figured a few games of Sudoku on my iPhone wouldn't drain the battery too much and it would help me relax. Oh, how I missed the ability to recharge my gadgets.

I stretched out my legs lengthwise against the seat, which could easily fit three people across, and arranged the pillows to support my back. I had just turned on my phone when Michael walked in, nodded at me, then scanned the living room furniture.

When he started clearing off the coffee table and pushing furniture off to the side of the room, I turned off the phone and raised my brow to question his action.

Michael finished sliding the heavy sofa off to the edge of the room. "I thought, perhaps, I should help you prepare for the Ball tonight."

"Ball? No one said anything about a 'Ball.' My father only said 'dinner.'"

"He might not have realized you would be concerned about the dancing portion of the evening. The ball is the first of a series of events this month to commemorate the founding of Coronado."

My insides twisted like a pretzel. At the moment I wasn't sure if it was due to the fear of dancing or being upset I wasn't going to be able to have my father's undivided attention. "You're telling me I'm not only going to be in a situation where I can't really talk with my father, but I'll also have to dance? I agreed to dinner—not dancing."

Michael was quiet for a moment as he rolled up the area rug and placed it off to the side of the room. He turned toward me. "I understand you are frustrated. You never met your father and the first chance to be alone with him has been disrupted by a ball he is required to attend." He came over to the bay window and sat down near my outstretched legs. I scooted my legs closer to the window to give him more room. "However, these types of gatherings are crucial in order to navigate the politics of funding for his projects—including all things related to trans-dimensional travel. Trust is required from councilmembers since they are not privy to the details of the top-secret research and tonight will help maintain those relationships. He simply cannot miss it."

"I thought I was supposed to be a secret. So why am I going?"

"You are not the secret—just your life on Earth. Your father's associates know he has a daughter and we have alerted them that you have arrived from out of town. Except for the Chairman, they do not know about your two-worlder status or anything related to TDT. As long as they think you are a normal girl, there should not be any issues. The TDT flow charts show Spyder has still not traveled here so you are still safe. Plus, I will be there to protect you."

"I still don't get why I have to go."

His hand hovered over my leg as if he was going to touch it but then clamped his hands together instead. "Please also consider this is the first opportunity for your father to introduce you to his friends and colleagues. He has been proud of you from your very first breath, to your elementary school play where, dare I say, playing the role of a pumpkin might not be high on everyone's list of accomplishments, and on to your current success in advanced science classes. He wants to show you off since he constantly boasts about you and your undertakings."

"He does?" I don't know why it felt good to hear my father had discussed things I had done. I guess it felt he really had been keeping track of me through the regular reports over the years whether it was from Michael or protectors who came before him.