The Key to Fear - Kristin Cast Page 0,54

under her arm and sniffled. “And it’s not you.”

If Blair were the violent type, she would have snatched one of those pointed pencils and reached across her desk and given Maxine something to sniffle about. Instead, she cleared her throat and planted her bare feet on the plush rug. “Good. I don’t want the position anyway.”

Red.

“Of course.” Maxine settled against the high back of the velvet chair. “I can’t picture you over on the Eastside. You belong at the MediCenter.” Her lips again tightened into that gossipy little O. “But I can’t say that I wasn’t curious as to the reason why anyone would not consider you for a titled position. So I looked into it.”

Blair bit down on the inside of her cheeks.

“I don’t know if you knew this …” Sass tacked itself to Maxine’s tone. “But the MediCenter director can’t hold any other titles.”

Blair squeezed her fingers together so tightly her ragged nailbeds drained of color.

Maxine scooted to the edge of her seat. “You’re on the board’s list of candidates!”

Copper pooled against the sides of Blair’s tongue as she carved slivers in her cheeks. “Of course I am.”

She’d expected to be considered by the board. More than that, Blair expected to be the next MediCenter director. But expecting something and it coming to fruition were two different beasts. She’d learned that early on, made adjustments in her thinking, and now had her own office and troop of cube workers looking to her for guidance.

Maxine tucked her hair behind her ears. “You knew?”

Blair’s expression was flint. “Yes.”

Black.

“Well, I apologize for unnecessarily taking up your time.” Maxine shuffled stiffly in her seat and freed her holopad from under her arm. “And I will do everything in my power to assure you’re appointed.”

“Maxine,” Blair said, as the petite blond stood and turned to face the holoscreen. “I do love to know all of the buzz, so if you would …” Her pulse increased and her palms grew clammy as the confirmation tunneled through each section of her brain. She ran the tip of her finger across her bottom lip. She’d made it to the final round. She, Blair Iris Scott, was being seriously considered for the head position of the Westfall MediCenter. It had always been possible, and everyone knew she’d sacrificed her life for the opportunity, but this was real. This wasn’t in her head or tacked on the vision board she kept in her private virtual meditation chamber. This was actually happening.

Momma and Daddy would be so proud.

Her throat tightened with the thought, and her body heated as she fought back the memories thundering behind her eyes.

“Blair, I will always let you know what I hear. Even if it means you’re hearing it twice.” Maxine’s lips sharpened with a smile.

Blair nodded her thanks.

Maxine understood Blair. Perhaps she was a stronghold too.

“So, just a quick note before I leave you to catch up on current events.” Maxine’s perfect Key Corp–red nails clacked against her holopad as she flitted to Blair’s side. “The production team on the Zone Seven raid video tried to get a statement from Dr. Scott, but she declined to comment.”

“Of course she declined to comment. She’s the director of Career Services. I’m sure she has nothing to say about Zone Seven raids.” They should have come to Blair. With her history, she had more than enough to say. “Unless …” Blair’s gaze snapped up to Maxine. “She’s another one the board is considering, isn’t she?”

Blair sounded surprised, although she wasn’t in the slightest. Cath should be up for consideration.

But Blair should win.

“Yes, but don’t worry.” Maxine winced. “Not that you are, or anything. I only meant that Dr. Scott won’t get very far if she’s unable to type up a simple statement about the raid. That’s not nearly as difficult as the live speech you had to make the other morning.”

Blair’s chest puffed slightly. She hadn’t stopped criticizing herself for all that she could have done, but she supposed she had done better than most.

With a flick of her wrist, Maxine threw Blair’s calendar from her holopad onto the holoscreen. “I already contacted the head of the production team. You have an on-camera interview between your meetings tomorrow.”

Blair didn’t know what to say. Between this and the color-coded and expertly researched file Maxine had given her on Preston Darby, Blair was … pleased? Whatever the feeling was, it was rather strange.

“Unless you’d rather I call and cancel …”

“Absolutely not. This is my chance.” Blair wet her lips.