The Angels of Destiny Read Online Free Page B

he ’ d brewed freshly in his office next door. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.
    "Of course not, sit down."
    He sat on the only other chair and passed Vicki her coffee. Up to now he ’ d not paid much attention to Vicki but there, in her office, he realised that she was very attractive indeed. Her eyes, were a beautiful blue green, highlighted by long thick eyelashes that looked false, but weren ’ t. Her fair complexion was near perfect, her lips were proud and sensual and her hair, naturally Auburn, hung shoulder length with a gentle curl. He noticed her immaculately painted nails as she cradled the coffee cup, and it reminded him of Amanda.
    Vicki was physically fit and normally worked out at least three nights a week. Her 36-24-36 figure reflected the work she ’ d put in, and at five-feet nine inches tall, there was no doubt, she was appealing, even when she was exhausted.
    McPherson sipped the freshly ground Colombian brew and felt his body kick-start.
    Vicki held her cup; seemingly forgetting it was there.
    "What exactly is the problem?" he enquired.
    "The problem, is the encryption code we use to transmit the data to earth. It ’ s the military code used on all category 1-spy satellites."
    "DGATE?"
    "That ’ s right. It ’ s having to be upgraded, months before we had anticipated, because we believe China has cracked the code and could, in theory, hack into the data we ’ re transmitting back to Earth."
    "But, that ’ s not your fault, is it? ” interjected McPherson, sympathetically.
    "You try telling Samuel that. He ’ s already giving me a hard time. He seems to get more irritable with each day."
    "I guess he ’ s feeling the pressure, just like us."
    “ Yea, I guess so."
    "So what ’ s the next step?" McPherson enquired.
    "I ’ ve been promised a new version this afternoon. It uses the latest encryption techniques — I just hope and pray it works."
    "How long will it take to install?"
    "Should be in within a few hours, Rob. The problem is actually testing the system. That could take another four or five days before we know if it ’ s any good or not … Fuck! I ’ m beginning to regret this job already," Vicky said, holding her head.
    McPherson was beginning to think she was human after all.
    "I think you need a break," he said, sympathetically.
    "No time for that Rob, I ’ m afraid," Vicki replied swiftly.
    "Have you used the gym at the complex yet?"
    "No, and I ’ m sure as hell missing my regular workouts."
    "Okay.... Tonight we meet at seven in the gym, after that I ’ m going to mix you a cocktail you just can ’ t refuse."
    "But, I ca … "
    "No buts, you need to relax." Vicki looked at him for a moment and gradually a submissive smile appeared on her face.
    "Sure, seven o ’ clock it is then. ”
     
    The phone in McPherson ’ s office was ringing as he walked in. “ McPherson," he said, after hitting the ‘ visual ’ key.
    Samuel Black ’ s face appeared on the screen, looking stressed. “ Morning, buddy. ”
    “ Morning, Samuel."
    "I want to see you in my office at eleven o ’ clock," he said, abruptly.
    “ Okay — What ’ s it about?" asked McPherson.
    “ Delays — fucking delays." The screen went abruptly blank.
    McPherson signed on to his terminal and checked his schedule. Sure enough the meeting was booked for eleven o ’ clock. It was an all-team meeting and he wondered if Vicki was going to be, thrown to the lions, or not. The smell of coffee was irresistible and he poured another cup before sitting down to read the rest of his emails
     
     

Four
     
     
    Vicki drove her 3 Series BMW up the ramp leading from the underground parking lot into the evening sunshine and headed up San Jacinto Street, before turning left, to pick up the Gulf Freeway 45 that heads south and ends on the Gulf coast at Galveston. The drive home to the secure compound, near the Ellington Air Force Base and the Space Centre would take about twenty minutes. The setting sun was to her right