Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six: Reacting to Criticism (Patreon)

I put the tablet down. “This is crazy.”

“You’re doing the right thing,” Paul said. “That’s more important than being popular.”

“So should I just ignore it?”

“Normally I’d tell you to. Unfortunately, a business venture - even BAE-Dragonfly - has to be sensitive to public opinion. Don’t let it get to you, but develop a PR strategy to counter this.”

“Thanks. You’re already helping and they haven’t offered you the job yet.”

“I’m in no hurry.” Paul shrugged. “Besides, there’s a lot of things we have to work out first. I’ve checked on schools in the UK for Anne; the ones that will accept a direct transfer from Everard have a waiting list several months long.”

“You could commute…”

“It would look a bit strange if I took the portal every day, Andrew.”

“I can look after myself,” Anne said defensively.

“The last time you had to do that, I woke up to your grades in disarray and a strange boy in the house.”

“Dad!”

“All I’m saying is that we’ll need to figure out some arrangements. Adult supervision, at least for a time.”

“That will be tricky,” I said. “It won’t take a babysitter long to find the power packs in the basement.”

“Or the laser rifles in the cupboard behind the front door.”

“Or the automated plasma cannon on the roof.”

“The one that looks like a fake chimney?”

“That one, yeah. And if they try to drill a hole in the wall the drill bit will dent...”

“You reinforced the walls with fullersteel?”

“Only a thin layer, and I put the wallpaper back. The house needs to be better protected.”

“Against what, artillery fire?”

“We did have intruders, you know.”

“Point taken. We need a temporary guardian for Anne who will not be suspicious about the house, or who already knows…” Paul stuttered to a halt as Anne’s face lit up. “No. Not her.”

“She’s perfect,” Anne beamed. “Plus, we get along well.”

I had a sinking feeling. “You want me to ask Agni to look after Anne.”

“I don’t,” growled Paul. “We’ll find someone else.”

“Who else do you have, Dad? Agni’s the only one who knows everything. Andrew, didn’t you tell me she’s looking for an apartment?”

“She did say she’s getting tired of staying in hotels...”

“Plus she could help me with my geography. She’s visited a lot of countries.”

“Mostly while setting parts of them on fire….”

“We know why that is, and she’s a pretty cool person once you get past the whole burning criminals thing. And it’s not as if we can really throw stones in that department.”

“This does not fill me with confidence.”

“Please? I’d rather her than some stuffy neighbourhood lady who pokes her nose everywhere.”

“We have spare rooms,” I pointed out. “And it’s not like she’s moving in with us… if BAE-Dragonfly takes off, we’re talking about relocating to England, at least for a couple of years. In the interim, we’d have to lock up the house.”

“I’ll need some time to think about having Agni as a housesitter. Maybe after Christmas.”