"We didn't need to come all the way out here to talk did we?" Zina asked as the waitress walked away with their orders.
"About the Z359, no" Gabriel folded his elbows on the table and leaned slightly forward. The space between them kept the gesture casual.
"Then you have something else in mind?" Zina also leaned forward to match him.
"Well, we are both startups, and looming over us is a giant who seems to have it out for you. By working together on Z359, I'll be getting in their cross-hairs as well"
Zina squinted, her head tilting slightly as she asked, "Are you proposing an Alliance?"
"If we work well together on Z359, I don't see why not. Your friend won't take it easy on us" Gabriel shrugged and got off the table just as the waitress arrived with their food.
"My friend?" Zina's face morphed into a frown.
"I do my research"
"Well, your research is outdated." Zina also got off the table.
"Thank you," she added to the waitress who bowed slightly in response.
"Is it?"
"Are you trying to get gossip out of me or just rile me up?"
Sensing the change in her tone, Gabriel picked up the chili from his plate and elegantly chewed on it.
The corner of her lips twitched as she watched his relaxed act. Her frown slowly deepened as she watched, the sense of familiarity she felt from the moment they met becoming even stronger.
"I'm new to the city, and every bit of information I can get about anyone helps. Know thy friends." Gabriel wiped his fingertips on a napkin and raised his gaze back to Zina, only to catch her staring intently.
"I'm sorry, do I have something on my face?" He asked as he wiped at the corner of his lips with his pinky.
"Do you have any siblings Mr Auralis?" Zina asked abruptly.
"What do you mean?" Gabriel's eyes flashed again, and this time Zina was sure she wasn't seeing things.
"You just seem very familiar but I'm sure we've never met before"
"We could have, and you'd forgotten." his brows slightly raised, Gabriel shrugged yet again.
Her gaze fell to the table and she shook her head. "Trust me, if we'd met, I would definitely remember"
"Oh, why is that?"
Zina raised her brows and looked back at him, a silent air hung between them as she let out an amused scoff.
"Let's talk Z359" she replied as her smile turned polite and practiced.
Gabriel let out a small cough and nodded, a shrug inadvertently getting off his shoulders.
****
Meanwhile, within the sedan, Andrea sat alone with a tablet on her lap as she worked on it.
Just then her phone rang.
"Tony" she answered.
"Where are you? I don't see you" a distressed voice came through.
Ending the call without a reply, Andrea reached forward and pushed a button in front of her.
"Tony's on the sidewalk, let him in"
A moment later, the car door was opened and Tony nodded at the black suited woman who held open the door for him as he got in, gathering the fringes of his jacket in his hands.
"Damn, it's freezing cold out there" he commented as the door was closed.
Andrea glanced at him and smiled, shaking her head she said, "A moment please, I'll just quickly complete this"
Tony nodded, then leaned for a quick glance at her screen.
"What are you working on?" He asked curiously.
"Just a human touch on Gabriel's codes"
Tony froze and stared at her in shock, "You write his codes?"
Andrea glanced up at him with furrowed brows, "He writes his own codes, I just make them less logical and add some human redundancies"
"Oh," Tony deflated.
"What were you thinking?" Andrea let out an amused smile as she watched the changes in his expression.
"I mean, he could use some eye on his self-development, have you seen any of the Terminator movies?"
Her smile broadened as she shook her head.
"Don't worry, he has a conscience block"
"That he wrote himself" Tony countered.
"The thing writes everything about himself, what if he decides he's done trying to be one of us?"
"Then so be it!" Andrea's tone turned sharp.
"Does he have to play these stupid games with us? If he decides he's done with it, then so be it" she repeated, her volume toning down the more she spoke.
"Did you find out what I asked you to?"
Tony was dumbfounded for a moment, but he quickly recollected himself and responded, "Yes, the flashdrive was indeed stolen by Extra Technologies, and I've pictures of the facility where they keep it. There's no getting to it,"
"Thank you, just forward me all of your findings."
Tony nodded and silence settled in the car until Andrea turned sideways, her eyes gazing questioningly at him.
"That's all, Tony." Seeing that he didn't get the hint, she looked up and directed her gaze towards the door.
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just a little cold out there. Yeah I'll umm, I'll forward the findings to you"
"Thank you," Andrea nodded with a slow blink and a polite smile.
"Okay," Tony replied and hesitantly shifted towards the door, but he still wouldn't open it.
Andrea rolled her eyes and straightened, her gaze ahead as she asked, "Do you need something, Tony?"
"Yes, um. Could I maybe get an advance? You know my daughter-"
"That's enough, I'll send the full pay. You better watch your daughter's gambling habit or you'll find yourself in a situation you can't get out of," Andrea warned.
"I will, I will" Tony grinned widely and opened the car door. In the next moment, he was gone.
After a brief consideration, Andrea opened an unnamed app on her tablet.
"Gabriel, please keep an eye on Tony, I'm worried his daughter might be a problem, we need him"
A moment later the phone vibrated with notification of a text.
"Your sentiment for the man is admirable, but he's raising the axe high, knowing it will come down on his neck eventually."
Andrea's expression faltered. "He's my brother" she whispered.
Before she could reply, another text came. "He'll be okay"
Her expression softened as she gazed at the screen with tenderness, a gentle smile on her lips as she returned to her work.