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would be invited on those overnight mission-planning sessions. For some reason, Joanna was always kept out of the loop.
    Not this time. Harry personally invited her for this mission. And knowing that it could help solve the mystery around the disappearance of her father made it even more attractive.
    When she stepped into the shop, she did a quick sweep of the store. Like in the game, she always made a point to check her surroundings.
    There were two customers waiting in line at the counter. Joanna looked to the back. There was an old man sitting and reading the paper. There were two teen girls eating. She could see Harry sitting at a table, working on his laptop with his head leaning forward. He wore a brown sport jacket, white T-shirt, and jeans. Nothing seemed suspicious.
    Joanna straightened her skirt and walked up to Harry ’s table.
    Be normal. He’s like any other guy. Just go up to him and say, “Harry, I won’t let you down on this mission.” She shook her head. No, that sounds dumb. Say, “It’s going to be fun to be doing a real mission with you, Harry.”
    By the time she arrived at his table, all she could blurt out was, “Harry, I’m here.”
    Without looking up, Harry motioned for her to sit down across from him.
    “Great, glad you’re here. Cristal and Kerim will join us on video chat. We all need to discuss our next mission.”
    What? She could feel the blood in her temples pulse.
    “ Oh? Okay…” she managed to say as she sat down.
    She stared at Harry’s face while her heart pounded in her chest. Could he hear the beats like tom-tom drums on her ribs? This is strike one. I deserve to be the mission lead. I have more influence points, power, and assets in the online game than Ms. Cristal Know-it-all.
    “ Joanna. Will you be able to decrypt the file I sent to you?”
    She smirked to acknowledge him, but Harry didn’t stop staring at the screen.
    “Never mind, Cristal just sent me a text. She already decrypted it. She will brief us soon with what she’s uncovered.”
    She knew she was the best programmer in Harry’s team, albeit, Harry often touted Cristal as being the other. Working with Cristal will be interesting.

Chapter 7
Before All Hell Breaks Loose - Cristal
    Zero: “Shadow is on his way to bring you to Graphix. Saw your text about Shadow. Sorry but you are going to work with him whether you like it or not. I won’t change the mission instructions.”
    Cristal looked down at her watch. She had been standing outside the Global Nation’s building for thirty minutes. What was taking Kerim so long?
    S he started to text Kerim to find out his ETA when she heard an engine roar from a distance. Kerim, aka Shadow , dressed in a leather jacket and black jeans was riding into the Global Nation’s parking lot on his black and yellow Ducati.
    He decelerated until he came up to the entrance, stopping in front of her. He removed his black helmet to reveal thick dark wavy hair, slicked back against his head. He pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, his grey steel eyes shining against the sunlight.
    Before she could say anything, h e waved for her to climb onto his bike and handed her an extra helmet. Really? He wants me to ride that thing? She paused for a moment before placing the helmet on. Kerim motioned with his head for her to climb on. Is he serious? Does he think I’m one of his fan girls?
    “Come on, get on,” he said. “Harry wants us to video chat in 15 minutes.”
    She paused for a second , and climbed on the back of the bike.
    “ Hold tight, Cristal,” he called back to her as he started the engine.
    Mmm, I love his sexy accent.
    She glanced around wondering if one of her co-workers had seen them. There was no one in hearing distance who could have said that. Weird.
    She shut her eyes as the motorcycle started moving. The vibration of the engine made her insides churn. Cristal leaned closer to Kerim as he made a sharp turn. She tried to keep a quarter inch distance