The Virtual Man [The Virtual Reality 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Nikki Sinclaire Read Free Book Online Page B

I’ll start at the beginning,” she said, accepting his offer but refusing eye contact.
    “After college I married my handsome and popular college sweetheart, Tom Houser. When we were first married, we were very happy. We had both graduated with degrees in nanotechnology from the Mars campus of the Institute of Nanoscience, and had subsequently found jobs back on Earth, in Atlanta, Georgia, the very metropolis I had grown up in. During the day, I worked hard and quickly climbed the corporate ladder at my employer, Interstellar Engineering. I made partner in record time.”
    “Okay, I’m impressed. Just working there is a coup for any career, much less making partner. They’re easily the best and most successful nano-construction company in the galaxy.”
    Tiana glanced up, meeting his gaze. “How do you know so much about nano-construction companies?”
    “I have an unfair advantage.” He grinned slyly.
    “I keep forgetting you’re a computer program with access to every database in the galactic net.”
    “I take that as a personal compliment. I interrupted, please continue.”
    “Tom and my relationship was fine until I received my first promotion a year after joining Interstellar. I had achieved in a year what typically took others five or so to accomplish. Shortly after my promotion, Tom was laid off. He became bitter and resentful of my success.
    “He suggested having a baby and I delightedly agreed. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to have children, he accused me of sabotaging our efforts so that my career wouldn’t suffer. The genetic and fertility experts we consulted all agreed that there was no medical reason why we were unable to conceive. Not having a target for his frustration, Tom blamed me.”
    “Tiana, please tell me you didn’t believe that crap. It was NOT your fault.”
    “Well, I must admit Tom was very convincing. To make matters worse, two years ago, in December, my father, Dr. Anthony Weiss, died in a freak accident while traveling home from a conference in his private space yacht. My mother died when I was young so when he died I was left alone in a miserable marriage. I still miss him so very much.” Her eyes grew damp and her voice cracked with visceral emotion.
    Derek reached out for her other hand. She could feel his masculine strength through that simple touch. It was as if, through his touch, he was giving her an injection of raw courage.
    Was that anguish she was seeing in his face?
    “That spring Tom and I started getting along better. It was then that I finally became pregnant.”
    Tears rolled down Tiana’s cheeks.
    “I just knew that now, with the baby and all, things would work out between us. The empty hole in our family that I thought only a child could fill would disappear. Tom became very attentive to me during the pregnancy. He even hired a maid. Not an AI, mind you, but a person.” Tiana paused as Derek brushed away more of her tears, the warmth of his hand touching her heart.
    “The pregnancy was going well and our relationship appeared to be returning to solid ground. Until, that is, one day when I came home early and caught him screwing the maid.
    “That very day I lost the baby.” Tiana paused for a few seconds, unable to get the words out, “It was a little girl. I had failed.”
    Her tears spent, Tiana sat there in sad, poignant retrospection. She wondered what Derek would say. Life had dealt her a tough hand to play out and no one could do anything to change that.
    After a few seconds of silence, Derek simply reached out and cupped her face tenderly. “Tiana, I am so, so sorry. Please know that you are not responsible for Tom’s cruelty, jealousy or infidelity. That is all on him. You are a beautiful and intelligent woman. You are loyal, committed and caring. I feel compelled to say that you are exactly the kind of woman a man would be blessed with the fortune of Midas to be with.”
    “Then why, at twenty-nine years of age, don’t I feel like a