Trial and Temptation (Mandrake Company) Read Free

their world had been destroyed; all of the survivors had.
    “I’m sorry,” Val said. “I didn’t know being moderately responsible with money was going to be a requirement for this job.”
    Being sarcastic to one’s boss probably wasn’t appropriate, either, so she threw in a smile. Maybe that would make the words seem less obnoxious. She’d been told once she had a sexy smile. Of course, the one doing the telling had been one of those old freighter captains, the ones complaining about their bowels. It was hard to take them seriously. Still, she didn’t usually have trouble finding someone to go home with if she was in the mood for some meaningless fun during a stopover on a station.
    That faint wrinkle returned to Thatcher’s forehead, the one that always suggested he found people puzzling and distasteful creatures.
    “Look, I’m ready to start anytime,” Val said. “I’m a hard worker. I’m responsible on the job even if money’s been a problem lately. You won’t regret giving me a chance here.”
    “Of course I won’t.” His statement might have given her hope, except he added, “It was the captain’s decision to give you a chance.”
    She snorted and almost asked if it was because of her heritage, but decided she didn’t want to know. Even if she had sought out Mandrake Company because of shared roots, it hadn’t been because she had been hoping for a break… not exactly. She had found the idea of working with people from her old homeland appealing. Besides, she’d like to think her record was satisfactory enough to stand on its own.
    “If you are permanently hired,” Thatcher said, “you will then be paid regularly and you will be eligible for combat bonuses.”
    Yes, she was counting on those combat bonuses. The base pay itself was much better than she had earned hauling freight—even if she was about to have to endure daily hours of physical training that hadn’t been a part of her life for a long time—but she would need more than that to keep her brother from going from jail to the mines. Oh, Yarrow. Life wasn’t supposed to work out this way…
    “After one year of employment,” Thatched continued, “you’ll be added to the pool and can expect a percentage of earnings when the payout is greater than the costs of maintenance, repairs, and salaries.”
    “A share in the company, essentially.”
    “Yes.”
    If that was a year out, she had better not speculate on that money now. “Anything else?” Val nudged her duffel bag with her boot. The ship’s cycle wasn’t synced with the station’s, and it was well after midnight to her body.
    “You’ll share Cabin 37 with Private Sahara. It’s on Deck Three.” Thatcher touched something on his tablet. “I’m sending you maps, ship’s rules, pilots’ rules, and meal acquisition data now.”
    Meal acquisition data… Who said these things? “Not going to offer to take me on a tour of the ship and show me the sights in person, sir?”
    “You would not find the map preferable?”
    To spending time with him, yes. But what kind of commander didn’t at least find some off-shift private to give the new person a tour? “Well, I don’t know anyone here, sir.”
    He looked at her… in confusion? His utterly bland expression was so similar to his perplexed expression. It was hard to tell.
    “It’d be nice to be introduced to people,” Val added, in case he truly was perplexed. Hell, maybe he couldn’t imagine someone wanting to do anything except running off to one’s own cabin to familiarize oneself with one’s new home digitally. And alone. She’d never known anything about his social life when he’d been instructing cadets, but given his aloofness, maybe he hadn’t had one.
    “I sent a roster of the ship’s personnel, as well, but if you wish a tour and introductions, that can be arranged.” The words came out calmly and confidently, but he gave her that little perplexed I-can’t-figure-you-out look again. “Do you