Broken Build by Rachelle Ayala

Author:Rachelle Ayala [Ayala, Rachelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction / Romance / Suspense
ISBN: 9781480010512
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-10-04T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

By the time Dave arrived at Shopahol with Lisa, the engineers were lined up around the buffet table. He congratulated them and thanked them for all their hard work. Satish and Eddie pulled out their smart phones and chattered about the shopping flocks they joined in preparation for the Black Friday blowout of deals. Dave gave thanks and carved the turkey while Lisa cut the pumpkin pie.

Everyone was in good cheer, and many workers brought their families. Children ran around chasing balloons, their faces smeared with whipped cream. A lump rose in Dave’s throat. He could have had Abby here with them.

And Jen. Was she enjoying her turkey dinner? A jittery pang encircled his chest, and he pictured Jen in the kitchen tasting the gravy while he put his arms around her pregnant belly.

Dave shook of the unrealistic fantasy and helped himself to turkey and pie. He sat with Lisa and Bob at the conference table. Bob bragged about the scalability of his testbeds and how the build had passed the rigorous overnight testing.

Their voices glazed over him, and the pie tasted like baby food. Phil was right. His enemies were yanking his chain, determined to ruin his company’s chance for success. What he couldn’t figure out was how Jen played into all of this. She seemed sincere enough, yet he couldn’t help feeling that she was hiding something.

A high pitched whistle pierced his ears. The scent of smoke was followed by a crackling sound that rumbled through the floor. He bolted to his feet. “Everyone, out now!”

Bruce burst into the conference room, huffing and flapping like a stampeding bull elephant. “The data center’s on fire.”

Shrill alarms screamed at S.O.S. intervals. Waves of panic crested over Dave’s shoulders. What else could go wrong? People shouted and rushed for the exits. Dave picked up two children from a mother of four and helped them out the emergency exit into the parking lot.

The fire burst the windows of the cubicles closest to the back entrance, and plumes of smoke ascended into the crisp November sky. All around him, his employees and their families knelt on the ground and cried, or huddled and prayed in each other’s arms. Dave dialed 9-1-1. Hot tears bathed his face. His dream had blown up. His knees gave way, and he collapsed to the soggy leaf-strewn asphalt.

Sirens blared and fire trucks showed up a few minutes later. Dave clutched Lisa while they watched the firemen put out the fire. His heart crushed into itself. All the code, network devices and storage units had gone up in trails of black smoke. Thankfully everyone had evacuated. But his lifework was gone, and with it, the chance to raise funds to retrieve Abby.

Lester ran circles around Dave. “Jen had a backup. She had one. I know she did. She and Greta set up something.”

Dave fumbled with his cell and called Greta. She picked up on the third ring.

“There’s been a fire.” His voice barely croaked from his dry mouth.

“Fire? What are you talking about?” Greta sounded like her mouth was full.

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