Hearts Under Ice - CS Patra Page 0,1

heard that he graduated from MIT when he was only fourteen. He’s been working there for a long time, and he knows the place. People say he’s going to be the one who cures cancer.”

“Sure, Dad.” Olivia would reply whenever this subject came up. It never failed.

Her father was the one who had found the job for her. He had been looking through ads and newspapers to help her out. Two weeks ago, he had come across the ad for the lab and pointed it out to her. It didn’t require a whole lot of work or experience. She just needed to help one of the scientists keep up with his data and help him organize it. She didn’t need to play with chemicals or figure out anything. It was simple office work, and that was okay. It would be like working for Yanitza, but for something different. She had no desire to be a scientist or get in that field. The only reason she had gone in for the interviews and accepted the job was because she needed the money. Her parents did the best they could, but bills were piling up. She also had loans from college that needed to be taken care of, and she was far behind on them.

Now she had come downstairs to make sure that she spent some time with her family. Normally, this was the time they would get together and watch terrible movies until midnight. Her mother would make popcorn, while her father made so many corny jokes towards the films. She had a serious job now, so their movies would be left for the weekend and holidays. It was strange that she had no problem being with her parents at twenty-four. A lot of her friends had moved out by now, but she stayed behind. She didn’t have enough money to live on her own right now, plus she liked her room as it was. She didn’t have to worry about rent or extra expenses. Her parents were good people to be around, even if they did embarrass her from time to time. At the moment, her father was currently watching the news and shaking his head at the screen.

“My God, these people complain about the economy all the time! If it’s not that, then they’re complaining about young people ruining the world.” He groaned. “I know we’re in the hole right now, but talk about something else!”

“The economy isn’t all that great that moment, Dad,” Olivia said. “It’s probably the biggest news they have. Lucky for us, I’m going to be bringing in more money. Vaughn Industries pays way more than Yanitza’s ever did.”

“Lucky indeed! I know you loved that salon, but it was time for you to get something more solid. Did you read up on the company before you went in?” he grilled her.

“I probably wouldn’t get the job if I didn’t, Dad.” Secretly, she had only read bits and pieces of the description. All she needed was to know what the job was about. No one had asked her for more than that. “It’s going to be fine.”

“That’s what everyone says when they start out,” he warned her. “I remember when I first moved in and it was a struggle to find a job. I looked everywhere just so you and your mother would be better off. The only reason I got work at all was because I researched the place ahead of time. Otherwise, we’d still be struggling.”

Olivia had to admit he was right. Her father was actually her stepfather, yet she never saw him as that. Her real father had left the family years ago and never bothered to contact them. They never really talked about him, and Olivia had no desire to know the man. He had just been there for her birth and left right away. Her stepfather was the only father that she knew, and he had done everything that her real one should have done. He was the one who had taken her to school when she missed the bus, planned her birthday parties, went to all those softball games, and took her photos during prom and graduation. She owed him just about everything in her life.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

“Just a little bit,” she admitted. “I want to make sure I have everything perfect. I’m going to be working alongside someone who’s a genius.”

“You’ll be fine, Olivia. I’ve got your suit all ironed out.” Her mother replied, entering the room.