By the time their next turn in the VR systems came, Rafaela was certain that she had missed something very alarming in Elektra's message.
"What did you hear that I didn't?" she asked directly.
Brendan looked like he might avoid answering, but he replied slowly, "I'm not sure that you missed anything. I might just be seeing patterns. Illusions created by the data in my head."
"So just tell me what alarmed you?" Rafaela suggested practically.
"What if the people who tried to replace you weren't actually working for Jade Corp, and your stepmother is warning you about a real possibility?" Brendan suggested.
For a moment she didn't understand, "You mean that my contract binds me to you?"
He shook his head, "No. I think she meant…"
Before he managed to explain, she had turned that around in her head, and… she understood. She interrupted a bit fiercely, "No one can replace you as long as I'm alive!"