Page 10 of War

“What about if I win?”

“What do you want?”

She pursed her lips in thought, then a beautiful smile broke across her face.

“If I win, you can't skydive for one full work week. You have to sit here with me and answer the phone. With an accent. You work, what? Three days? So for three days. No adrenaline rush.”

That little demon. That would be torture for me. Evil.

Whatever. It didn't matter how evil her “punishment” was. It didn't matter because I was going to win.

“How long do I have to guess this name?”

She thought for a moment. “Today's what, Wednesday? I’ll give you two weeks. That's six work days for you. So not next Wednesday, but the end of the workday the Wednesday after that.”

“You're on.”

Her eyes flashed devilishly. “Good. The bet starts now.”

“Good. Johnson?”

“Nope.”

“Miller?”

“No.”

“Peters?”

“No.”

I continued to guess, receiving no after no. Eventually, Amantha started working on a spreadsheet while I guessed, answering me absentmindedly.

When the next set of customers came in, I stood from her desk. “Be ready to lose when I come back,” I warned.

She smiled. “Good luck.”

I mock saluted her and walked to the hangar. I didn't want to admit it, but I was running out of names. Pretty soon I'd have to turn to the internet.

Chapter 6

“I think you'd sound nice with a British accent,” Amantha said as Joey and I walked by her desk at the end of the day.

I smiled. “You think so, huh?”

“Yeah. I've thought about it and a nice Cockney dialect should do. Start studying.”

I laughed. “You assume I'm going to lose. That's not happening.”

“What's this?” Joey asked.

Amantha said, “Zion and I have a bet going. He has to guess my last name. If he doesn't, I win. So if he asks, don't tell him.”

Joey grinned. “Lips are sealed. You kids have fun. I have classes this evening so I have to go. G’night.”

“Night, Joey.”

“Good night,” Amantha said.