“What did they tell you, Josef?” Larbonne asked when Ranell returned to GML headquarters.
Leaning forward with one elbow on the table, Ranell reached up and ran his fingers through his tangled gray locks. “It’s not good, Dominique.”
Larbonne looked hurt. “Josef, you said you wanted us to buy you some time. We’ve done that for you.”
In his heart, Ranell knew his friend was right. He’d watched his team fight against impossible odds to keep the company from going under. But for how long? But instead of offering a word of appreciation, Ranell growled disdainfully, “The airships are a total loss, but I’m confident the revenues generated from our other operations will be more than sufficient to cover our expenses, now that the attacks on GML’s global assets have ended.”
A spark of suspicion flashed in Larbonne’s eyes. “Oui, the attacks have ended as mysteriously as they began. But how can we know they will not begin again?”
“Actually, I have to back Dominique up on this one,” Anderson’s sudden shift of support surprised everyone in the room. “Nothing’s changed. We’re exposed in too many countries, and the whole world is on fire with war.”
Ranell felt his shoulders tense and his hands ball into fists. “Weren’t you listening to me? I said we’re going to be fine!”