Page 5 of Frequency of Attraction

From Seville to Paris to Atlanta to Los Angeles, Vadim finally had rubber on the road. In a fucking Scion where his hair brushed the roof.

All because Chen was headed back to China where he’d been handed the Holy Grail of missions: a spot on China’s soon-to-launch space station. Somehow, he’d finagled Vadim an interview for his test pilot job at OrbitAll. How, Vadim didn’t know. He had no military experience, the typical pedigree needed for an American astronautics job. As a regular pilot, he shouldn’t qualify, especially since he hadn’t made it past cosmonaut training.

Of course, less than two percent of trainees were chosen for space missions after the grueling two-year program. But Vadim was exceptional. He’d scored top marks on the dozens of written exams. Passed psychological and medical screenings. He’d aced diving tests, endurance races, logic tests under extreme pressure, like problem-solving while free-falling from a plane. He hadn’t failed at anything except getting the job, a denial that had dug deep into his psyche.

Staring at the stars from behind barred windows had been his solace in childhood. He had grown up doodling the night sky and devouring news from Roscosmos, Russia’s version of NASA. Though way before his time, Yuri Gagarin had been his idol. It wasn’t like he had a father around, and his dipshit brother had no admirable qualities. Vadim had never wanted to be anything but a cosmonaut.

Walking away from Star City unchosen had been the worst fucking day of his life.

He pulled in front of OrbitAll’s huge hangar in the desert, taking in at a glance the sheer size of the operation. The silver structure rose three stories from the desert floor. Jets lined the runway nearby, military-grade and private commercial both. Inside, he knew, were the most technologically advanced spaceplanes money could produce. He climbed out into shocking heat and wind and had to situate his hair before strolling into the building’s reception area, where a Latina woman greeted him.

“Hola. You must be Mr. Baranov. How was your trip?”

“Too long.”

She smiled as if she understood what he meant. “I hope the trouble is worth it.”

Vadim would make sure of it.

“Now, Mister Chen has asked that I call him instead of Mister Tate, so let me do that. Do you need anything?”

Vadim shook his head as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He’d opted for slacks and a button-down. He paced, peeking through the windows into the hallway and hangar beyond.

“There he is!”

Some of Vadim’s tension from the long trip released when he spied Chen’s beaming face. His friend was more sculpted than the last time he’d seen him. His hair was longer. He looked happy but tired. Chen swept him into a hug, pounding his back with force.

“I missed you, brother,” Vadim replied, returning the hug. The goofy, loud-mouthed man from Guangzhou had made the perfect college roommate. Vadim had been as relieved to be out of Russia as Chen had been to escape China. The two had taken their elite aeronautics school in France by storm.

“Fuck, I’m so glad to see you. Luz,” he called over his shoulder as they walked out, “thanks for getting our man here. Get that hiring paperwork going!”

Vadim waved to her and hoped securing this job was as simple as Chen running his mouth. If not, he had all his arguments ready for the man in charge. Tate Geier.

His friend’s voice took on an uncharacteristically somber tone when they were out of earshot of the receptionist. “Look, Tate may be hard to convince. I saw that he has a stack of former astronaut résumés on his desk.”

Vadim nodded. He knew the role would be competitive. He couldn’t lose focus.

“But the program is built and most of the tests have been completed,” Chen continued. “Commercial service isn’t far off. We’re going to make him understand that what he needs is a good pilot. He needs to see your heart, Vadim. You’re perfect for this job, and we’re going to make sure Tate knows it.”

“Let’s do that.” Vadim clapped him on the back.

Chen sighed. “Knowing you might finally get to space is the only thing keeping me sane. Leaving Elle is killing me.”

“You’ve only been dating a few months.” Vadim knew they’d met at OrbitAll, where she was some kind of planner. No woman could be as enticing as a spot on a space station, no relationship worth giving up that chance.

Chen must have seen the incredulity on his face. “I know we haven’t been together very long, but she’s everything I’ve always wanted and knew I could never have. She’s freedom.” He shook his head. “I know I shouldn’t be this invested. My family wouldn’t allow me to be with her anyway.”

Chen’s future was at the mercy of his parents. He’d lived it up in France, and apparently here with Elle, despite or maybe because of the fact that his freedom had limitations. Vadim, on the other hand, couldn’t go back to Russia. His family didn’t want him there. The one time he’d gone anyway had broken him and made him whole in one single night.

Chen straightened and schooled his expression. “Ready to wow Tate?”

Unease pulled his gut into a knot. Before he could feel anything but apprehension, Chen pushed open the closest office door and strolled in. Vadim followed.

Tate Geier, OrbitAll’s chief operating officer, was younger and better looking than Vadim had expected. As he came around the desk, he noticed that he was a head taller than the guy. Tate appeared stocky and solid, with good clothes and even better shoes.

Vadim stuck out his hand. “Vadim Baranov. Nice to meet you.”

Tate shook his hand, firm and sure. “Likewise. Thanks for coming out from Seville on such short notice.”

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