“Pah. All this money, and I can’t get you a proper chair.” He stood and continued, “C’mon, Jones, I think it’d mean a lot to the folks if you’d mingle with them. Just because you can invent something that does the job of five mathematicians . . .”

“It’s not like I invented the concept,” Phillip said, scalp prickling. He knew what Mr. Connolly meant, though. He was worried about the rest of the office seeing Phillip as “uppity.” He didn’t know which bothered him more—that they might think it or that Mr. Connolly cared if they did. “Besides, I, uh . . . I noticed none of the mathematicians were here.”

“Wasn’t that your idea?” Mr. Connolly asked. “I mean, machinery like that . . . It’ll eat some electricity, sure, but at least you don’t have to pay it a salary.”

Phillip tried to breathe in, but his ribs felt encased in ice. “I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

“You saved us a lot of money, Jones. No matter how much all those fancy tubes and wires cost, it’s still cheaper than paying the five of those boys.”

The ice spread into his lungs, his blood. “Well—it still takes men to run it. People, I mean,” Phillip added quickly. “People have to run it.”

“Oh, sure. But not five of them. That’d defeat the whole point, right?” Connolly took another sip of scotch and licked his slimy lips.

“Mr. Connolly?” Phillip squeezed the bundle of wires so hard they crimped. “What did you do, sir?”

“Your friends from the college didn’t appreciate that I’ve got to make hard choices.” He narrowed his eyes. “But they don’t know how to turn a profit like we do. You and I.”

Phillip swallowed, but nothing washed away the taste like acid that was filling his mouth. “But the internship—”

“Was always on my terms.” His teeth flashed with a vicious smile. “I’m so glad you understand, Jones. I think you’re going to go far.”

Rebeka’s hand covered his. For all her boniness, she felt . . . sturdy. Like an anchor keeping him from getting carried out to sea.

“Did you trust Mr. Connolly not to fire your friends?” she asked.

“I should’ve known he would. But it—it never even crossed my mind. I was so busy trying to prove myself, that I could make my own way, give something back, and not just rely on my parents’ name . . .”

Rebeka’s fingers curled tighter. “You made the machine for the right reason. But you didn’t think of the consequences.”

“Sure. Everyone thinks they’re doing things for the right reason. Even Mr. Connolly.” Phillip pulled his hand from hers.