The Romance Revival(10)
“Some people shouldn’t be allowed to have pets,” she told me once. “The moment an animal becomes difficult or expensive, they want to put it down. My job is literally to save them.”
Kindred souls, we are. Judging by the look on her face now, she might be regretting that.
“Em, I am not putting Compound Y near the hands of Todd the Dumbass Vet Tech.”
“He’s not going to touch a box that’s labeled EMERY’S MENSTRUAL VITAMINS.”
“That was a joke!”
“Annie, it took me years to get this formulation perfect. I am not letting Vince get his hands on it!”
We startle as a knock lands heavy on my office doorframe just before the devil himself leans in.
With my heart racing, I glare at Vince, hating his egotistical face.
“Have I come at a bad time?” he says. I never understood where he got his vaguely British accent. He grew up in Iowa and went to the University of Nebraska. I once heard him brag about winning a cornhole tournament at the state fair. A Brit he is not. “I just heard my name. Shall I return post–gossip sesh?”
My pulse thumps at his timing. “I was just saying I have the best sandwich waiting for me in the staff room fridge.”
“Ah yes, can’t let me”—holds up bony finger quotes—“?‘get my hands on’ your sandwich.”
Annoyed, I wave him on. “Did you need something, Vince?”
His brow relaxes, hand sliding into the pocket of his dark trousers. “Just came here to offer my condolences on the downward turn of your big day.”
“Yes, given that you orchestrated it, I’m sure you’re devastated,” I say.
“?‘Orchestrated’ seems… extreme. I was simply aiming for transparency.”
“Achieved,” I grumble.
He smiles. “A few board members have indicated they’ll advocate for me to take over the BioVIVE project for the time being. The goal is to use it to heal, not… resurrect.”
I cluck my tongue. “As long as you don’t interfere with Compound Y.”
His smile vanishes. “I assure you I have no interest in your little science project. The quicker they shut that down, the better it is for everyone. It’s beyond unethical.”
I stare at him for a beat, hoping he sees it in my eyes: You’re a petty, jealous slimeball.
“I wouldn’t worry about it, Vince,” Annie tells him. “It’s beyond your level of security clearance anyway.” Another butthole pucker. Seeing it pass across his face really does lift the spirits. Annie, always a hero.
Finally, I push myself to standing. “I need to get home. I’m wiped.”
With one last inky sneer, Vince slithers off. Annie and I look at each other in dismay. “Holy shit,” she breathes.
“I don’t think he heard me say we’d move the compound, right?”
“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t let that go unmentioned.” Annie gnaws her lip. “Em, I don’t like this. I agree we need to do something, but I cannot keep it at the clinic. It’s not safe. And it’s not like you can keep it at home, either.” I open my mouth to protest and she holds up a hand to stop me from interrupting. “You’re already going to be under greater scrutiny because, to the board, it looks like you’ve gone off and become Dr. Frankenstein. Let’s not confirm it for them.”
I mutter a petulant “Fine,” but inside I’m already plotting. We might not agree on where it can go, but Compound Y is coming with me. There’s no way I’m leaving it where Vince has access.
“I have a few things to finish up,” she says, moving to sit on the edge of my desk. “But I’ll think on a plan while you’re at dinner tonight.”
I frown in confusion. “Tonight?”
“Yeah, isn’t it—?”
It hits me like a hammer and I quickly check my watch. “Shit!”
From the presentation, to the closed-door meetings with the board, to the tongue-lashing Leonard and I received, the entire day just disappeared. By the time I grab the compound, get through the building, to my car, through rush hour traffic and home, I’m going to be very late to my own anniversary dinner.
5 LUCA
That’s right. I’m still here.
Did you forget, too?
Listen, don’t worry about it. I’m rarely surprised by my wife’s workaholic tendencies, in part because she’s always been this way.
Emery was already working at SurgOptix when we met at a friend’s wedding just over three years ago. I crossed a crowded room to introduce myself to the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and our chemistry was instant. The world disappeared around me, my brain wiped of every rational thought. I wanted to be near her; nothing else mattered. Emery was immediately fascinating: quiet and intense, sexy and witty, driven and unlike anyone I’d ever dated before. I was down bad.
She was Emery Finch back then, but she wouldn’t keep that name for long. We had sex that first night—blisteringly hot, wild sex—and were together nearly every night after. I’d never experienced anything like it; I couldn’t get enough. It felt like I’d found my other half.
I’m sure everyone thought we were just going through some kind of impulsive, infatuated phase but something about us just fit. We were married only a couple months later.