V

    bChapter /b239

    Janice couldn’t figure out why he’d suddenly asked about this, and found it all a bit bewildering. “She’s a sweet girl, really. Her name’s Elissa. And let me tell you, she’s just as lovely as her name sounds–bright eyes, charming smile, and her personality is even better-b” /b

    “I’m heading to Meridia Country for a few days.”

    Hearing the name, Rowan cut off his grandmother’s enthusiastic praise. “When I get back, why don’t you invite her over? I’d like to meet her.”

    He was genuinely curious to see what this girl was really like.

    “Are you serious? You’re not just teasing me again, are you?”

    Janice sprang to her feet, excitement lighting her face. Then she paused, suspicion flickering in her eyes. “Wait–what about your girlfriend? Don’t tell me you’re trying to juggle two women…”

    “No, nothing like that.”

    Rowan’s expression showed rare exasperation, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Just wait for me to get back, okay?”

    –

    Elissa slept better than she had in ages, only waking up when her rm red insistently. She reached out, half–asleep, but the space beside her was empty.

    She was alone in the bed.

    A strange emptiness tugged at her chest. She silenced the rm and nced at her phone, noticing a new pinned message at the top of her WhatsApp chats.

    Brother: [I’m going on a business trip to Meridia Country for four days. I’ll bending in Vistapeak City at 5pm on the 21st. Come pick me up.]

    He wanted her to pick him up?

    12:07

    He had a whole team at his disposal–surely any one of them could do a better job than she could.

    Still, a wise person knows when not to argue. Elissa replied obediently: [Okay, sure.]

    Only after sending the message did she realize something felt off.

    It was almost like a boyfriend texting his girlfriend to let her know his travel schedule–down to the time and ce.

    Frank, her ex–husband, had never once bothered to keep her in the loop about anything.

    Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite exin, her mood was bright all day.

    As usual, she spent the morning at the clinic seeing patients, then headed to the research institute in the afternoon to check on theirtest

    progress.

    “Ms. Drummond.”

    She had barely set foot in theb when Raymond hurried over, clutching a coffee cup and shing an eager smile. “I owe you an apology. I underestimated you before, and I hope you won’t hold it against me. Please–take this coffee as a peace offering.”

    Nearby, James watched, confused by Raymond’s sudden about–face. Sure, Elissa had managed to cut the drug’s side effects by fifty percent–but until it was published, nothing was set in stone. Who knew what might happen? Besides, Raymond had been openly dismissive of Elissa at first, and now here he was, all humble and ingratiating.

    Elissa ignored Raymond, keeping her focus on her work.

    Raymond’s smile faltered for a moment, but he pressed on. “Ms. Drummond, we’re all on the same team, working toward the same goal. There’s ino /ineed for divisions between us. I know I was careless before, and I’m sorry. Would you consider letting me join your project?”

    She didn’t take the coffee, nor did she agree to his request. Her tone was cool but even. “If you want in, show me what you can actually do.”

    12:07

    She wasn’t about to let someone else coast on her hard work.

    Raymond’s face lit up. “Of course, of course! Anything you need, just say the word.”

    Today, Cliff was runningte, so Xavier was helping Elissa in theb.

    Elissa worked with quick, practiced movements, as if she’d rehearsed every step a hundred times over. Xavier, meanwhile, was clearly struggling to keep up. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “Ms. Drummond, I’m sorry. I’m just not up to your level yet. As soon as Cliff gets here, I’ll hand things off to him.”

    “It’s fine,” Elissa reassured him. “Everyone has a rough start.”

    She remembered her own long hours of training under her mentor, the countless mistakes before she finally got it right.

    If Aaron ine ever heard her say that, he’d probably be bursting with

    pride.