Chapter 11

“I said I would handle it,” he said again, shrugging his shoulders like it wasn’t a big deal.

I stared at him. “You don’t get it.”

“I do,” he said calmly. “This impacts you.”

Then I snapped. “It affects me. My job. My reputation. My life. Do you know that I have a PhD in my field? Do you know how many years I busted my ass to get to where I am?”

He sighed. “I’ve battled news channels and social media before. I can handle it.”

I laughed darkly. “It’s been forty years since you did that!”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

“Get out,” I said. “This was stupid. I’m stupid.”

He didn’t move-not one inch.

“Get out,” I repeated, my voice shaking now. “You have to go.”

He turned. For a few moments, he just looked at me. Then he nodded once, like he was agreeing. He stood to his feet, walked to my room, and re-emerged fully dressed. Then he headed for the front door. He looked back one last time.

“I meant what I said,” he told me quietly. “I’ll take care of it.”

The door closed behind him.

And for some reason, the room felt colder without him.

---

Ding.

I groaned.

I knew that sound.

I tapped my phone screen, and a holographic image appeared with a new email notification.

You are requested to appear before the Integrity Review Board at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

That evening, I barely slept.

The next morning, I dressed like I was going to court-like I was on my way to plead my case. To beg for forgiveness.

I wore a grey blazer jacket and a matching skirt. Then I pinned my hair back, steadying my hands as I practiced my breathing in the mirror.

I made my way into the city and arrived at the building listed in the email. A security officer checked my ID and directed me toward my impending doom.

The boardroom was clinical. It smelled like hand sanitiser and cleaning products.

They were already seated when I entered. The board members sat at a long table-men and women dressed in suits. Their faces were flat and serious. Each of them had a name card folded neatly in front of them.

I sat across from them, my legs neatly folded in my lap. My palms were sweating, my mouth felt like the Sahara Desert, and I was pretty sure I might pee on myself. Maybe.

Why had I drunk three cups of coffee?

One of them cleared their throat, and I almost jumped out of my skin.

“Good morning,” she said, nodding. Then, one by one, all five members introduced themselves.

I didn’t remember a single name. Thank God for the name cards.

The woman who had greeted me sat in the middle. She held up a sheet of paper and began reading from a prepared statement. She mentioned confidentiality, unbiased evaluations, and something about ethics.

She asked me to agree to all terms.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Dr. Saintclair,” the woman said. “Please explain, in your own words, the events that led to-”

The door opened.

Every head in the room turned, including mine.

A man stepped inside. He was older, with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a tailored suit. He strode in, his movements overly formal.

“I apologize for the interruption,” he said smoothly. “I am joining today.”

The woman who had been interviewing me stood, obviously startled. “Sir-”

“I’ll be joining the board for this review,” the man interrupted. “I know it’s short notice, but I’m here now.”

The room became so silent you could hear a pin drop.

As he sat, his eyes moved to me. He studied me intensely.

I felt a wave of nausea hit me and clasped my hands together to prevent them from shaking.

I knew that face. I wasn’t sure how. It was familiar.

The woman cleared her throat again, sat back down and turned back to me. “Dr. Saintclair. Please explain, in your own words, the events that led to the photo of you and-”

“This is unnecessary,” the man said, waving a hand at her. Then… he laughed.

Yes. Laughed.

The woman froze and turned toward him. I saw her clutch the paper in her hands, the sheet wrinkling under her fingertips. She didn’t like what this man was saying.

“The photo you are referencing,” he continued, “has already been verified as fabricated. Some bullshit the media created after Alexander’s awakening. We all knew this was coming-the big circus after he awakened.”

“With all due respect, sir,” the woman said, “we also took the time to analyse the photo, and it is most definitely authentic.”

My heart fluttered, and I wiped my sweaty palms along the top of my skirt.

“You can argue that with the AI scientists who verified it,” he shrugged. “Procedure states that you will need to determine the findings based on expert advice. If the advice is contradictory, the matter must be dismissed.”

I stared at him.

The photo had been real.

I knew it was real.

The board exchanged glances. The woman sighed, then nodded.

“In that case,” she said, “we will dismiss the matter.”

The man smiled, satisfied.

Another woman on the end of the table stood to her feet. “This is insanity! You can’t just come in here and clean up messes. You just joined the board yesterday-all because you bought all of those shares. This is a board meant to assess the ethical conduct of-”

“Stop,” the woman said sternly, her eyes narrowing at her fellow board member.

“Well, that settles it,” the grey-haired man said, standing. “Meeting adjourned.”

What the hell had just happened?

As he stood to leave, he looked back at me. Then it clicked.

Same eyes. Same mouth.

And suddenly I understood.

He was Alexander’s brother.

And he didn’t even look back when he left.

---

My phone buzzed as I stepped outside the building. Relief swept over me as I closed my eyes and inhaled.

All the years of hard work.

I had almost thrown it all away.

And for what?

A hot man who makes me pancakes?

My phone buzzed again.

Glad to hear everything was resolved so quickly. Looking forward to having you back in the lab on Monday.-Dr. Finkle

I smiled.

Back to my lab. Back to my lab coat. My instruments. My microscope.

My life.

Then my phone buzzed again.

I told you I would handle it.-Alexander

My fingers hovered over the holograph floating above my phone screen. I decided not to answer.

He’d been right.

But I couldn’t be caught again.

---

I didn’t answer any of his messages.

But he kept trying… every… single… day.

Missed calls and text messages.

We need to talk. I heard that it got sorted out—so why are you ignoring me?

I pretended they weren’t there. I wasn’t going to risk my job again. Even if I had dreamed about him. Even if I had moments where I wanted him back in my bed.

The week had rolled to an end, and he still hadn’t given up.

I was back in the lab, wearing my lab coat and surrounded by everything I loved. I stood at the monitoring station, reviewing vitals on one of my cryogenic patients.

I envied that-the ability to just hide from it all. Maybe I could freeze myself for a few days and pretend the world didn’t exist anymore.

Finally, my stomach growled, and I decided to take a lunch break. I made my way to the staff room. Someone was sitting at the small table by the window, hunched over a cup of instant ramen noodles. Her phone glowed in her hand, a newscaster’s voice booming from it.

“Oh-hey, Nova,” she said with a smile. It was another scientist from the lab. Her name was Charlotte. She worked in patient monitoring, where patients returned for check-ups after being awakened.

“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile as I opened the fridge to grab my sandwich.

She slurped her noodles, then nodded toward her screen. “The news cycle is exhausting lately. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that fake bullshit the other week.”

So maybe the public’s opinion had changed after all.

I didn’t answer. I took my sandwich and sat at a different table.

“I saw that the entire thing was fake,” she added, her smile filled with pity.

“Yeah,” I said flatly, unwrapping my sandwich and taking a bite.

“Hey,” she said casually. “Did you see this?”

I turned, already slightly annoyed. “See what?”

She tilted the screen toward me. “Alexander Black. He’s everywhere right now.”

I swallowed hard and took another bite. She stood, walked over, and pulled up a chair. She sat and held the screen toward me.

On it was a photo taken in front of a black backdrop with a magazine logo. Alexander stood at the center, dressed to absolute perfection. His arm curved around a woman at his side.

She was tall and drop-dead gorgeous. Her dress looked like it had been poured onto her body. Her hair was glossy, pulled into a perfect bun. Her cheekbones were sharp, her makeup flawless.

“Lila X,” Charlotte said. “She’s a supermodel.”

They looked… perfect together.

He paired well with her-far better than he ever did with a nerdy scientist.

The headline mentioned a fundraising gala. I stared at the image for a moment, then continued eating my sandwich.

“Huh,” Charlotte went on. “Wild, right? Guess he bounced back fast after waking up and finding out his brother married his fiancée.”

I nodded once, stiffly, and turned away before she could see my face.

For some stupid reason, I felt tears forming in my eyes.

Chapter 12

The articles didn’t stop.

In fact, they were everywhere.

On the holographic billboards at the train station.

The entire lab was talking about it. After all, Alexander had been frozen at our facility.

It was always the same headlines.

Alexander Black is back in motion again. Alexander Black restored. Alexander Black thriving.

And there was always her.

Lila X.

The supermodel who went to third-world countries to save starving children. In one photo, she was laughing up at him, her hand on his chest, her smile wide and bright. In another, they were caught mid-step after leaving a clothing store-dressed casually, as if they’d been caught completing a normal daily activity.

I told myself it didn’t matter.

I reminded myself that I had pushed him away.

It was me who had told him to leave.

I was an intelligent scientist. I could use logical thinking. Jealousy was beneath me… right?

Even if my chest tightened every time I saw one of the photos.

Even if I wanted to smash her perfect face.

I told myself a lot of things.

By Friday night, none of them were working.

I was curled up on my couch in my pajamas with Meatball. He sat in my lap, licking his paws and rubbing his head against my chest.

I only needed myself and Meatball. Not Alexander Black. Then my phone buzzed…again. I knew who it was before I even looked. He’d never stopped. Not once.

Alexander:

Answer me or I am coming over.

I held my breath. I couldn’t have him coming over here.

And who did he think he was? I had told him this wouldn’t work. Now he had a new girlfriend, yet he continued to send me message after message-and now he was threatening to come to my home.

Something in me finally snapped.

I grabbed my phone. My fingers tapped furiously at the screen.

Why? Don’t you already have someone? Just stop.

I hugged Meatball closer, tears forming in my eyes again. I didn’t regret sending it, though. It needed to be said.

I fell asleep that night, but just before I drifted off, I checked my messages one last time.

Alexander hadn’t responded.

---

I woke up in a panic.

Why? Because I felt a cold winter breeze against my skin. Which could only mean one thing…

I sat up quickly and turned. I had left the window open.

“Meatball?” I called.

I ripped the blanket from my bed.

No Meatball.

I called his name a few more times, but I didn’t hear the thump of his paws-the sound of him coming toward me.

“No, no, no, no,” I whispered, jumping from the bed.

I searched the apartment like a madwoman. Under the bed. Behind the couch. Inside the closet. I shook the treat bag.

Nothing.

I thought I might vomit. My head was spinning and thought I might faint. The thought of Meatball out in the cold made me sick to my stomach.

I shoved my feet into a pair of boots, yanked on a coat, and bolted outside, the door slamming behind me.

“Meatball!” I screamed, my voice cracking with tears. I climbed onto the side of an alleyway dumpster and leaned forward, reaching out to move rubbish aside.

My foot slipped.

I went down hard, tumbling awkwardly into the trash. The smell was all-consuming, and I gagged as I scrambled to climb out. I hauled myself back up, scraping my hands in the process. I’d probably get some sort of flesh-eating bacteria in the cuts now lining my palms.

“Meatball,” I whispered desperately.

I checked alleyways, crouched behind parked cars, and pleaded with passing strangers. That’s when I heard a throat clear behind me.

“Lost something?” a man asked.

I turned. He was bundled in several layers of clothing, sitting against a brick wall next to a pile of cardboard.

“My cat,” I said quickly. “Orange fur. His name is Meatball.”

He nodded slowly. “I saw him.”

My eyes widened. “Where?”

He shrugged. “Twenty.” Then, he held out his phone.

I didn’t argue. I tapped my phone to his, the transaction clearing instantly.

“Behind the café,” he said. “Across the way.”

I sprinted across the road, ignoring the honking and beeping of the automated cars. I made it to the back of the café and searched every corner, my heart racing.

“Meatball?” I called.

But still…nothing.

I went home and collapsed onto the couch, fingers trembling as I opened my laptop. I posted everywhere-local groups, missing pet boards, social feeds. I uploaded photos with shaking hands, each one a reminder of the weight I was missing.

LOST CAT. PLEASE CONTACT IF SEEN.

I hit post, then headed back outside to continue my search. I searched for hours with no luck. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I started the walk home.

My coat still smelled like garbage. I hadn’t showered. I hadn’t eaten. My head throbbed, and my eyes were swollen from crying.

By the time I reached my apartment, I was barely holding on to hope.

I unlocked my door and pushed it open.

And stopped dead in my tracks.

Alexander was standing in my living room.

“What the hell-” I began.

Then I saw what he was holding.

Who he was holding.

“Meatball?” I croaked.

I crossed the room instantly and took him from Alexander’s arms, holding him against my chest. Meatball protested, wiggling in my arms as I snuggled him. Then he finally gave up and went still, a soft purr rumbling from his tiny body.

“You’re home,” I whispered into his fur. Then I scrunched my nose. He smelled like rotten fish.

“Thank you,” I said breathlessly, looking at Alexander.

He watched me, his expression soft, a smile on his lips-like he’d accomplished something big.

“I saw your posts,” he said. “I sent some drones out to help look for him.”

I pulled back slightly, still holding Meatball tight. “What?”

“They found him behind a fish and chips shop,” he laughed. “Curled up in a box. He was having a nice nap after eating from the dumpster.”

Meatball began wiggling again. I stepped toward the door and shut it before releasing him.

I laughed shakily. “Of course he was. He’s a total fat ass.”

Then I froze.

I looked around my apartment, realization washing over me.

“How did you get in?” I asked cautiously.

Alexander grinned.

“Still working on trusting me, I see,” he said lightly.

“Answer me,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

He laughed, and the sound was music to my ears. Why was he so perfect?

“Don’t worry. I didn’t break anything,” he said, waving a hand.

“That is not an answer,” I said, crossing my arms.

“I’m not telling you,” he replied, still smiling.

I stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say.

“I’ve been trying to talk to you,” he said, breaking the silence. “All week.”

I sighed.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said flatly.

“I don’t think that’s true,” he said quietly.

He looked perfect in a fitted white T-shirt and jeans. His green eyes assessed me from head to toe as he spoke, causing tingles to litter my spine.

He stepped closer and reached out, pulling something from my hair. He held it up.

“An orange peel,” he smiled. “Cute.”

“Sorry, I guess I’m not as sophisticated as your supermodel girlfriend,” I snorted.

His smile vanished instantly. He walked to my kitchen and dropped the peel into the rubbish bin, then turned back to me.

“She is not my girlfriend, Nova,” he said sternly. “If you had taken the time to speak to me, you would know that.”

“I saw the news and the photos,” I shrugged.

He walked toward me again, his eyes locked on mine, stopping just inches away.

“Nova Saintclair,” he said. “You are a very stubborn woman. Do you know that?”

I didn’t respond. I was too busy trying to still my racing heart.

“Lila X,” he said flatly, “needed a career boost. A famous fling.”

He reached out and cupped my chin. “And I needed something to fool the media. To make them believe the photo of us was fake-and that I was dating Lila.”

As much as I hated to admit it, it all made sense. But still-this was dangerous. It always had been.

I took a step back, breaking his hold.

He sighed. “You can stop with the games, Nova.”

I shook my head. “It’s not a game. I want my career. I worked hard for it. You don’t get it.”

He shrugged. “We’ll be more careful, okay?”

“No,” I said firmly.

He ignored me, stepping forward and pushing me back until my spine hit the door. He leaned in and-

Sniffed me.

Then, he leaned back and winced. “I was hoping for a romantic moment, but I have to admit-you really stink, Nova.”

My mouth fell open at the sheer audacity of this man. He smiled, gently moved me aside, and opened the door.

“See you soon, sweetheart,” he grinned.

Then he disappeared.

Chapter 13

I hadn’t slept all night. Not after Alexander had brought me Meatball. Not after he… sniffed me.

Instead, I had ruminated all night long. My head wouldn’t allow me to forget that I felt a connection to Alexander. But I had stayed firm in my decision.

I would remain purely professional and ensure that distance remained between us. I didn’t want chaos in my life. I’d had enough.

I arrived at the lab early and buried myself in lab reports, trying to ignore the heavy feeling of tiredness weighing me down. I’d already downed three cups of coffee.

Around noon, Dr. Finkle appeared at my station. I was analysing a cell sample under a microscope when he approached.

I turned and smiled, but my face fell when I saw his expression. He looked uncomfortable.

“Nova,” he said quietly. “Can you come with me, please?”

This didn’t sound good.

“What is this about?” I asked with a sigh.

“Just come,” he said, waving toward the door.

I followed him down the corridor to one of the smaller conference rooms. Sitting at the table was a man in a dark suit I didn’t recognize.

He stood when I entered, nodding at us both.

“Dr. Saintclair,” he said smoothly. “Good morning.”

“Hello,” I said, tilting my head at him in confusion. “May I ask who you are?”

Dr. Finkle stood next to me, avoiding my gaze.

“This is Mr. Callahan,” he said. “He represents the Awakening Oversight Program.”

My stomach dropped.

I knew that program. The AOP. It had been formed after the first awakenings went wrong. Back when awakenings had still been experimental, there were a few… hiccups.

The first few patients had been ordinary. Rich, but not exactly famous or revolutionary.

Then a hedge fund titan woke up and tried to reclaim assets that had been legally redistributed decades earlier. The markets dropped, lawsuits were filed, and three firms collapsed within a week. There was nothing anyone could do about it because the patient had never been legally dead.

Every awakening after that chipped away at public enthusiasm and support. With each high-profile revival came market instability, legal chaos, identity disputes, and inheritance battles.

Then the government stepped in. They began implementing measures to oversee the awakenings of high-profile patients. They formed advisory committees, ethics panels, and designated themselves as the “temporary supervisors” of people like Alexander.

By the time I started working in cryogenics, patients signed agreements limiting their financial actions for twelve months before they were placed into a deep sleep. Travel restrictions, mandatory psychological evaluations-it was all part of the process now.

But Alexander had been put to sleep before this had been implemented. He had the freedom to do whatever the hell he wanted.

A billionaire tech prodigy whose patents were still embedded in half the global infrastructure.

Of course they were watching.

Mr. Callahan folded his hands neatly on the table. Then he smiled in that “I am smiling because it is professional” sort of way.

“We have reason to believe,” he began, “that Mr. Black’s reintroduction into society may pose risks to the current markets.”

“He still owns controlling stakes in multiple active corporations,” Mr. Callahan continued. “Several of his tech patents are part of national infrastructure systems. He has also regained his position on several committee boards due to the shares he holds within them.”

I shrugged. “Well, yeah. I would assume he has lots of shares in tech companies.”

Mr. Callahan leaned forward and cocked an eyebrow at me. “It’s not just shares, Mrs. Saintclair. Alexander Black has gained complete control of the tech market. Before he was put into cryogenic sleep, he bought shares in start-up companies. These companies weren’t large corporations when Mr. Black went to sleep.”

“So, he bought shares in start-up companies,” I asked, “and then while he was asleep, they blew up?”

He nodded. “When he was awakened, he became one of the richest men on the planet.”

I blinked. “Wasn’t he already incredibly wealthy?”

“Yes,” he laughed, shaking his head. “I have to admit, the man played the game well.”

I swallowed. “But he never signed the agreement. The one that we now require.”

“Exactly,” Mr. Callahan sighed.

So Alexander was now a problem. From a legal standpoint, there wasn’t a lot the government could do.

“So why am I here?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “Why are you talking to me about this? This is not within my department.”

“Because you are his primary scientific contact,” Callahan said, leaning back to stare directly at me. “And you have had…close proximity.”

Close proximity.

How could he know the truth about the kissing photo? Alexander had made everyone believe that it was fake-hadn’t he?

“We need to assess his psychological stability,” Mr. Callahan continued, “as well as his long-term intentions.”

Then he tilted his head at me, studying me for a long moment before saying, “I know the photo was real. Alexander obviously used his connections to shift the public’s perspective.”

I felt Dr. Finkle shift uncomfortably next to me before speaking. “Excuse me, Mr. Callahan. With all due respect, you have no authority over my department. So I will advise you to speak to Nova with complete and total respect. Or you can leave.”

But I knew where this conversation was going. The clues were obvious.

“You’re asking me to spy on him,” I said.

“We’re asking you to… observe,” Mr. Callahan replied. “Alexander’s mental health has been questioned. He does not appear to be stable. We need evidence to support this.”

Ah, there it was. The only hold they could put on him. Locking him away in a mental institute, while they took authority of his assets. It was a classic government move, one they had used on other patients that they wished to contain.

All so that they could make decisions about his assets.

The worst part? It was completely legal.

“And if I decline?” I asked.

Mr. Callahan leaned back slightly. “Your position here has already undergone review this month, Dr. Saintclair.”

“As I said,” Dr. Finkle cut in, “you have no authority here.”

“I may not,” Mr. Callahan smiled. “But there are other governmental departments that do. You think your ethics panel was the end of it? One phone call and Dr. Saintclair here will be speaking with the Department of Post-Revival Affairs.”

I felt Dr. Finkle stiffen next to me.

There it was. He was threatening my career. Reporting me would mean that I would have another panel evaluation-but this time it would not be so biased

“Fine,” I said evenly. “I’ll do it.”

“Wonderful,” Mr. Callahan replied, with a wide smile. He knew he had won.

“What do I need to do?” I asked.

He smiled even wider, “I will be in contact shortly, with instructions. Be on the look out for e-mail communication from me.”

I turned without saying goodbye. As I left the room, my hands were shaking and my head was racing with possibilities.

Would I help the government tighten the leash around the man I was falling for?

Or risk being pulled down with him when they did?

---

Subject Line: AOP — Mandatory Compliance

I stared at the email for a long moment before opening it.

I scanned the body of the message, sighing as I read through it.

Due to recent concerns regarding Mr. Alexander Black’s psychological stability, the AOP has initiated Tier-Two Monitoring.

“What?” I scoffed. He hadn’t done anything to warrant that level of evaluation. Surely?

Tier Two was reserved for patients who had already exhibited concerning signs, not for Alexander Black, who used his money and power to save cats.

Effective immediately, Mr. Black will be required to complete mandatory psychological evaluations every three days under the supervision of a licensed federal practitioner.

I took a deep breath. They wanted psychological evaluations to be conducted by their own department.

And then I kept reading…

Following each psychological session, Mr. Black must complete physiological and neurological baseline assessments to be conducted at the original revival facility.

My eyes widened when I saw my name.

Dr. Nova Saintclair will conduct and document all physiological examinations, including but not limited to: neural activity scans, stress response analysis…

I didn’t finish reading it. I knew what the examinations would entail.

Every three days? Were they insane? It was unnecessary.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

“Dr. Saintclair,” I answered.

“Nova,” Dr. Finkle said carefully. “Have you seen the email?”

“Yes,” I groaned.

“We don’t have room to push back,” he said.

“I know,” I replied.

“He starts today,” Dr. Finkle continued. “His psych evaluation is at ten. He’ll be transferred to you by eleven-thirty.”

“Why do they want me to do this?” I asked.

“I think they want the neural scans as evidence,” he replied. “As to why they chose you? Because they think they can threaten you into giving them the results they want.”

I sighed. “They want me to report abnormal activity in his brain.”

“Exactly,” he said.

When I hung up, I leaned back in my chair, my eyes on the ceiling.

My life was over.

Chapter 14

I had made my way to the post-awakening wing of the lab, an area I had never even accessed before.

This was where patients were evaluated after being brought back, after they were awakened. Where their bodies were tested for adaptation failure, and their vitals were monitored until they were cleared to go home.

I pushed through the double doors and walked down the corridor.

I paused in front of Room Three, inhaled slowly, and opened it before stepping inside.

Alexander was sitting on the examination bed.

Shirtless and only wearing a pair of boxers.

Of course.

And God dammit, he looked too good.

His posture was relaxed, his hands resting loosely on his muscular thighs. The fluorescent lighting traced over the lines of his perfect, hard abs. It outlined the slope of his shoulders. The sharp line of his jaw. My eyes flickered down to the faint scars along his ribs, left over from the cryogenic catheter placement. I hadn’t noticed them before.

“Doctor,” he said smoothly, with a casual smile as his green eyes lit up.

I shut the door behind me.

“Mr. Black,” I replied flatly, looking down at the screen in my hand. “I am here to conduct a physical exam.”

I ignored his gaze and walked over to the counter, setting down the screen and pulling on a pair of gloves. I could feel his eyes on my back.

“Tier-Two already?” he laughed.

I didn’t look at him. “The Awakening Oversight Program thought it was necessary.”

“Necessary?” he replied. “They just want control of what belongs to me. I would still be just as rich, even if I had not gone to sleep. I would have purchased those shares regardless. I didn’t become successful by making small moves.”

I turned, stepping closer with a portable neural scanner in one hand.

“Lie back, please,” I instructed.

He did.

But of course, he did it slowly, while his eyes were locked onto mine.

I adjusted the clips on the side of the scanner and placed the pads at his temples. My fingers brushed his skin briefly.

I watched as the scanner read his brainwave activity. It had spiked.

“Relax, please,” I said calmly. “I need an accurate result.”

He grinned up at me. “I am relaxed, Dr. Saintclair.”

The numbers jumped again, and I sighed.

I reached for the cardiac monitor and secured it around his torso. I ignored the sensations that pulsed through me as my fingers brushed his skin. I also ignored the beeping of the neural scanner as his brainwaves spiked again.

“You’re ignoring me, aren’t you?” he said quietly.

“This is a medical examination,” I replied calmly as I retrieved my screen from the counter. I tapped at the screen, studying the numbers that began to appear.

“Fine, I can play your little game, Nova,” he replied. But his voice was different. Harder.

“Please remain still,” I said, moving to stand next to him again.

He went silent, his eyes on the ceiling. I continued to study the numbers. Then he spoke again.

“They want instability,” he said, turning to peer up at me. “That’s the only leverage they have.”

My finger froze midair, hovering above the screen. “That is not my concern.”

He didn’t respond; he just continued to watch me.

The neural scan completed its first test. I squinted at the results. No erratic spikes, signs of dissociation or cognitive fragmentation.

Alexander Black was completely stable. Was he stable all the time? Who knew? It’s the reason he needed the exam every three days. They wanted to catch him in an unstable state.

Just as I was about to close out of the test, I saw a small deviation on the screen. I tapped at the patterns.

“Did they threaten you?” he asked.

I turned to him, attempting to keep my voice steady. “What?”

He peered at me, his eyes dark. “They made you do this. It’s not even your department.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I said, returning to look at the odd pattern I needed to explore. It appeared to be a small spike of some sort.

“Did you know that they are listening in? They have the authority to listen in-by tapping into your devices. If they’re listening right now,” he said calmly, “then they can hear this.”

He sat up, and I stepped back slightly at the sudden closeness.

“I am not unstable, Nova,” he said, his voice steady.

He leaned forward, so close that I could feel the warmth of his body. “I am adapting.”

The machine emitted a soft beep as the stress markers spiked again.

I glanced down, and his eyes followed mine, peering at the waves on the screen.

“I know why that’s happening,” he murmured.

Heat crept up my neck, and I felt goosebumps appear along the surface of my skin.

The room fell silent as we stared at one another. Finally, I looked back down again and tapped at the new abnormal patterns, attempting to find the cause.

I muttered under my breath, “The hypothalamus…”

“Is that the part of my brain that makes me want to fuck you?” he whispered. His voice was so low, I almost missed it.

I took a step back, but he was standing on his feet. Before I could react, he pulled the screen from my hand and tossed it onto the exam bed. He removed the medical equipment from his torso and head.

“Stop,” I said.

“Weren’t you done anyway?” he said, his voice still low.

He was a mere inch from me now, his hands reaching for my waist. He brought his mouth to my ear.

“Don’t speak too loudly. I’m sure they are listening,” he said against my ear.

“Stop,” I said lowly.

But I didn’t push him. I didn’t resist. I just stood there.

I let him nip and suck at the skin of my neck. I let him push against me until my back hit the counter behind me. My panties were soaking, and all I wanted was for him to slide his massive cock inside of me. To fuck me until I screamed.

I felt the sharp sting as he nipped at my neck again, and I gasped.

“Sshh,” he murmured against my ear. “Be quiet.”

I felt his hands lift me by my waist and set me onto the counter. It was like I was possessed. Before I knew it, my hands were in his hair, and I was allowing him to spread my legs.

I felt his fingers slide under my dress and up my inner thigh before they stopped at my panties.

“You’re wet, doctor,” he chuckled against my ear as he dragged a finger along the moist fabric.

He slid my panties to the side and ran his finger along my slick labia. I inhaled deeply as he moved it up and down, exploring every crevice. I felt my legs wrap around his waist as I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, my hands now clutching onto his thick hair.

Then he spoke out loud, so he could be heard, “Thank you for completing the evaluation, Dr Saintclair. Even if the AOP likely forced you too. Your professionalism is appreciated.”

He pushed my legs further apart, and I felt him positioning himself.

He was going to fuck me.

On this counter.

I sighed as I felt the tip of his massive cock rubbing along my slick entrance. God, I wanted him inside of me so badly.

“Say thank you,” he whispered against my ear. “Now.”

“Thank you,” I managed to croak, out loud. Loud enough that they would be able to hear me.

What the hell was I doing?

I loosened my legs, opened my eyes, and let go of his hair.

“No, I-” I began.

It was too late.

He thrust inside of me, a smirk on his face as my eyes went wide. The pleasure coursed through me as he pushed inside of me completely, stretching me out, his massive dick filling me to the brim. He clutched onto my waist, holding me firmly in place.

“What was that, babe?” he whispered.

He rocked his hips back and forth slowly, grinning as my mouth fell open.

“Good girl,” he whispered. I looked down. I watched as he worked in and out of me, his ab muscles rippling as he fucked me. Slow and deep. My hands reached down, and I clutched at the edge of the counter, my knuckles turning white as I suppressed my moans.

He was now moving faster, thrusting harder. I began to moan, but he quickly leaned forward, covering my mouth with his, muffling the sound.

His tongue explored mine as I felt my pussy clenching around him. He pulled away and clicked his tongue. “You need to be quieter, doctor.” His voice was so low that I struggled to hear him.

I didn’t respond; I could only stare back as he rocked in and out. The pleasure was washing over me in waves of pure bliss. I watched as he closed his eyes for a few moments, obviously enjoying the feeling.

“You know,” he said softly, now opening his eyes to look at me, “I think you might be the best I’ve ever had. Your pussy is perfect.”

He clutched at my waist, his fingers digging into my hips. “So tight and soft.”

“And you’re fucking beautiful,” he whispered, as he let go of my waist and tugged on the sleeves of my lab coat.

Chapter 15

My lab coat fell from my shoulders. I let go of the countertop and pulled it from my body, letting it fall to the floor at his feet.

“There she is,” he muttered against my ear. “My girl.”

My hands were around his neck, and soon I was clawing at his back like a wild animal. My nails scratched at his flawless skin as he continued his movements. He didn’t seem to mind.

My legs were wrapped tightly around him, the sweat from his back slick against my skin. I heard him moan and push as deep as he possibly could.

A slight pain shot through my core-but it was only momentary. The pleasure was far more intense.

“Did that hurt your little pussy?” he whispered. I felt his thumb gliding along the top of my clit.

I didn’t answer. I just closed my eyes and took him into me.

Over and over again.

Then I felt it. My pussy began to tighten around him. I willed myself not to make a sound. Not to moan.

But God, his massive cock was incredible. The way it stretched me and filled me.

I felt my pussy twitch around his thick erection, and then the orgasm came, shooting through my body like a bolt of electricity. Moisture poured from my opening as my mouth opened and the moan began to escape.

He quickly placed his hand over my mouth, stopping the sound before it came. I opened my eyes as the orgasm finished, and he released his hand. I was gasping for air now.

And him?

He was smirking at me, still rocking his hips. Then I felt him pulsate, and he closed his eyes, still smirking as I felt it-his hot liquid inside of me.

There was something about the way he smirked while he came inside of me.

Like he’d won something.

It was hot. God damnit, I loved it.

He let out a soft, muffled moan as he finished emptying himself into me. He opened his eyes and smiled at me before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

While still inside of me, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine before whispering,

“You are mine, Nova.”

I blinked.

He pulled away from me, looking down as he separated from me. Then he chuckled and spoke, using a normal tone.

“Well, Doctor, I suppose you have some cleaning up to do,” he said, his voice overly formal and professional. “I’ll leave you to it.”

His eyes stayed locked onto mine as he pulled on his clothing, straightened himself out, and opened the door. He looked back at me and winked before stepping into the hallway and leaving.

---

I sat at my computer, staring at the screen in front of me as the numbers danced in neat rows. I was studying the data from Alexander’s last assessment.

I felt my cheeks burn red as I analyzed the numbers. I could see the point in time at which his heart rate had spiked. Right before he had…

I sighed. Even the thought of it had me feeling like I wanted to find him, so I could let him fuck me senseless.

Goddamnit, this man was taking over my life.

I heard a ping, and a small notification appeared on my screen. A new e-mail.

Dr. Saintclair,

I hope you’re well.

Nathaniel and I are hosting dinner at our home this evening, and we would be delighted if you could join us. Alexander will be here as well, and we would love the opportunity to thank you properly for everything you did during his awakening.

7:30 p.m.

The address is attached below.

-Chloe Black

I chuckled.

Could life get any more wild?

Was Alexander’s ex-fiancée-the one who married his brother-really inviting me to dinner? I didn’t hesitate before I responded.

Chloe,

Thank you for the invitation, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.

Kind regards,

Dr. Nova Saintclair

I shut down my computer. Well, that was easy.

Now I could focus on important things-such as my work.

---

I reached my apartment building, climbed the stairs, and unlocked my door.

The moment I stepped inside, I had a phone call notification. I squinted at the unknown number for a moment before tapping my phone. A hologram soon appeared with a small floating mouth.

“Hello?” I said.

“Dr. Saintclair?” A rather warm and friendly female voice came from the hologram. “This is Chloe Black. I emailed about dinner tomorrow.”

I closed my door behind me.

Great.

“Hello,” I said cautiously.

She continued, “I’m calling to ask you to reconsider.”

“That’s very nice,” I replied, peering down at Meatball, who was rubbing his head against my leg, “but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for me to-”

“Oh, I understand,” she interrupted, laughing as if it were a joke. “But I’m going to keep asking until you say yes.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “I’m sorry?”

She laughed again. “If you don’t come tonight, I’ll probably just email you again tomorrow. And then the day after that. Eventually, I’ll have to start calling your office.”

Despite myself, a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

I sighed as I kicked off my shoes and reached for a can of cat food.

“Why do you want me there so badly?” I asked.

She didn’t even hesitate. “Because Alexander will come if you do.”

Her blunt response caught me slightly off guard.

“And you want him there, I am assuming?” I said as I opened the can and dumped it into Meatball’s food bowl.

“Very much,” she replied. This time her voice wasn’t so soft. It was almost…sad.

I sighed.

“He has barely seen us since he awakened,” she continued. “As you can imagine, the situation is…odd.”

I felt some pity for the woman, but this was a terrible idea.

I exhaled slowly.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll come.”

“Oh good,” she said with a sigh of relief. “You are wonderful, Nova. I’ll see you tomorrow at 7:30.”

She didn’t even bother saying goodbye. She simply ended the call.

Dinner with Alexander’s family.

I was doing it again. I was letting him invade my life.

---

The next day, a package arrived at the lab with my name on it.

I was in the middle of reviewing neural scan logs when Charlotte appeared in the doorway of my office holding a large box.

“Delivery for you,” she said with a grin. “Looks like something a boyfriend would send.”

I squinted at it as she set the box down on my desk. The packaging alone looked expensive, like the paper itself would have cost a fortune. It was smooth black leather.

My name was written across the front in neat silver letters.

Dr. Nova Saintclair

I untied the ribbon slowly and lifted the lid.

Inside was a black gown.

The fabric looked like liquid silk. The cut was elegant, and as I pulled it from the box, it spilled to the floor.

I found a small card at the bottom.

I unfolded it and read it.

A small thank-you for agreeing to come tomorrow evening. I thought this might be perfect for dinner.

A car will collect you at 7:00 p.m.

Chloe xoxo

Rich people…

---

Later that evening, I stood in front of my bathroom mirror.

I put in my contact lenses first and smoothed my hair into thick waves. I managed to put on some simple makeup and found a box holding earrings that I had received for Christmas. I guess they had a purpose now.

The gown slid over my skin like water, falling into place perfectly. Its thin straps fit perfectly-not too loose and not too tight.

How could she have known what size I was?

I turned slightly in the mirror. The black fabric made my skin look paler, my eyes brighter.

Not bad for a massive nerd.

I groaned when I saw that it was already past 7:00.

I grabbed my coat and bolted outside.

A sleek black car waited at the curb.

The driver’s side door opened…

I blinked.

A robot stepped out.

But not just any robot.

It was the most human-like robot I had ever laid eyes on.

It was perfectly humanoid in shape, with flesh-like skin moving smoothly beneath a tailored black chauffeur’s jacket. Its face was perfectly carved, and two human-like eyes stared back at me.

This was the sort of robot that cost millions. Several millions. You didn’t just see them wandering around in public.

It moved with quiet precision as it walked around the car and opened the door for me.

“Good evening, Dr. Saintclair,” it said in a calm, human-like voice. “Your transportation has been arranged.”

“Good God, you are incredible,” I breathed, stepping closer to it.

“Thank you,” it replied with a smile.

“Holy shit, you smile,” I said, my eyes going wide.

“I smile when I am complimented, yes,” it replied as it tilted its head.

“You are incredibly human-like,” I said, shaking my head. “Amazing.”

He motioned toward the back seat, and I cast him one more long look. Then I slid inside.

Chapter 16

I leaned forward from the backseat and squinted through the tinted windows of the car.

The house was… unreal.

Sheets of smooth black stone and sleek glass had been formed into curved geometric shapes. Each large structure was illuminated by rows of lights-some hovering above the home rather than protruding from the ground.

Entire sections of the walls were completely transparent, revealing the gigantic rooms inside. It was more like a work of art than an actual home.

The car rolled to a slow stop at the base of a wide black staircase made of some sort of rock-like material that was unrecognizable to me.

I stepped out slowly, staring up at the enormous glass entrance.

“This is insane,” I murmured.

The robot who had driven me stepped out of the car and stood by my side.

“Are you referring to the staircase?” the robot asked, blinking its life-like eyes at me.

I nodded.

“It is meteorite material and stardust, compressed to make a hard, durable structure,” it said flatly.

“It’s made of meteors and stardust?” I said, my mouth dropping open.

“Yes,” it said plainly. Then it motioned toward the stairs. “Please walk to the front doors. Have a lovely evening.”

Then I watched as it returned to the car and drove away down another driveway along the side of the house.

I walked toward the staircase and ran my hand along its surface. Then I heard the tall glass doors slide open with a soft gliding sound.

Standing in the doorway was a woman. She gave a small wave. I stood upright and began walking toward her.

“Hello, I’m Nova-” I stopped a few feet in front of her and froze mid-step.

She looked like she had stepped straight out of a 1950s pin-up poster.

And this? This was not a human. It was another robot. A robot that was even more realistic than the first.

Her body had been built with an exaggerated hourglass shape. Her waist was thin, but her hips were full in a very exaggerated way. Her skin had a warm glow that made her look… alive. It was perfectly smooth, and her makeup was vintage-exaggerated winged eyeliner, ruby red lips, and blush swept across her cheeks.

Her hair was platinum blonde and styled into a curled bob. She reminded me of Marilyn Monroe. There was even a small beauty mark on her left cheek.

She wore a fitted black uniform with a flared skirt and slim waist-the only sign that she was actually some sort of maid.

She smiled brightly, the way you saw women do in old toothpaste ads from a hundred years ago.

“Good evening, Dr. Saintclair,” she said in a warm voice. “Welcome to the Black residence.”

I blinked. “You’re… a robot.”

“Yes,” she smiled.

“Are you speaking in a transatlantic accent?” I said, my eyes wide. She sounded exactly like a woman from a 50s sitcom.

She tilted her head and giggled-it sounded… magical.

“Why yes!” she said, clasping her hands together. “What a keen ear you have. Please do come in.”

“My name is Sandra,” she continued pleasantly as she waved for me to follow her inside.

Before I could respond, a voice came from deeper inside the house.

“Nova?”

A woman stepped into view, and I recognized her instantly.

It was Chloe.

Chloe Black.

Even after forty-four years, she was unmistakably stunning.

Time had changed her. I could see faint wrinkles attempting to form at the corners of her eyes. That’s the thing about being rich.

You can fight aging. In fact, it’s negotiable.

Her posture was graceful and confident-just like in her old photos in Alexander’s file. She wore a silver gown that caught the light every time she moved, the fabric shimmering like liquid metal. The bodice was embroidered with delicate metal emblems.

“I’m so glad you came,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I replied. I couldn’t help but lean forward and squint at the metal emblems on her dress as I spoke.

It was awkward. I was standing in front of Alexander’s ex-fiancée from forty-four years ago. After he had fucked me on top of a counter in a medical exam room.

Now I was staring at her chest area at our first meeting because the nerd in me recognized the material-making everything worse.

Chloe pointed at one of the metal emblems I was staring at. “Are you looking at this one?”

I straightened quickly. “Sorry.”

“No, that’s quite alright,” she smiled. “The emblems are made of-”

“Neurocarbon?” I asked, cutting her off mid-sentence.

She nodded. “I am surprised you recognized it. Are you a fan of fashion?”

“No,” I shrugged, cocking an eyebrow at her. “But I know materials from space when I see them.”

We stood in silence for a few lingering moments before she spoke again.

“You must feel very strange being here,” she said kindly.

“That’s… accurate,” I laughed nervously.

She smiled and turned, making her way inside.

“Come,” she called over her shoulder. “Leo is waiting.”

The interior of the house was even more unbelievable than the exterior.

Glass walls arched high above us, with a balcony overhead that looked down through several terraces. Soft lighting glowed from hidden panels in the floors, and holographic images buzzing through the glass walls.

I stopped momentarily at one wall and pointed at a hologram suspended inside the glass. I squinted at it. It was a row of numbers.

“It’s just for the air conditioning,” Chloe laughed. “So you can set the temperature.” She had stopped and waited for me to look at the hologram.

I turned to look at her, my cheeks burning red. Of course I knew what it was-I had just been too damn poor to ever see this sort of technology up close.

“Yes, I know,” I said quickly. “I was just-”

“Having a look, yes,” she said. “I apologize, I didn’t mean it like that.”

I smiled back, and she turned again. I followed her until we finally reached the dining area.

A long table made from what looked like a single slab of polished black stone sat in the middle, taking up most of the space.

A man stood beside it, peering at his watch with a disgruntled expression. And the moment I saw him, I knew exactly who he was.

Leo Black.

I had only seen him once in real life-at the Integrity Board hearing. When he had saved me from losing my career.

He looked up as we approached.

The resemblance to Alexander was unmistakable. They were both the same height and had the same sharp, handsome features. Even with age, his brother was attractive; there was no doubt about it.

His eyes moved over me slowly as we approached. His gaze was intentional and… slightly intrusive. As if he were dissecting me.

“Dr. Saintclair,” he said, his voice level and deep. “Good to see you again.”

“Mr. Black,” I replied. “Thanks for the invite.”

He gave a nod. “Please. You may call me Leo.”

Chloe gestured toward the table. “Let’s sit, please.”

We all took our seats. Leo sat at the far end, with Chloe at his side. I sat across from her.

“Alexander is running late,” Leo sighed. “He was meant to arrive an hour before you. We had matters to attend to.”

I felt my stomach flip. “Oh.”

Chloe sighed. “He’s… been distant since he woke up. We haven’t had him visit us more than once.”

I blinked at her. Was she insane? Surely she knew why.

She took a sip of her wine and spoke as if reading my mind, “Obviously, it would be an… odd situation. For him, it hasn’t been long at all-just a matter of weeks. For us, it’s been forty-four years.”

Leo gave a quiet snort. “He needs to move on from it. He made his choice.”

Chloe shot him a pointed look, her eyes narrow. “Leo. Not now.”

“What?” he said with a shrug. “Forty-four years went by. The world didn’t pause because he took a nap.”

Chloe looked down at the wine in her hand, and for a moment I was certain she looked sad.

I cleared my throat. “Are you sure he’s coming?”

Chloe nodded. “He said he would. Besides, you’re here.”

I felt my heart flutter for a moment. Before anyone could say anything more, a soft buzzing sound drifted into the room. I looked up to see a small drone gliding into the dining area.

It hovered above the table, its sleek silver shell reflecting the glass-domed lights above us. Beneath it, mechanical arms held a circular platform with several small plates.

The drone lowered slightly and delicately extended its arms, placing the dishes in front of each of us-perfectly centered.

Then it lifted again and hovered away. A second drone soon followed, carrying a bottle of wine suspended in a glass dome. It glided to each of us and filled our glasses one by one without spilling a single drop.

I couldn’t help but stare. I had seen robots in nicer restaurants, sure. But this level of robotic service was not typical by any means. Even a single drone cost more than a decade of my annual salary.

Leo raised his glass as he watched my reaction, “To modern miracles.”

We all lifted our glasses and took a sip.

The conversation drifted into small talk and then, thankfully, into more interesting topics.

Chloe asked about my research while Leo chimed in from time to time. But every few minutes, I noticed Chloe’s eyes drifting toward the doorway.

Finally, just as I thought I might tell them I wasn’t hungry after all-so I could escape this living nightmare-I heard a voice.

“Sorry I’m late.”

All three of us looked up.

Alexander Black had stepped into the room.

Everything went still.

Chapter 17

He was dressed in a dark tailored suit that was unmistakably old-fashioned. Like a model from the 2020s. His suit had structured shoulders, and he even wore a silk tie.

He looked out of place… as if he were from another time.

Yet it worked somehow. It was… eclectic.

His gaze moved across the room slowly, as if he were searching for something-or someone. His eyes fell to Leo first, then to Chloe…

Then they landed on me…and stayed there. He walked toward the table slowly.

I nervously reached for my wine and took a sip that was far too big. More like a gulp. The pungent wine hit the back of my throat and I coughed and gagged.

Wine sputtered from my mouth back into the glass. I reached for my napkin and quickly dabbed the corners of my mouth, trying to catch the drops of wine dripping down my chin.

Chloe blinked at me and then turned to Alexander.

“Alexander, hello.”

He nodded once but didn’t respond. Instead, he slid into the empty chair.

Right next to me.

The faint scent of his cologne floated in the air around me, followed by the fresh smell of his aftershave.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said gently, his gaze still on mine. As if there was no one else in the room.

“We’ve waited for over an hour. You were meant to be here an hour before Nova arrived,” Leo said flatly, his eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Finally, Alexander took his gaze off me and turned to his brother, “I apologized.”

They stared at one another-deadlocked. As if there was some sort of secret war going on between them.

I awkwardly shoved an olive into my mouth and bit down. I winced as my teeth hit the pit inside. My eyes darted around as I quickly spat it back onto my plate.

I watched as Alexander turned to look at me, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Having a hard time with eating and drinking tonight?”

My eyes widened, and I looked down, using my fork to begin rearranging the food on my plate.

Thankfully, another drone entered the room, pulling us away from the tension. This one was carrying the main dishes arranged neatly on its platform.

It hovered above the table and placed our main course in front of each of us.

I was still watching it when Leo spoke. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Sorry,” I said quickly, turning to look at him. “I was just-”

Leo leaned back slightly, “The stabilization system is the most revolutionary part. Most early service drones had vibrations that made it difficult for them to place objects down if they were fragile or contained food or liquid.”

“Yes,” I smiled. “The harmonic drift problem.”

Leo raised his eyebrows as if he were impressed by my response. “Exactly.”

He gestured toward the doorway. “You have got to see what our other drones can do.”

Before Leo could continue, Chloe interrupted.

“The technology actually came from Alexander’s work.”

The table went quiet. Even Alexander froze-his fork mid-motion.

I turned to listen to her.

“Before he went into cryogenic sleep,” she said softly, “Alexander had begun researching autonomous stabilization systems.”

She said it slowly and cautiously, as if she were afraid of how Leo might react. I watched Alexander from the corner of my eye.

“It was theoretical work,” he replied, lifting his glass casually. “I never had the chance to build any of the drones.”

Chloe shook her head and chuckled. “It became the foundation for several robotics systems developed over the decades. Systems that are now used globally.”

I tilted my head toward Alexander, who was now stabbing a potato with his fork.

“So all of these drones and robots…” I asked slowly.

“-started with Alexander,” Chloe finished with a smile. “Alexander is easily the most influential human being to ever step foot into the AI industry.”

Across the table, Leo’s face had changed. It was no longer casual and light. Instead, he seemed… annoyed. Chloe simply watched Alexander with an expression I couldn’t decipher.

I suppose it made sense. I had always heard Leo Blacks name when it came to AI. Anything and everything related to artificial intelligence, was credited to him.

But in reality…it sounded like Leo had simply continued his brothers work before Alexander went into cryogenic sleep. Leo must have become accustomed to taking all the glory and credit over the past four decades.

---

The night finally wrapped up after several awkward conversations that seemed to repeat themselves. Chloe eventually set her napkin down, signaling that it was finally over. I even felt my body physically relax.

“Well,” she said gently, “this has been lovely.”

Leo leaned back. “Agreed.”

They didn’t need to tell me twice. I stood to my feet-probably too quickly.

“I should probably head out,” I smiled. “Thanks so much.”

Chloe looked confused at my abrupt goodbye and stood as well.

“Let me walk you to the door.” she smiled.

Alexander rose beside me. “I’ll take her.”

Leo stood too, straightening his jacket and chuckling. “Oh, let us walk her out.”

The four of us moved together through the wide hallway toward the entrance, shrouded in awkward silence.

The front doors came into view.

Thank God.

Freedom was near.

Just before we reached them, Chloe spoke. “Alexander.”

He glanced at her. “Yes?”

She clasped her hands together. “Are you planning to attend the board meeting tomorrow? Leo and the other CEOs will be there.”

I saw Leo roll his eyes from the corner of my eye.

“We’ll be discussing the drone integration program for surgical logistics,” Chloe added with a small smile.

Alexander studied her for a moment before folding his arms across his chest. My eyes flicked toward the door. Maybe freedom wasn’t so close after all.

Chloe continued. “It might be good for you to be there.”

Leo scoffed. “Oh, come on. He’s been asleep for forty-four years, Chloe. He’s out of touch.”

Even I felt the sting of his words.

Leo waved a dismissive hand. “Half the technology we’re discussing didn’t even exist when he went under.”

Alexander stood perfectly still. His expression didn’t change. Instead, he seemed… eerily calm.

Leo gave a faint smirk. “I mean, we can bring you some reading material if you’d like. Get you caught up on the last four decades.”

Chloe’s eyes darkened. “Leo, stop-”

Alexander moved forward so fast that it took me a few seconds to process what had happened.

His fist connected with Leo’s face with a loud crunch.

Leo stumbled backward instantly. His body thudded against the wall behind him before he slid downward, holding his lip as he descended to the floor.

For a moment nobody spoke.

What did one say in a moment like this?

That Leo deserved it?

That Chloe should just shut up?

That this entire situation was pretty fucked up?

Leo slowly pulled his hand away from his lip. The tips of his fingers were coated in bright red blood. His lip had split open.

Alexander still stood in the same place, perfectly composed. He flexed his hand slightly, as if stretching his fingers.

Then he stared down at his brother with a blank expression.

“You’re right,” he said with a shrug.

Leo stared up at him, his eyes a mixture of shock and anger.

Alexander sighed. “A lot has changed while I was gone.”

A grin spread across his face. “But punching you in the face?”

He paused as if thinking. “That one’s still pretty timeless.”

I noticed Chloe standing next to her husband, looking down at him with disappointment. She didn’t even reach out a hand, to help him stand up.

Leo stumbled to his feet, his eyes flashing. He turned to me. Why he turned to me? I don’t know.

“So, Nova,” he spat, “this is the sort of man that you want to be with, huh?”

Something about what he said hit a nerve.

I threw my head back and laughed. Chloe turned to me, shock on her face.

I shook my head. “What do you mean? If anything, he should have hit you harder.”

With those words, I turned on my heel and walked out the front doors.

The night air hit my face instantly. I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

The night had been… intense.

I tapped the screen on my watch and waited for the taxi hologram to appear. Just as I was able to order the ride, I heard the front doors slide open behind me, followed by heavy footsteps.

I already knew who it was.

“Nova,” Alexander said gently.

I sighed and turned to face him. For a moment, I studied him standing under the moonlight. The light cast a soft glow along the sharp lines of his jaw.

He was beautiful, like always-a God among men.

Alexander stepped down the stairs toward me. The contrast of the futuristic house behind him and his old-fashioned suit was almost comical.

Like he had just attended a costume party.

He stopped a few steps away from me, “I can take you home.”

“Your family dinners are insane,” I muttered.

Alexander watched me for a moment and then let out a long laugh. I couldn’t help but laugh with him.

His eyes moved over my face. “Next time, can you do us both a favor and don’t accept the dinner invite.”

“I did try to decline,” I shrugged.

He smiled. “Chloe can be rather pushy.”

He said it as if he knew her well.

But…

That Chloe didn’t exist anymore.

Chapter 18

He stepped closer, as if he were testing my boundaries-to see just how close he could get to me.

Close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips. His hand hovered near my waist, and I felt a familiar shiver of desire… and something deeper coursing through my veins.

His eyes were searching my face, moving from my lips to my eyes and then back again.

And then-

His body jerked.

It was so subtle that I almost missed it. Just a small twitch in his left eye.

Then another.

Now both.

“Alexander?” I whispered softly, taking a step back to look at him.

His expression was blank. Then his shoulder moved. Then his hands began to shake. Then his entire body went rigid.

“Hey!” I reached for him, trying to hide the panic in my voice. “What’s wrong?”

His eyes had lost focus-as if he wasn’t really there. He collapsed, falling to his knees and then backward onto the ground.

“Alexander!” I screamed.

I dropped to my knees beside him as his body thudded onto the hard ground.

“Hey! Look at me! Please!” My hands shook as I gripped the side of his face.

But he didn’t respond. I could see his chest still rising and falling-at least he was breathing-but he was completely unresponsive.

“Shit!” I hissed. I tapped desperately at my watch, a hologram appearing with a medical logo. I tapped it.

“Medical services,” a monotone voice came from the hologram.

“He’s not breathing,” I said desperately. “Collapsed.”

“Ambulance in route,” the voice replied. “Please confirm the address.”

The hologram displayed the address.

“Yes!” I yelled at it.

“Stay with me,” I whispered, attempting to hold back the tears forming in my eyes.

But I couldn’t just sit here. He needed help. Whatever help I could get-whatever might be faster than an ambulance.

I pushed myself to my feet and ran back toward the mansion. The front doors slid open as I bolted inside.

“Chloe!” I shouted.

Nothing.

Not even a robot.

“Hello?!” My voice echoed through the corridors as I ran deeper into the house.

“Someone help!” I yelled, turning down a hallway at random. “He’s not breathing!”

I opened door after door, searching for anyone.

I reached another door and shoved it open without thinking.

What I saw made me freeze.

Leo stood across the room, his pants at his knees. The robot-Sandra-was bent over the chair in front of him. She turned to look at me, her painted lips curved in that same bright, artificial smile.

He was fucking the robot.

Leo’s eyes widened when he saw me.

“What the hell-” he belted.

“Alexander collapsed!” I cut him off, turning my head away from the scene. “He’s unconscious!”

I didn’t wait for his response-instead, I rushed back toward the entrance. I could hear sirens in the distance. I ran back to Alexander’s side, pressing my hand to his chest to ensure that he was still breathing.

“Thank God,” I croaked. I could see blue lights coming closer.

I heard the door to the mansion swing open. Chloe and Leo appeared. Chloe’s face fell into panic when her eyes landed on Alexander. Leo, on the other hand, stood still, his eyes dark. When they met mine, I immediately looked back down.

“What happened?” Chloe said quickly, dropping to the ground next to me.

“I don’t know!” I said. “He just collapsed.”

Finally, a sleek white ambulance pulled up at the base of the stairs, its lights casting shadows along Alexander’s face. He looked like he was in cryogenic sleep again as the blue light washed over his skin.

Two paramedics rushed out, hauling equipment with them. They moved fast.

“What happened?” one of them asked as they knelt beside him, already checking his pulse.

“He just collapsed,” I stuttered. “He was fine and then… he fainted.”

“Pulse and respiration are steady,” the other said.

A device was pressed against his chest as one paramedic tapped at its panel.

“Unresponsive,” he added quickly.

They lifted him onto a stretcher, securing him in place as one of them continued scanning his vitals. He turned quickly to look at me. “We’ll be at the nearest hospital.”

Within seconds, Alexander was in the back of the ambulance, the doors shutting just before it sped away.

I felt a hand tug on my arm. I turned. It was Chloe.

“We’ll follow him,” she said quickly. “Come with me.”

She turned toward a robot that had appeared out of nowhere.

“Drive us to the hospital,” she instructed.

It walked away, and soon a black car appeared in front of us. The robot stepped out, already moving to open the rear door.

“Follow the ambulance,” Chloe said, ushering me inside.

Chloe turned back toward Leo, who still stood at the end of the stairs watching us.

“Leo? Come on!” she called.

Leo stared back at her blankly. There was not an ounce of concern or urgency on his face.

“I’ll come later,” he said flatly.

Chloe raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What? You need-”

“I said,” he cut her off, “I’ll come later.”

They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity, their gazes locked on one another.

Finally, she turned, and we both slid into the back seat.

---

We had been sitting in the waiting room for what felt like an eternity. Chloe had spent most of the time making phone calls in an attempt to get answers so we wouldn’t have to wait so long.

I suppose being an investor in a hospital had its perks.

A doctor finally approached us. I glanced at his name tag.

Dr. Jefferson, Chief of Medicine.

Right. Of course, the doctor who ran the entire wing of this hospital would pay us a personal visit. After all, the unconscious man was a member of the Black family.

“Chloe,” he said with a small smile. “I haven’t seen you in some time. I apologize that it had to be under these circumstances.”

Chloe stood and sighed. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. How is he?”

“He’s breathing on his own,” he said. “All vitals are stable.”

Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived.

“But he hasn’t regained consciousness,” he added.

“Do you know what happened?” I asked quickly.

His eyes flickered to where I was still sitting. “Not yet.”

“This is Nova,” Chloe said, gesturing toward me. “A family friend.”

I stood and moved to stand beside her. “He has a protein anomaly in his system. It showed up in his post-awakening labs.”

The doctor frowned slightly. “How do you know that?”

“Nova was the scientist who awakened him,” Chloe said with a smile. “She has been studying the anomaly.”

“It might be related,” I insisted.

“Well, this is an… odd scenario,” he replied with a chuckle. “But we will run some more tests and see if we can find a link to the anomaly.”

Internally, I screamed.

“I need to see him,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor replied. “Not yet.”

“I’m going to get some water,” Chloe said, giving the doctor a nod. “Thanks for the update.”

She walked off into the distance. The doctor gave me a sympathetic smile and disappeared, leaving me alone in the waiting room.

“You shouldn’t be here,” a voice said. “This is a family matter.”

I turned to see Leo watching me, his expression dark, his arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m trying to help,” I snapped. “I also know more about his health than any doctor here.”

He stepped closer.

“Just… stay out of it,” he said quietly. “The doctors will handle it. Go home, Nova.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Then it clicked.

“Oh, I get it,” I said, shaking my head. “I saw you banging your robot maid, and now you don’t want me around.”

“I don’t know what you are referring to,” he said darkly.

“I have no intention of telling your wife about your weird little… fetish,” I said quietly. “Move on. I am the only one who can truly help him.”

Leo smirked, letting out a small laugh. “I will destroy you if I have to.”

Then he turned and walked away.

---

The city blurred around me as the automated taxi sped toward home. I had stayed at the hospital until the early morning hours. I decided it was time to get some sleep.

As soon as my front door shut, the tears came-in one heavy wave of despair. I felt Meatball nudge my hand. I gave him a pat with shaking fingers.

Then, I curled into a ball right there on the floor, my eyelids heavy.

Eventually, exhaustion dragged me into sleep.

---

A pinging noise pulled me from my slumber.

My eyelids opened, and all I could see was orange fur.

Meatball had curled up in front of my face and fallen asleep.

I groaned and sat up, pressing a palm against my pounding head. I tapped blindly at my watch until the notification appeared.

A new email. I frowned and pulled a few bits of fur from my mouth.

“Thanks for that,” I muttered at my cat. He didn’t even look at me.

I sighed and opened the message. It was from the Integrity Board.

“What the fuck?” I muttered. “What do they want now?”

I read the subject line.

Termination Notice

What?

They had cleared me. I wasn’t supposed to be fired. I skimmed the email.

“…unauthorized personal involvement…”

I gasped.

The dinner.

The dinner at the Black residence.

A dinner I thought was a harmless thank-you.

That was their justification.

The room spun.

“No,” I whispered.

This was deliberate.

And I knew exactly what had happened.

Leo.

Chapter 19

It had been days.

Days of silence and staring at the walls.

I had tried to go back to the hospital-but someone had blocked me from inquiring about Alexander or visiting him. That had been enough to break me.

I didn’t need to ask who had made that decision.

I didn’t have the same drive to get my job back-not like last time. Oddly enough, mixed in with all the depression and anger, there was something else.

Relief.

Relief that I did not have to live in constant ambiguity over the stability of my career. Wondering every day if I was going to be fired.

Dr. Finkle had sent me a message the morning after my termination.

You were an asset to the lab, Nova. Losing you is a significant loss. I hope that wherever life takes you, your new employer understands just how valuable you truly are.

I groaned and slid my hands down the sides of my face.

I was honestly pathetic. I hadn’t moved in days.

No shower. No exercise. I’d barely even eaten.

Finally, I pushed myself upright and sighed.

“Get the fuck up, Nova,” I said to myself. “You have to stop this.”

I needed to get moving. To do something.

Hot water and rose-scented suds washed over me. I stood there, hoping that maybe the warmth would wake me up. Perhaps it could pull me from this zombie state.

I stepped out and wrapped a towel around me. It hadn’t cured me, but I felt better… sort of.

Now that I was functioning again, it was time. Time to figure out what the hell had happened to Alexander.

The protein anomaly.

The best part? I didn’t need access to my lab.

I had something very valuable already… data.

So I slipped into fresh clothes and got to work. I opened a drawer and retrieved a small, matte-black external drive. The lab had already sent three emails demanding the return of my work computer, but I had ignored them all.

Fuck them.

The only way I could access his data without my work log-ins was through this external drive-one that belonged to me. I had backed his data up on it, before my termination, just to be safe.

I moved to my desk.

The curved glass screen lit up the moment I approached, the small camera at the top scanning my eyes and verifying my identity. All around me, holographic panels expanded from the screen.

Then I plugged in the drive.

The system responded instantly, data streaming across the displays. Alexander’s data, to be exact.

His vitals, health logs-everything. I squinted at the pattern that stood out to me: the protein marker that was out of place.

“Let’s see what you’re hiding, you little fucker,” I smirked.

Hours passed, but I rarely looked at the time anyway. I was plugging his codes and data into an analyzer, directing it to search for specific changes and alterations that would explain the anomaly.

Over and over and over again.

Every time, the same result appeared.

Pattern analysis unsuccessful

By midday, my apartment was filled with floating panels of data, and my eyes stung from never resting.

By evening, I came to the realization that I still hadn’t eaten. I ordered a large pizza and almost swallowed it whole before charging on.

As the morning sun peered through the windows, my head slumped on the desk and sleep took over.

---

I didn’t remember deciding to run the final analysis. I’d clicked “begin analysis” and then fallen asleep.

“Estimated completion time: three hours,” the system had said.

I sat up and yawned, blinking at the screen until my vision was no longer blurry.

I squinted at the time.

5:30 a.m.

“Shit,” I whispered.

My eyes turned to the center panel. The analysis was complete.

But I didn’t see the message I expected. I had expected another failure.

Pattern analysis successful

My stomach flipped.

“No way,” my eyes widened.

I leaned forward. There it was-the pattern I had been looking for. I had found the cause of the protein anomaly. My hand trembled as I reached out, tapping the hologram so that the anomaly pattern expanded in front of me.

I sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh my God…”

While his body was asleep, the chamber he was in had detected small cellular damage, and the chamber system had tried to repair it.

But it pushed too far.

It created a synthetic protein that forced his body to heal faster than it should.

I wasn’t sure what had caused the cell damage-but it didn’t matter now.

I stared at the screen, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. “He’s not actually stable,” I said slowly.

I shot to my feet, my chair slamming backward into the wall. I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth between my bedroom and front door.

Who do I go to?

I was banned from the hospital. Fired from my job.

“Fuck!” I screamed.

And then it hit me.

Chloe.

---

The mansion came into view.

The security gate at the front of the property was closed. There was a small security station next to it where a robot guard stood inside.

It stepped forward the moment my automated taxi rolled up.

“Access denied,” it said smoothly. “Please state your name and purpose.”

“I don’t have time for this,” I snapped, hanging my head out the window. “Let me through.”

“Access denied,” it repeated.

“Open the gate,” I snapped.

“Access denied.”

I laughed-a long, loud, unhinged laugh.

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Okay. That’s fine.”

I sighed and barked at the control panel inside the taxi, “Taxi, ram into the gate.”

It beeped before responding, “Safety protocols prevent unauthorized-”

“Initiate safety override!” I screamed. Every taxi had a safety control overide-just in case a passenger needed to take control of the taxi.

“Passenger liability transferred,” the system responded. “Manual control now activated.”

The controls unlocked, and I grinned. I jumped from the back of the taxi and slid into the driver’s seat, wrapping my hands around the steering grips.

I didn’t hesitate.

I slammed my foot down.

The car lurched forward.

The security robot stepped directly in front of the vehicle, holding its hands up as if that would ever stop me.

The impact was immediate-and rather satisfying.

Metal collided with metal as the robot’s body snapped backward and hit the ground.

I cackled madly. “Not so logical now, are you fucker?”

The robot twitched on the ground, then its body went limp. I jumped out of the taxi.

“Re-activate auto-driver and return to your station,” I barked.

The control panel came back to life, and the taxi sped away.

The robot lay there, sparking slightly.

“System… error…” it sputtered.

“Shut up,” I said, crouching beside it. “Hopefully I knocked your head loose.”

I grabbed its head, and with a sharp twist, I pulled. The head detached with a harsh snap. I stood, holding it in both hands.

“Sorry,” I said with a grin.

I walked to the gate and lifted the robot’s head, angling its eyes toward the sensor.

The panel beeped, and the gates slid open smoothly. Then I dropped the head onto the ground behind me and walked forward.

I hadn’t even made it halfway to the front door before another robot appeared.

“Dr. Saintclair,” it said calmly. “You are not authorized to be on the premises.”

“Fuck off,” I sighed, stepping toward the stairs.

It moved in front of me.

“Security compromised. Authorities have been alerted,” it warned.

I could already hear the faint echo of sirens in the distance.

“Please vacate the property immediately,” it said firmly.

“I said fuck-” I began.

The front doors slid open, and Chloe stood in the doorway.

She looked… shocked. Her eyes moved from me to the gate, to the destroyed robot, and then back to me.

“…Nova?” she said cautiously.

“I know what’s wrong with him,” I said quickly.

“Nova,” she said again, “did you destroy my robot?”

I sighed. “Yes. I destroyed your million-dollar robot.”

She turned slightly to the robot beside her. “Tell the police you sent a false alarm. Now.”

“Understood,” it said, then walked away.

Chloe looked back at me. “Come in.”

---

The doors closed behind us.

“Sorry about the robot,” I said quickly.

Chloe waved a hand lightly. “It’s fine. It was outdated anyway.”

We sat in two curved chairs near the entryway. She sat upright, elegant and composed as usual.

“Alexander,” I said. “I know what happened. I figured it out.”

“What did you find?” she asked.

So I told her everything-about the patterns and the protein marker.

“He’s only going to get worse,” I said firmly. “We have to do something.”

Chloe didn’t react. She simply listened intently.

“I tried to go back,” I continued. “They won’t let me in. I’ve been banned. And I’ve been fired.”

“I’m not surprised,” she said.

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

She sighed. “What did you do to piss Leo off?”

I paused. I didn’t want to tell her.

She raised a brow. “Just tell me.”

“I walked in on him,” I said. “With the… female robot.”

To my surprise, Chloe rolled her eyes. “I already knew about that.”

I stared at her. “You did?”

“Yes,” she said flatly. “My husband likes to think I’m ignorant-but I’m not.”

Then, she shook her head and scoffed. “He’s an idiot.”

“Well…?” I asked.

She leaned forward. “We obviously have to help Alexander.”

Chapter 20

I soon found myself back at the hospital, sitting at a long conference table, next to Chloe. She’d waved her magical wand and demanded that we speak with the Chief of Medicine and his team.

If only I could be that rich and powerful. It seemed to make everything easier.

“They’re going to send him to ReGenesis,” Chloe said from beside me.

I turned to look at her, “What?”

I knew what ReGenesis was. It was a specialist facility for people who experienced problems after their awakening. I’d never had a patient sent there before.

ReGenesis was the worst nightmare for every scientist who did awakenings. Having a patient sent there, was like saying, “Hey-you fucked up.”

I sighed, “I guess that’s the best option.”

“ReGenesis is sending some representatives to this meeting,” she said, wringing her hands nervously as she spoke.

Before I could reply, the door swung open.

Dr. Jefferson walked in, followed by three men in clinical scrubs. I glanced at their name badges. They were all doctors. The three of them took seats around the table, nodding at us and giving us their names, but I didn’t remember a single one of them.

Dr. Jefferson greeted us with a warm smile as he sat next to Chloe, as if my entire world wasn’t caving in.

Then the door swung open a second time.

A man walked in. He had thick dark hair and bright blue eyes. He wasn’t wearing scrubs. Instead, he wore a black suit with a red tie. His features looked like they’d been carved from stone; they were so impeccably perfect.

Beside him was a pretty woman. Her brown hair was pulled back neatly into a long ponytail, and her brown eyes scanned the room as she peered around at us. She wore a grey blazer and skirt.

I squinted at their name badges. They were from ReGenesis, the name of a post-awakening clinic.

The man pulled out a chair and sat directly across from me. His eyes met mine, and I instantly looked down. His gaze was far too intense. I felt my hands tremble, and I quickly placed them in my lap.

“I’m here regarding the patient,” he said smoothly. “My name is Roman Kane.”

Kane.

I knew that last name. Everyone did.

It was just as big as the Black name.

The Kane family had large stakes in the biotech industry.

“We’re planning to transfer Alexander to our facility. We’d like to assess whether further intervention is… worthwhile,” he said flatly.

I looked up. He was turned towards Chloe, who was nodding as he spoke.

“Given the circumstances,” he added, as if he were reporting the weather, “his awakening appears to have been an unfortunate failure.”

Excuse me? I wasn’t having it. Absolutely not.

“It wasn’t a failure,” I said sharply. “The complication wasn’t related to the awakening; it occurred before he was placed into cryogenic sleep, or while he was asleep.”

He turned to me, and I instantly felt his eyes piercing into me.

Then he smiled.

“My apologies,” he said. “I didn’t mean to offend your work.”

Right. Fucking liar.

“I’ve heard about you,” he continued, leaning back slightly as he continued to stare at me. “You have an exceptional record. Every patient you’ve handled has awakened successfully. No complications. No failures.”

I didn’t reply. I just sat there, my arms crossed over my chest.

“I also heard,” he said, his voice dropping low, “that you were fired.”

The room went completely still, and I heard Chloe suck in her breath. Then, she leaned forward as if she were going to say something, but I didn’t let her.

I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re here to discuss my employment status, then you can go fuck—”

“I’m here to offer you one,” he cut me off with a wave of his hand. But I saw the corners of his mouth twitching, as if he were holding back a laugh.

“What?” I stuttered.

“A job,” he said.

I just stared at him in confusion.

“It’s actually quite convenient,” he continued, looking down at his watch and tapping the screen. “We need someone familiar with Alexander’s medical history, but we are also looking for someone with extensive experience in awakenings.”

“You’re the perfect fit,” he said, tapping his watch one last time.

It beeped, and then I felt my watch buzz. I tapped the screen, and a hologram floated above it. His business card.

Roman Kane.

CEO of ReGenesis.

“I’m just going to say it,” he shrugged.

I tapped my watch, making the hologram disappear, and then looked up at him.

“Leo Black has it out for you,” he tilted his head, as if gauging my reaction. “He’s the reason you don’t have a job. But his loss is my gain.”

I looked over at Chloe. Her head was bowed. Even she knew she couldn’t defend her husband.

“We will backpay you whatever wages you lost when you were fired,” he said calmly. “You can start tomorrow. Alexander is being transported to our facility as we speak.”

All heads turned to look at me.

I sat frozen, unsure of what to say or do. Then I felt a gentle nudge. I turned to see Chloe. Her expression said it all.

She looked… sad.

I turned to Roman. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

He smiled. Not in the warm sort of way. More like… he had won.

“Great,” Clara said from beside him. I turned to look at her.

“I’m Mr. Kane’s secretary,” she said quickly, now tapping madly at a tablet in front of her. Holograms were swirling left and right. “I’m sending you the new employee documents now. Do you think you can get them in today?”

I nodded.

“It will include salary information as well,” she said. “So if you change your mind once you’ve reviewed everything, just let me know.”

“She won’t,” Roman said from beside her. He had a smirk plastered across his perfect face.

Had I just agreed to a new job? A job I didn’t even apply for? At a company that… fixed the mistakes of scientists like me?

My watch buzzed, and I tapped it. A hologram appeared—the new documents that Clara had sent. I waved it away.

They both stood. Clara nodded and began to head towards the door. Roman peered out at the doctors and Chloe. “Thank you for your time. This is all that was needed for us to proceed with giving Alexander the best chance at recovery.”

Dr. Jefferson scrambled to his feet. “We didn’t have a chance to speak to you about what we have done here at the hospital—”

Roman held up a hand, instantly silencing him. “That is not necessary. Just send through whatever it was that you wanted to share.”

Dr. Jefferson blinked, as if confused, but then sat back down.

Then he turned to me. “Dr. Saintclair. It was a pleasure. See you tomorrow.”

And with that, they exited the room.

Silence filled the space for a few moments before Chloe sighed.

“Well,” she said quietly, “it sounds like there’s a chance for Alexander.”

“He’s stable enough for transport,” Dr. Jefferson added quickly, turning to look at me. “ReGenesis has better facilities for this sort of complex problem. If anyone can help him—”

“I know what ReGenesis has,” I snapped. I honestly found the doctor to be rather annoying.

But he wasn’t wrong. ReGenesis didn’t just handle post-awakenings. They handled the post-awakening cases that no one else could fix.

And tomorrow—I would begin working there.

---

The next morning came slowly. I’d spent the night tossing and turning in my bed, visions of Alexander collapsing flooded my mind.

Just when I thought I might have fallen asleep, my alarm blared.

I got ready, rubbing my eyes and stumbling around my apartment. At some point, I accidentally stepped on my glasses and put my dress on inside out.

Yet, I’d managed to put on a simple black professional dress and short heels.

By the time I arrived at the ReGenesis facility, I’d managed to gulp down three cups of coffee. My glasses sat crooked on my face, and my hair made me look like I’d been electrocuted.

The facility towered above everything else in the city. It was curved, like a thin oval of metal and glass that had grown from the earth itself.

I yawned and stepped through the front doors. I was greeted with a rush of cold air and pure silence. People moved around robotically, their eyes cast forward. It wasn’t like Cryo Futures, where you were greeted with the scent of warm coffee and smiles from familiar co-workers.

The glass on the sides of the building rose upwards for several floors. I peered up to see strips of bright white lights running to the very top, illuminating the foyer.

“Dr. Saintclair,” a voice said.

I turned to see Clara. She stood a few feet away, near the front reception desk.

Her expression was neutral, and her hair was perfectly styled again, with not one hair out of place. She wore another blazer and skirt, but this time it was beige. She was giving off vibes that told me she didn’t care about fun—or colour—or being friendly, for that matter.

“Good morning,” I said with a polite smile.

She nodded. “You’re on time. That’s good. Mr. Kane doesn’t do well with tardiness.”

“Right…” I said slowly.

For a moment, she studied me. My crooked glasses. My messy hair. Then she turned on her heel and walked forward without saying a thing to me.

I scrambled after her as she made her way towards an elevator, her heels clicking as she moved.

“I received your employment documents,” she said as the elevator doors opened.

We stepped inside, and Clara tapped a panel. The doors slid shut, and we began to ascend. I leaned against the arm railing. I didn’t have much energy.

How was I going to make it through my first day?

Chapter 21

“Your clearance has been updated,” she continued. “You now have full access to the clinical and research floors relevant to your position.”

“That was quick,” I yawned.

“We have three core values here at ReGenesis,” she said, her eyes cast forward. “Efficiency. Timeliness. Outcome optimization.”

I blinked, my eyes heavy. What the fuck was she on about?

“It’s all in the employee handbook, and you are expected to apply these values at all times,” she said evenly.

The doors opened again, and we left the elevator.

My eyes widened as I peered around. It was massive, filled with technology that I had only ever seen online or heard about at medical conferences. The type of medical equipment that scientists could only dream about.

Holographic screens hovered in the air, data zooming across them in real time. Equipment lined the walls from corner to corner.

“This is your lab,” Clara said, waving towards the space.

“Um…” I turned to her. “Like… for my… like my work?”

She tilted her head at me. “Yes, of course.”

Incredible didn’t even begin to cover it.

“This is insane,” I whispered. “My lab was a sixth of the size of this when I—”

Clara didn’t care. She began to walk forward, cutting me off.

“Okay,” I said under my breath as I followed her.

“Your office is through here,” she said, pointing to a door.

My name was already on a metal plate, adhered to the door.

Dr. Nova Saintclair

She stood there waiting, as if expecting me to open it. I did. Then we walked inside.

A large desk sat at the far end, with interactive displays built directly into the surface and along the walls around it. I wandered around and found several bits of storage built into the walls. I waved my hand in front of them, and the drawers whizzed open automatically.

“I trust this will be sufficient,” Clara said.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah…”

Then she turned and began to walk towards the door, “If you require anything else for your office, just let me know.”

I followed again, like a lost puppy. It felt odd not seeing any patients suspended in blue fluid, asleep in their chambers.

We turned a corner and walked towards a new door on the same floor. Then, we entered a hallway lined with rooms. As we walked past them, I realised they were patient rooms.

As we continued forward, I glanced into each room that had an open door. Some patients were lying in beds, motionless, while some were awake.

But none of them looked… right.

Pale skin, tense bodies, vacant expressions. One man lay in his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his chest rising rapidly. Another woman sat in a chair, her hands gripping the edges. Her expression was blank.

“They’re not doing well,” I said, guilt forming in the pit of my stomach. Even if I had not awakened any of these patients, I felt some sort of responsibility. I’d been a large contributor to the world of re-awakenings through my research and my work.

Clara stopped, and for the first time, she actually looked at me. “No. Most of them aren’t.”

She tapped the tablet she held in her hands a few times.

“You will begin with patient rounds,” she said as her tablet beeped. “Your assigned cases are on their way.”

I felt my watch vibrate as the documents were sent to me but ignored it. She was already walking away from me.

I hurried after her. “Wait! Can I see Alexander first?”

She stopped mid-step and turned slowly on her heel.

“No,” she said flatly. “Mr. Kane has full authority over his case. I am sure he will update you when he is ready for you to support with it.”

I exhaled slowly. “Fine.”

Clara nodded. “In the meantime, Mr. Kane asked that you focus on your assigned patients.”

She gestured down the hall. “Rooms 12 through 18.”

Then she disappeared in the distance.

I had arrived at my first patient room.

The woman inside was in her mid-thirties. Her eyes were open, but she didn’t seem to be aware.

I glanced down at her file.

She’d been a mother of three, all under the age of five. She’d been asleep for ten years while she waited for a cure for her cancer. Her awakening was a month ago but she had never become fully aware. Her cancer had been treated regardless, and it was no longer detected in her body.

“Hi,” I said softly.

No response.

I stepped closer and checked over her monitors. Irregular neural activity—a pattern I knew very well.

Post-awakening instability.

“Can you hear me?” I said gently, checking her pupil dilation with a light.

Her fingers twitched—but only barely.

Room after room, it was the same.

Different faces, but the same problem—irregular neural activity. Some patients stared through me and didn’t respond, some laughed in the middle of me greeting them, or they responded in broken, fragmented words. As for the others—they were unconscious.

Just like Alexander.

By the time I finished my rounds, I felt even more exhausted—mentally and physically.

I finally made my way back to my lab, preparing to run tests on the samples I had collected: blood, skin tissue and saliva.

I sat at my desk, a holographic display whirling madly in front of me. The cells from the skin tissue I had collected looked… off. As if they were dying and then re-multiplying.

“What the hell is going on…” I muttered to myself.

I spent the next few hours analysing the sample, my eyelids growing heavier by the second.

At some point, my vision blurred and my head dipped forward.

---

“Dr. Saintclair.”

A voice cut through the darkness, pulling me from my sleep. I jolted awake with a gasp.

My glasses slipped down my nose as I turned, still feeling disoriented. My neck ached, and my mouth felt like sandpaper.

A pair of bright blue eyes stared back at me.

Roman Kane stood a few feet away, watching me intently.

His expression was flat, but his eyes were… not impressed.

“You’ve broken two of our core values already,” he said flatly.

I reached for my glasses and tried to straighten them out—but then remembered that I had stepped on them. Then I scrambled to fix my hair, flattening my frizz with the palms of my hands. “I… sorry… no… I—”

“Efficiency,” he cut me off. “Outcome optimization.”

I felt my cheeks burn under his gaze.

“I’ve been working,” I said quickly, standing to my feet. “On the patients.”

He took a step forward with a sigh as his eyes travelled up and down my body. I felt goosebumps litter my arms. It felt… intrusive.

“Is this how you normally present yourself?” he asked.

Asshole.

“No,” I said quickly. “I had a hard morning, that’s all.”

He crossed his arms. “You’re not at your old facility anymore. I’ve been there. I understand it’s a bit more…”

I swallowed. “Casual?”

He tilted his head at me. “Exactly.”

Then he stepped forward again and reached past me, tapping the hologram that still hovered above my desk. The fabric of his blazer brushed against my arm, and I stepped back.

I felt my body go stiff, but he didn’t seem to react. I could smell his scent. Like leather and fresh soap.

“These results,” he said, squinting at the screen. “You already pinpointed some abnormalities, I see.”

“Yes,” I said quickly, slightly taken aback by his immediate shift in mood. “The cellular degradation—it’s not standard post-awakening trauma. It’s like their bodies are rejecting—”

“Themselves,” he finished. “Like an allergy, almost.”

I rubbed at my eyes. “You already knew.”

“Of course I did, Dr. Saintclair,” he said, leaning away from the hologram. “I run this facility.”

I exhaled sharply. “I want access to Alexander.”

He stared at me quietly for a few moments before replying, “Soon. I am running some tests on him myself at the moment. Then you can support.”

“Isn’t he the reason I was hired?” I snapped.

“You’ll learn very quickly,” he said, his voice low, “that not everything here is within your control.”

We stood there for a few more moments, staring at one another. Then he broke the silence.

“You’re no use to me like this.” He waved his hand at me. “Get yourself together, Dr. Saintclair. Especially if you want to help Alexander.”

Then he turned and walked toward the door.

“Wait,” I said.

He paused, but didn’t turn around.

“You’re hiding something at this facility,” I said before I could lose my courage. “I know this research very well, but I have never been told about these cell abnormalities. So I know you are hiding something, Mr. Kane.”

He turned slowly. There it was—that cocky smirk.

“Dr. Kane, actually,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Dr. Kane. I know that you are hiding something here—something that could save Alexander. And I intend to find out exactly what it is.”

His smirk widened.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

Author’s note:

This is the end of book 1.

I know what you’re thinking-WHAT?!

I had planned for Awake to be a 5 chapter short story. But I really fell in love with the dynamic between Alexander and Nova.

And somehow-it evolved.

So instead, I’ve opted for short books, with each telling a key piece of their story.

I’ll send an update about book 2, once I get started on it.

If you want an even spicier read-check out my two completed books in the Million Dollar Series.

If you’re looking for another Sci-Fi romance, check out my book, Alien Claim.