The Fair & Foul (Project Gene Assist Book 1) (11 page)

She noticed that he wore a well-broken-in pair of jeans as well as a wrinkled button-down shirt. His collar was open at the top, providing a tantalizing hint at the muscular chest beneath. His chin was darkened with stubble from a missed shave, a far cry from the tailored man she had first met. Louis must have come directly from his jet to her office. A sense of smug satisfaction warmed Juliane. “One of these days you should tell me how you manage to sneak in here so easily. Let me guess, the company has recently appropriated a teleportation machine.” She laughed as she bent over to store her purse in the modest credenza at the back of the room.

“I have access to more technology than you’d ever believe, but appropriate? The way you say that makes it sound like I just go gallivanting around the world stealing other people’s ideas,” Louis said. She felt his eyes on her backside as she stood. She was pleased with the knowledge he was also affected by her presence. When she turned, she found Louis standing at full attention behind her. He placed one hand on her waist and twirled her around the rest of the way until she faced him. His height forced her to stand on her toes to give him a chaste kiss. She wouldn’t make this too easy on him. He had broken into her office, after all.

Louis growled, “Speaking of travel, I’ve just crossed the world three times. Is that really how you are going to greet me?” He pulled her closer.

Juliane pushed away from his embrace in mock indignation. “It is if you're going to keep showing up with that stubble. My skin is delicate. Scratches would show on my face for the rest of the day.”

“So I’ll just find some spot to kiss you that isn’t quite so noticeable.” Juliane’s senses squealed with excitement as Louis scooped her up. Continuing the motion, he swung her onto the top of the desk, launching the stack of applications into the air like feathers released during a pillow fight. Juliane gave up any appearance of displeasure. She wrapped her legs around Louis, her skirt hitching up and showing an indecent amount of thigh in the process. She felt like a wanton hussy and didn’t care. She dropped her hands back to support herself as she closed her eyes, abandoning all senses but the feel of his lips and his hands on her skin as they laid claim to all of her curves.

“Juliane, I don’t believe this is what the ACI signed for when they approved your request for an office space with additional privacy.”

Juliane’s eyes snapped open. It took a moment for her vision to clear, but when it did, her gaze fixed on Alan standing in the doorway. She had been so lost in the glorious sensation that she hadn’t heard the door opening. She had forgotten to lock it. Louis returned to an upright position but did so without urgency, making no effort to straighten either of their clothes. There was no hint of blush on his cheeks, and he left his shirt unbuttoned.

Juliane struggled to emulate his cool demeanor while attempting to stand back up, pull her skirt back down into position, and straighten her blouse. She accomplished none of these things with grace. Her legs felt like rubber, and she swayed while regaining her balance.

“Louis was just stopping by to update me on progress made supporting the headset project,” she announced, mentally kicking herself.
You are pathetic
, she thought to herself. It didn’t take a genius to see that what they were in the process of doing was anything resembling a progress report. She would have been better off owning the situation and daring Alan to judge her.

Louis's proximity had once again resulted in a surge of hormones at the expense of logic. Perhaps men were not be the only victims of blood loss within the brain while aroused. She caught sight of a wall calendar near Alan. As much as her libido was frustrated, it was a good thing that Louis’s business schedule would keep him occupied for the next several weeks; otherwise she might not be a contributing team member after all.

Alan snorted. “Oh, this is a business meeting?” He gestured at the papers littering the ground. “Remind me some time to check out your minutes. They are bound to be . . . informative.” Juliane glared at Alan but remained speechless, not trusting her ability to respond with a witty comeback in the present circumstances. Alan continued, “In any event, I need you to disentangle yourself away from your guest for a few minutes. We have some urgent business of our own to discuss.”

Juliane looked toward Louis. He answered by shrugging before walking back over to her desk chair, rolling it back into the corner and making himself comfortable once again. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just wait over here.”

Alan scowled. “This doesn’t concern you, Mr. Evans,” he said, emphasizing the mister as if it was the lowest of insults.

“I believe that the only business you and Dr. Faris have together is your work with the ACI, which makes it very much my concern. Or is there something more to your relationship you haven’t shared?” Louis's jovial expression had never left his face, but his eyes grew cold and steely.

Juliane met Alan’s gaze when it swung back her way with a smug smile.
What woman wouldn’t feel appreciated by the occasional flare of jealousy?
she thought to herself, yearning to resume their ‘business meeting.’ It had been too long since she had last seen him, and it would be too long again before she would enjoy another of his visits. She had no interest in sending him away now. Alan’s nostrils flared. The clash of wills in the room was nearly tangible. Outnumbered and outranked, Alan would have no choice but to concede defeat.

“Fine.” Alan walked over to her desk, making no effort to avoid the stray papers on the ground. “I had come here this morning to discuss the progress, or lack thereof, that we’ve made in our team selection. I shouldn’t have to remind you that while you’ve been otherwise . . . distracted, we’ve fallen further behind.” He glared daggers at Louis. Louis raised an eyebrow but did not contest the statement.

“I know that I promised that you would have a say in the creation of the team, but I can’t continue to wait for you to become bored with the little games you are playing. You can bring Chad on if you want. He understands your style, but I’ve made the remaining selection, and she’s already been notified.” He slapped a folder onto Juliane’s desk.

Opening the folder and scanning its contents, Juliane looked for a reason to reject the applicant and found none. She had to admit that had she been given time to research the candidate on her own, she would have also recommended her selection. There were a number of similarities between the applicant’s academic and professional trajectory and her own, albeit via a different course of study.

She glanced down at the paperwork strewn about the room and saw its copy lying among the others. It had partially slipped under the desk. If she hadn’t been looking for it, she most likely would not have seen it for days. As much as she hated to admit that Alan was right, she had lost her focus.

She looked back at Louis. His body continued to call to her for attention. He leaned back in the chair, rocking it slightly, the movement causing his hips to thrust ever so slowly. She felt her pulse quicken again and fought her most basic urges.

She closed her eyes, preventing Louis’s body from discouraging logical thought. “I look forward to meeting her.”

When she opened her eyes, she had halfway expected Alan to gloat over his victory. Instead, he nodded. “Excellent. Now that this matter is settled, allow me to get to the point of my visit this morning. We are going to need an edge to make up for time lost if we are going to remain relevant. I’ve decided to move forward with trials. Would you like to join me?"

Louis spoke up from the back of the room. His voice, the low rumble of a tiger, equal parts purr and threat, tempted her once again to shove Alan out of the office. “Trials? For what exactly?”

Juliane snapped back to full attention, mentally berating herself from allowing her mind to wander once again.

“The human variety. You might recall the little project that Dr. Faris and I were working on ahead of your . . . eh . . . more active involvement. Well, I haven’t been twiddling my thumbs here. The process is no longer theoretical.”

Juliane nearly broke the sound barrier as she twisted back toward Alan, his words registering in her brain. “You’ve achieved live imprinting?”

“I believe that is what I just said. While you were working on your little side project, I received approval to conduct small animal trials. Of course, they were a resounding success."

"Why didn't I hear about this?" asked Louis.

Not bothering to look toward Louis, Alan answered, "The study was so far along and the risk so small, I am not surprised your signature wasn't required. The study results have been sent to legal for review, if you feel the need to second guess the process. Juliane, I am confident the process works and would like you to be a part of proving it once and for all. Think about it. This is our opportunity to evolve!"

Juliane hesitated, not sure how to respond. Alan was suggesting moving to human trials before the ink dried on the patent filings. Without those patents, the ACI would not authorize the publication of the study's results. There would be no chance for peer review. Could Alan have really gotten the necessary approvals to move forward? Even if he had, who would they find willing to participate in the study under those conditions?

"I presume I have your attention now. Will you join me in the labs?”

Juliane's eyes widened as she realized what Alan wasn't saying. He wanted her to be that test subject. Alan's smile deepened, but there was nothing soft about his expression. The paperwork in her hand sent a clear message. If she missed this opportunity, it would not come again. Alan was actively searching for her replacement and would move forward with his experiment with or without her.

If the process worked, she would be forever changed, but all the combined knowledge of the world would be open to her. She would be able to access any server anywhere with just a thought. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. The process wouldn’t just give their team an edge on this particular project; it would blow rival companies out of the water.

Louis came over to her side, placing a hand possessively on her waist. “Well, I’m game. Lead the way.”

When they arrived in Alan's lab, a young woman was already seated at the desk. “Ah, good. I do so appreciate it when people arrive on time,” Alan quipped. “Dr. Faris, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Elizabeth Omondt.”

The woman rose and extended her hand in greeting. “It is so nice to meet you, at least formally. You really saved my behind that day with Dr. Than."

If she hadn’t been the only other person in the room, Juliane might never have noticed her. Her features were only striking in their averageness, and it was as if the woman wanted to blend into the crowd. She wore her brown hair in a severe braid that stretched down just beneath her shoulders, a hairdo which did nothing to soften her sharp beak-like nose. Her clothes hung over her frame like a bag, and her brown eyes were hidden behind a pair of oversized glasses. She could not have looked more like the stereotypical researcher had she tried.
Who still wears glasses?
Juliane thought. She fidgeted as if aware of the nature of Juliane’s scrutiny.

"Umm, maybe you don't remember me. I was trying out contacts that day, and well, let's just say they aren't for me, but the leg is all healed. Oh, and I have my doctorate now." She bit her lip. "Of course I have my doctorate. I wouldn't be here if didn't have it."

Juliane took the offered hand and shook it as the woman's shoulders slumped in relief.

"Anyway, I know that you and Dr. Dronigh must have been buried under applications. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to join this team. Getting to work with you both at the same time is truly an honor. Please, call me Betty.”

“And you can call me Alan,” he practically purred out the phrase.

Juliane did a double take; it almost sounded like he was attracted to the woman. Betty’s cheeks reddened as she pulled off the glasses. Juliane had to admit, the blush was a charming effect with her complexion. Perhaps she had misjudged Alan's earlier intentions after all.

“I took the liberty of calibrating the equipment. The system is warmed up, and we can proceed whenever you are ready.”

“Well, Jul—Juliane, which is it to be? Age before beauty or ladies first?” Alan bowed while gesturing to a nearby gurney.

“I'll go first,” Louis spoke up before Juliane had a chance to respond. Betty seemed to jump a foot off the ground.

She wasn't prepared for company,
thought Juliane as she watched Betty try to figure out how to react to Louis's unexpected presence.
She and Chad will get along splendidly.
Juliane couldn't blame Betty for being surprised. Louis moved like a panther. Silently. Dangerously. Juliane shook her head to clear her thoughts. Now was not the time to get lost in daydreams. Aloud, Juliane asked Louis, “Do you really think you should? We don’t know for certain that Alan’s process is entirely stable.”

“Are you planning on participating?”

“Well, yes, of course.”

“Then I’ve no reason to worry, do I?”

“I don’t imagine the board will be all that thrilled with your risk taking.”

Louis leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Well, then I guess I just won’t tell them. Besides, you just said there isn't any reason to worry.”

A short time later, Betty had him strapped to the table. Alan looked positively gleeful as he adjusted instruments. Juliane couldn’t help thinking how much she would like to tie Louis down in a very different manner. Louis leered at her, and she knew he had been thinking along the same lines.

Alan walked over to a refrigerated case along one wall in the lab. There were several vials of various colors and volume, but he made his selection without hesitation. From her vantage, Juliane couldn't read the labels, but based on the count of vials, it almost appeared as if Alan had planned for the extra doses that would be required to include Louis in the experiment.

Alan injected the contents of the vial into a pneumatic apparatus that looked similar to a tattoo artist’s needle. Before, there hadn’t been much indication that the tool was powered, but once out of its holster, Juliane could hear a faint hum, and the tip of the device flickered with a bright glow. Alan held it in the light and shook it with an exaggerated flourish.