Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I suddenly hate the way he looks at me, that smug expression on his face, but I quickly forget him when Sophia comes up beside me. “I’m so thankful there’s another woman here,” she whispers. “We’ve made many advances in women in STEM, but you know.”
I do know. We still are very much in the minority, at least in some places.
“I’m a little jealous you’re here with your husband,” she says with a smile. “How did you two meet?”
Shit. I forgot what we decided on. I stare at her and wildly try to come up with a way to change the subject. We said we wouldn’t say it was school, but that we met. . . online dating!
“Oh, we met through an online dating thing,” I finally say. “I avoided them for a long time, but you know. It gets lonely, and those algorithm matches can be spot on.”
I can feel Markov behind me, listening to everything I say.
“Oh, I love it,” Sophia says. “Takes the drama and guesswork out of the equation!” God, if she had any idea. Markov coughs into his hand. I kick him under the table.
Irina and Morozov walk in, so we both stop talking as they lay out our plans for the day.
“Now,” Morozov says, his eyes twinkling. He’s totally in his element and loving it. “After basic orientation and the overview of our goals here, we’ll outline the modules we’ll be studying. We’re bypassing our standard introduction since all of you seem to have such great rapport. We don’t want to waste time with any of the icebreakers we typically use to warm the team up and will get right to it.”
Fine with me. I hate that stuff. I’m ready to get busy.
“Great rapport,” Jake scoffs under his breath to me. “Some were accepted because Mommy and Daddy could pay, and the rest got in to satisfy some quota. Not very impressive.”
I press my lips together and don’t respond.
“And which might you be, Vera?” Jake asks, his tone casual but edged with provocation as he leans closer to the lab table, eyeing the vials of biological agents we’ve been given to inspect.
I give him a withering look and turn back to the task at hand.
Markov, who has been quietly observing from a short distance, narrows his eyes, sensing the tension. I shake my head at him. Suddenly, Jake, perhaps to demonstrate a misguided point or to taunt me further, begins to gesture animatedly with his hands, dangerously close to the vials.
“Be careful!” I can’t help but exclaim as his sleeve brushes against a particularly delicate setup.
But before he can finish, Markov intervenes. With a swift motion, he steadies the vials that Jake’s careless movements had nearly toppled. The room goes silent, all eyes suddenly on them.
“Thank you,” Irina says. “You must be more cautious. This isn’t a place for reckless behavior and those of you at this caliber ought to know that.”
With a scowl, Jake gets up from the table and walks away. Markov glances my way, his gaze sharp and protective. My heart beats faster not only from the near-miss but from Markov’s look. He’s here to ensure my safety in every sense of the word.
Wordlessly, he gets up as well and follows Jake.
Uh oh.
I open my mouth to protest but don’t want to cause a scene. My heart, however, hammers rapidly in my chest at the thought of what Markov might be doing.
The rest of the group is occupied with observations, noting things down on their lab sheets, but I’m hyper-focused on Jake and Markov. Markov leans in, washing his hands in the sink while Jake dries his. Jake’s ears are beet red, and he looks like a terrified child.
Oh, God.
They come back and Jake walks to the front of the room, says something in Irina’s ear, then takes his leave.
“Markov,” I hiss. “What did you say to him?”
Markov’s eyes darken when he shrugs, but he responds quietly. “Do not worry. I didn’t overstep.”
“Markov. . .” I give him a pleading look.
Leaning over, he whispers in my ear. “I told him under no uncertain terms what would happen to him if he disrespected my wife again. And then I casually suggested that he wasn’t feeling well and could maybe take a bit of a break from this morning’s rotation.”
My jaw drops even as warmth spreads through me.
He stood up for me.
No one’s ever done that before.
The next second, I realize he just threatened a coworker.
“Markov, this is a crucial lab, though. This is where they decide which of us gets chosen for the leadership roles for the rest of the program.”
Markov only shrugs. “I know.”
“Vera?” Irina says with a smile. “We’d like you to lead our fieldwork.”
CHAPTER NINE
Nikko
It was a long but productive day for Vera. She takes a quick rest while I check in at home.