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“I’m sorry to hear about your mom. But yes, I hope it will help many people and give peace to their loved ones.”If I get the chance to finish it.
The elevator opened and Hanna led Sydney down a hall of lavish offices, opening the door of the one at the end. Sydney stayed back, praying, while Hanna addressed her boss.
“Myles. Professor Davis is here.” Hanna stepped out of the way to usher Sydney inside.
She focused on her hands as she moved forward. She’d prepared the first words she wanted to speak, and she was going over them one more time before presenting them to Myles. When Hanna shut the door, she looked up.
“I’m sorry to bother — ” Her words choked in her throat. She took a quick step backward and bumped into the door. “What — ”
Myles was standing at the end of the table. Several men sat in the other chairs.
Dr. Pallon stood slowly. He looked scared.
But Sydney’s attention wasn’t on Pallon. If she had harbored any courage walking into the room, it was gone now. Her worst nightmare evolved before her eyes. “Leo. What are you doing here?” She tried to pray, but her thoughts were scrambled.
Leo folded his hands and rested them on the table. “I have business with Myles. What are you doing here?” His smile was a mix of pride and scorn. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were stalking me.”
Sydney licked her lips. “No, I — ” She was having trouble getting her words out. “I wanted to have a word with Mr. Cameron.” Her eyes drifted to him. “Alone, if possible.”Please, please, please.
Myles smiled broadly. “There’s nothing you can say to me that you can’t say in front of these men.”
“Why are they here?” The words came out a choked whisper.
“We were having a meeting. Discussing your research, actually.”
“Why?”
“Why don’t you take a seat and we can all have a nice conversation about it?”
“No. I don’t — Why? What do they have to do with it?” Sydney groped for the door handle.
Myles’s gaze dropped to her hand, and he shook his head. “Don’t do that. Please, sit down. These men are all invested in your research, and it’s time we all had a chat about how difficult you’ve made this process.”
“That — that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” She pushed out a stream of air to steady herself before she spoke the words that she’d rehearsed. Maybe all she needed to do was apologize and promise to make it right. She ignored the scream in her head that said she would die today.
“I signed a contract with Biotech Solutions.”
“I’m glad we can agree on that.”
“I’m here today because I wanted to admit to you that I had intended to give my research to a nonprofit organizationandto Biotech.”
“Is that so?” He looked at Leo. “Looks like you were right. I didn’t think Sydney had it in her, but she is somewhat deceptive.”
Sydney swallowed a lump. “I know that would be a breach of my contract and it was wrong to make those plans.” The words tumbled from her mouth as if getting them out would not only set her free inside, but she could escape the building as well. “I no longer intend to give them the research. I will honor our contract if you still want to move forward with me.”
“Do they have access to your research now? Or have you restricted them the same as you’ve done for us?”
“I haven’t given them anything yet, and I won’t. Once my research is finished, I will honor our agreement.”
Myles cleared his throat. “Yes, but that’s been the problem this whole time. Access to your research. If it wasn’t for Dr. Pallon, we wouldn’t know anything.”
Sydney looked at Pallon, whose face had turned bright red. He dropped back into his seat and his eyes fixed on his lap.
Sydney clasped her hands in front of her. “I promised you the cancer treatment, and that’s what I will give you.”
“But we are no longer interested in your finished research. What we want is your current research.”
Sydney thought of the fungus that Pallon had taken. She dared to hope that he hadn’t passed it on yet. “I understand, but that’s not part of our agreement. I made sure that the contract specifically stated that I only give you my finished research once the drug is effective. It’s not effective yet.”
