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“What if I’m required to speak?” I asked. “You want Justin Theroux to answer questions about our work?”
“I meannobut…also maybe?” Kaylee squeaked. “Couldn’t he have generic answers to memorize that lead people to find more information on the website?”
The suggestion stung like a slap in the face, but I maintained my calm exterior.
“That’s not bad, actually,” Pamela said. “But Justin Theroux is too high profile. Work with one of the background checkers to find suitable stand-ins we can trust. We don’t need interviews. Staged photos and videos….”
Pamela endorsed this farce. I should have expected as much, yet it still came as a shock.
A wall, built from years of similar situations, snapped into place. My posture stiffened and my shoulders squared, ready to deflect the blow.
I couldn’t listen to another word. I rose from my seat and left the conference room. Icy detachment cooled any anger or hurt I should have felt.
I needed this merger to happen. All of Terraroot Labs needed this merger to happen.
Replacing me couldn’t be the only solution. What happened when this stand-in went off script and misrepresented the science? What happened when he broke his NDA and told the press that I’d hired an actor to pretend to be me? One mistake and the entire company would be ruined.
There were only twenty-three days left until the meeting.
What other option did I have?
What I wanted to do was walk to Eterni-Tea. If only Layana Hartley was a reasonable person and I could accurately convey my intentions in a way she could understand—I was certain that would be Terraroot’s best chance.
But we weren’t different people. She wasn’t reasonable, and I couldn’t properly communicate my intentions.
Most importantly, she’d made clear that she wanted me to leave her alone.
I ran my hands through my hair and stalked the building, wishing for an anomalous strike of inspiration. I took the staircase instead of the elevators, needing to move. There had to be someone, anyone else who could help me.
I reached the lower floor, where sounds of bustling footsteps and indiscernible chatter echoed through spacious halls.
And amongst the noise, I could swear I heardhervoice.
“I’m not leaving until I see him, so good luck closing shop at the end of the day.”
“Ma’am, you’re welcome to sit in one of the chairs. But if you’re going to cause trouble, or you refuse to leave when you’re told to, you will be removed,” a second person said. It sounded like Jeff, the receptionist.
“Is that a threat?”
I’d only ever met one woman who spoke with that distinctive, indignant tone. But, the prospect of Layana coming here in my greatest hour of need was too good to be true. I had to be mistaken.
I followed the sound, cautious optimism clawing through my chest.
“A warning. Security will physically remove you from the building,” Jeff said.
“Not until I speak to Gabriel Stryker, they won’t. I’m inspired to stay inspired. Call him. Tell him I’m here.”
“I don’t know who you are, or what that means,” Jeff said, exasperation dripping from his words.
I turned the corner to the lobby and found Jeff with a constipated twist to his features. His face was redder than his scarlet hair. Across the desk from him stood a woman wearing a puffy white coat, tight jeans, and an aggressive stance.
Her back was to me, but if any question about her identity remained, the blue twists of hair on the top of her head confirmed my suspicion.
Jeff lifted his phone. “Security, we need?—”
“That won’t be necessary,” I said.
Layana whipped around. Her eyes lit up as soon as she spotted me.
