Page 31 of Ivory Obsession

“Right,” Ellie nodded, though her eyes still held a shadow of doubt. She knew the dangers that lurked behind the Moretti name, dangers that were now creeping too close to the world we had built within these walls.

With a deliberate shift, I turned towards our data analysis screen. “We’ve nearly tripled the efficiency of axonal recovery in our latest trials using targeted protein delivery,” I explained with an enthusiasm that felt almost forced. It was crucial to steer clear of personal entanglements, especially when they threatened the sanctity of our scientific haven.

“Wait. Tripled? I thought we were working on a doubling model,” Ellie’s voice perked up, her natural curiosity piqued.

My smile turned genuine at Ellie’s reaction. “We were. But I had a breakthrough last night with the synthesis process,” I explained, moving to the terminal to bring up the latest data. “It was a long shot, but the new delivery vector improved uptake efficiency by 150%.”

“Why didn’t you mention it?”

“During the cybersecurity snoozefest?” I asked. “Nah, I thought it would be better to do it in private. The implications could redefine neural repair strategies.”

Ellie leaned closer to the screen, her scientific hunger momentarily overtaking her earlier reservations. “Show me the latest simulations,” she urged, already lost in the thrill of discovery.

As I navigated through the graphs and data points, detailing the intricacies of our approach, the rest of the world temporarily faded away.

For now, at least, the lab was our safe harbor, and the science, our shared language of hope.

Over the next several days, that illusion of safety began to erode with each visit from Edward. He really put a damper on our discovery.

“Dr. Bentley,” Edward would begin, his tone always respectful but laced with an authority that seemed out of place in the research facility. “I’ve been reviewing your protocols for data security. Impressive, but there are vulnerabilities.”

I watched him, my hands paused mid-gesture over a petri dish, as he laid out his concerns with a precision that caught me off guard. It was disconcerting, this man’s knowledge of cybersecurity and the ease with which he dissected our systems.

I really had a lot of other things to worry about. I didn’t want to deal with him.

“Your encryption could be stronger here,” he’d point at a line of code on the computer screen. “And you should consider two-factor authentication for accessing this database.”

“Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez,” I replied, the words stiff on my tongue. His dedication was...unsettling. My work was difficult and finicky, and I didn’t want to have to pay attention to him.

“Call me Edward when we’re alone,” he offered with a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Just trying to keep your work safe, Doctor.”

“Of course, Edward.” I nodded curtly, turning back to my cultures. His visits were becoming more frequent, and while I couldn’t deny the usefulness of his insights, it gnawed at me—the way he seemed to weave himself into the fabric of our daily operations.

“Edward,” I called out after him one day, a question burning inside me. “Why do you care so much about our research?”

He stopped in his tracks, and for a moment, I saw something flicker behind his stoic facade. “What do you mean? This is my job, Dr. Bentley. I take it seriously. I have a vested interest in protecting your research.”

I watched as he walked away, his steps measured and sure. A vested interest. The phrase echoed in my mind, a puzzle piece that refused to fit neatly into the larger picture.

So weird, but not really my business.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the unease that settled over me. It was a feeling I couldn’t quite shake, no matter how much data I analyzed or how many results I tallied up at the end of the day. Edward was like a shadow cast across my thoughts, an enigma wrapped in the guise of a protector. A few hours later, it was time to go to the most annoying meeting ever.

“Jade, you coming?” Ellie’s voice burst through my reverie, pulling me back to the present. “We gotta go waste a couple of hours.”

“Sorry, lost in thought,” I admitted as we headed towards the small conference room where Edward had set up for his mini-workshop.

“About Edward’s offer?” Ellie queried, her expression unreadable.

“His insights,” I corrected, pushing open the door to find a small, attentive crowd gathered. I scanned the room, finding Edward at the front by a projector, exuding that same calm authority that both irked and impressed me.

“Thank you all for joining,” he began, his gaze briefly flitting over to me before addressing the group. “Today, we’ll discuss phishing, social engineering, and other cyber threats that could compromise not just our personal data but our professional integrity.”

His presentation was concise, peppered with real-life examples that made the dangers tangible. He didn’t just talk; he showed us how easily our defenses could be breached, how our trust could be exploited. By the end, I couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for the man.

“It’s a good reminder of the threats we face,” I found myself saying out loud once the workshop concluded, “not just externally but internally.”

“Exactly,” Edward replied, meeting my eyes with an intensity that suggested he wasn’t just referring to cybersecurity. There was a depth to his statement, a subtext that hinted at dangers lurking within these very walls.

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