Page 52 of A Smooth Operator

"Dallas didn't process it. We all decided to change your mind."

I'd never felt wanted, not like this, and my heart soared. Teresa was right, I shouldn't leave GeneVerse because Remi was an entitled ass. I'd worked hard to get here. I was in the middle of my research.

But I'd still be connected to him through his father. I didn't want that, ever again. Teresa was right; my head knew what was good and right for my career, but my heart was afraid of more pain, and rightfully so. It had been through so much in my twenty-six years. I wanted to be happy. I deserved it. My work made me happy.

"I'm going to think about it," I promised Teresa.

"Good enough. I'll reach back out to you on Wednesday. That enough time?"

"Wednesday is tomorrow," I scowled.

"So, it is." She grinned and waved to the waiter.

Teresa convinced me to try the red wine flight, a thoughtful selection of pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and a local syrah. Each glass was neatly lined up on a wooden paddle.

"I know a little bit about how you grew up." Teresa surprised me again.

"Dallas?"

She nodded. "He wasn't breaking any confidence, you understand? He's very impressed with you."

"Really? You don't think he just feels sorry for me?" I so desperately wanted to be liked for who I was and not my circumstances.

She put her hand on mine. "You're considered the future of GeneVerse. I don't feel sorry for you. Dallas and I are in awe of how much you've achieved despite your childhood. You're a remarkable woman."

"I hear you, but I don't feel it," I admitted, feeling wretched.

"What happens when I say you're a great scientist?" Teresa challenged me.

"What happens?"

"Inside your head? What do you hear?"

I licked my lips. "She's just being nice, so don't go about believin' it."

"That's your inner critic."

I shrugged. "That's me telling myself not to get a big head."

"No, Echo. You think your inner critic is helping you stay humble; all it's doing is holding you back. Stop listening to those voices in your head, instead, ask your inner mentor what she would do."

"Inner mentor?"

Teresa grinned. "Your inner mentor is you years from now when you've achieved your goals. Or, it could be someone you look up to. Name a scientist you admire?"

I didn't have to think too hard. " Dr. Jennifer Doudna."

Dr. Doudna was a Nobel laureate and a co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing technology that transformed the landscape of genetic research. She was also a professor at UC Berkeley, and I dreamed of working in her lab.

"Great choice. Would it surprise you if I told you that Jenn doubts herself all the time?"

I scoffed. "She's won a Nobel prize."

"And she still doubts herself; but she silences the inner critics so she can do the great work she does. How about I introduce you to her."

My mouth fell open, and I didn't care. "You know her?"

Teresa winked at me. "We broads in science know each other. How about it? Stay at GeneVerse, and I'll introduce you to your hero."

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