Page 5 of Rescuing Mia

“You remind me of myself when I first started out, but you needto take breaks and get adequate rest. You’re of no use if you’re exhausted. It makes mistakes more likely, and I don’t need to tell you how we can’t afford mistakes. The work you’re involved in is too important.”

“Yes, Dr. Mei.”

“You’ve taken no personal time in the two years since you’ve started.” She flips through a file on her desk. “No time off at all. You work later than anyone else and come in almost every weekend.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“Not at all. Dr. Xiang is concerned about you. You’re one of our most dedicated employees, but he thinks you overextend yourself and that it could become a problem.”

This has to be a test. Is she trying to figure out if I will run? I pretend as if this is any normal conversation between a supervisor and an inferior and pray.

“I appreciate your concern, Dr. Mei. I’ll consider taking some time off.”

“No considering. You will go to your dorm and get some sleep. Take a day for yourself. Head into Shanghai. Go to a bar. Have drinks. Whatever you do, don’t come back until Monday.”

“But…”

“Your work will still be here.”

I’m not getting fired?

Arrested?

Is it possible she doesn’t know?

With no way to know, I go with it. This may be my one and only chance to get out of here. Unless, it’s still a test.

Dr. Mei gives a sharp nod, telling me this isn’t up for debate.

“Of course, Dr. Mei.” My voice gets stuck in my throat and barely rises above a croaked whisper. My legs tremble as I stand, betraying my fear, but somehow, I manage.

“Rest well, Mia. We’re relying on you.” Dr. Mei’s words echo in the room but sound distant, overshadowed by the thundering of my heartbeat.

I offer a shaky nod, unable to form words for a proper goodbye, and practically trip over myself in a rush to leave the room.

Panic claws at my chest. I feel exposed and vulnerable, and the fear within me turns into a visceral, living thing.

I did what I did, and there’s no going back now. I have this one opportunity to escape with what I have and never come back. Because there’s one thing I’m sure of… The moment Dr. Xiang returns, he’ll uncover my snooping if he doesn’t already know.

My tablet is a veritable ticking time bomb and shoving it into my bag feels like arming a weapon.

I have to leave.

The hall outside my lab seems to stretch out like a gauntlet, but I’m proud of myself. I hold my head high and square my shoulders against the weight of this secret. I offer a tight smile and casual nod to the security guard monitoring the exit. I tell myself to play it cool.

Don’t react.

Don’t look guilty.

I’m nothing more than another exhausted researcher leaving for the night.

But I’m in possession of stolen and highly classified information.

If they catch me before I figure out what to do with this information, my life’s forfeit.

But I made it past security.

Stepping outside, the cool air did nothing to quench my fear. With every step, I brace for the sound of an alarm, for the grip of hands dragging me back to a fate worse than any nightmare.

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