Page 16 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

“What about me?”

His mouth tightened. “I’m not sure I’m the best person to make a projection like that.”

“Best guess,” I said, “based on your observations and experience.”

He cleared his throat. “Typically, the company founder stays on for a time to show goodwill. I’ve seen some cases where the founder is given a department or project to lead. It’s possible you could keep your role as chief scientist, assuming the buyer doesn’t already have someone in that role.”

“But…?”

“But I’ve often observed that company founders leave the newly merged organization within six months. The founders sometimes don’t care for the new company’s management or for their diminished role and organizational power. Occasionally, new leadership wants to remove all traces of the prior company’s culture.”

“You’re saying I’d be kicked out? In six months?”

“I’m saying it’s possible. Though maybe you’d welcome a break? Less stress. Fewer reminders of what you’ve lost.”

For a moment, I let myself imagine it. I wouldn’t have to be a leader anymore. I could join Andrew and work on his educational YouTube channel full time. Or I could work in a place where no one remembered Simon and how much better he was at this than I was.

No. That was the coward’s way out. I couldn’t be responsible for the death of the company Simon built. I wouldn’t.

“It won’t come to that,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “We’ll get this test done on time. By March.” The task list unfolded in my brain. And kept unfolding until it dropped onto West’s blue-striped rug and flopped across the floor.

“Good.” He rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming. “We’re counting on you, man. All the employees are.”

“Then I’ll get to work.” I stood and walked out of his office, chin held high like I believed it.

But instead of turning right toward the lab, I turned left. Like I had all the self-assurance of Tessa Wright, I strode past Simon’s office, the one withhername on the door now, and jogged down the stairs toward the game room.

We’d started the company long after the era of onsite laundry and nap pods. But Simon had a passion for vintage arcade games, and he’d installed part of his collection here. No one was playingSpace Invadersthis early, but on the other side of the console was a hutch that held a photo of Simon.

It wasn’t the official headshot that was on the company website. It was a casual shot I’d taken with my phone the day we’d gotten the news that our second round of funding had come through. I’d told him to pose like a CEO of a multi-million-dollar company, but he couldn’t stop laughing. The joy had shone in his half-closed eyes and on his glowing cheeks.

I plucked last week’s wilted flowers out of the vase and tossed them into the trash. Then I scooped a token from the bucket next to his prizedDragon’s Lairmachine and set it in front of his photo.

“I promise, I won’t let anything happen to your company,” I said. “Whatever it takes, I’ll do it, even if it kills me.”

8

Profit from Sick People

From Barry Wright’s manifesto:

Vaccines are made of pathogens, which are basically diseases. Some of them will make you sick within days, and others lie waiting inside you for years. The pharmaceutical industry invented vaccines to make people sick so they can sell more drugs.

TESSA

When Oliver strolled into the lab at 9:30 a.m., I almost cracked a joke about his tardiness. He was so cautious that he might have turned his car around to get his umbrella and raincoat despite the morning sunshine. But I stopped when I clocked his expression. It was serious, like always, but the determined set of his jaw and the thoughtful, almost peaceful, softness in his eyes as he shrugged into his white coat halted my retort.

Carly had told me he went back East for Thanksgiving. He must have had a pleasant, relaxing weekend with his perfect family.

I hadn’t had one of those since before my mother died, though my long weekend was better than usual. For once, I had human company, even if Savannah spent most of it crying in my spare bedroom.

His peaceful determination didn’t waver as he found me there. It was almost like he expected to see me in the space he’d made clear was his, not mine. Turning my back, I accepted the tablet Huong handed me and scanned the simulation results. I knew I was adding value here in the lab. Why did I care what snooty Oliver thought?

The scent of his aftershave gave me a second’s warning before he spoke behind me. “Tessa, could I talk with you for a minute?”

I held in a sigh. I’d misinterpreted his expression. Clearly, he’d come back from the holiday weekend ready to pick another fight.

“These are great results. Thanks for walking me through it,” I said to Huong. “Let’s talk again tomorrow.” I handed the tablet back to her. Squaring my shoulders, I nodded at Oliver and followed him to the only private space in the lab, a storage closet-slash-office in the corner. He held the door open, waited for me to enter, and shut us both inside.

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