Page 3 of Liam
“Wonderful!” Kim beams, though her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Dr. James, remember what we discussed about the importance of this partnership. Please give Mr. Valeur a comprehensive tour of our facilities.” She pauses at the door, her tone carrying a weight that makes Aleria’s shoulders tense. “A very comprehensive tour.”
As Kim’s footsteps fade, the silence in the lab grows thick and heavy. Aleria’s fingers clench and unclench at her sides, her jaw tight.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
I straighten my tie, a nervous habit I thought I’d long since abandoned. “I’m here to discuss the ASTRA project, Miss James.”
“It’s Dr. James now,” she corrects, her chin lifting.
“Of course, my apologies,” I say. “Dr. James, I’m here on behalf of Valeur Tech to explore a potential collaboration.”
Aleria’s laugh is sharp, cutting through the air like shattered glass. “Collaboration? Is that what you’re calling it now?”
The bitterness in her voice makes me flinch.
“This is a professional visit,” I say. “Valeur Tech’s interest is solely in the scientific potential of your work.”
Aleria scoffs, turning back to her workstation. She picks up a beaker, her knuckles white around the glass. “Right. Because you’ve always been so interested in science.”
I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. “Dr. James, I understand there’s history between us. But this is business. We’re both professionals. Surely, we can put the past behind us and focus on the potential benefits of this partnership.”
She whirls to face me, eyes blazing. The beaker in her hand slams down onto the counter with enough force that I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. “Put the past behind us? Like you put me behind you without a second thought?”
Her words hang in the air, charged with years of unresolved hurt and anger. I swallow hard, fighting the urge to defend myself, to explain. But I have no excuse.
“Aleria, I—” I start, then stop, the words catching in my throat. What could I possibly say to make this right?
“I never meant to hurt you,” I say, the inadequacy of the statement painfully clear.
“This project is my life’s work,” she continues, ignoring my statement, her voice low and intense. She gestures around the lab at the whiteboards covered in complex equations, the humming machines. “I’ve poured everything into this. I won’t let it become just another one of your conquests.”
I step closer, careful to maintain a professional distance. “I assure you, that’s not what this is about. We have the resources to bring your work to fruition, to make a real difference in the world. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
For a moment, there’s a flicker of the passionate, idealistic student I once knew. But it’s quickly replaced by a hardened skepticism.
Aleria crosses her arms, regarding me. “And what’s thecost of those resources, Valeur? My autonomy? The integrity of my research?”
“We can negotiate terms that work for both parties,” I say, trying to steer us back to safer, more professional ground. “I’m not here to take anything from you, Dr. James. I’m proposing a mutually beneficial partnership. Your brilliance, combined with our resources, could change the world. Or you could continue toiling away in obscurity, your groundbreaking work never seeing the light of day. Your choice.”
She studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she sighs, some of the fight seeming to leave her.
“Fine. You want to talk business? Let’s talk business. But don’t for a second think this changes anything between us. We are not, and never will be, friends.”
I nod. “Understood. Shall we begin with a tour of your facilities?”
Aleria leads me through the lab, her steps quick and purposeful.
“This is our main research area,” she says, gesturing to the cluttered workstations. “I’m sure it’s not up to Valeur Tech’s gold-plated standards, but we make do.”
I bite back a retort. “It’s efficient.”
She snorts. “That’s one word for it. Another might be ‘under-funded.’”
We pass a whiteboard covered in complex equations. I pause, studying it. “Impressive work. Is this part of the ASTRA project?”
“Oh, you can read that?” Aleria asks, feigning surprise. “I thought your eyes might have trouble focusing on anything that isn’t a stock ticker or a trust fund statement.”
I clench my jaw. “I graduated with honors, Dr. James. Or have you forgotten?”
