The Lab
Valeria
I wake before dawn, my mind already racing.
Starting today, my movements will become predictable.
Fixed hours. A recurring route. A personalized badge.
Too many vulnerabilities to exploit. But I don’t have a choice.
Every hour my research remains unsecured is an hour too long.
What Wald is after isn’t hidden in Aurenza’s patents. It’s in the files I never authorized to leave the lab.
NRX-889.
The most dangerous project I’ve ever worked on.
An unstable molecule. Potentially revolutionary. Potentially lethal in the wrong hands.
I had only told two people: Dante and Bianca. Yet somehow, Wald—who was already looking to acquire a stake in the company—knew about it.
He knew exactly what I was working on.
When I refused to give them access to my research and blocked their attempt to buy into the company, he tried to have me killed.
*
Stephen pushes reporters aside as they bombard me with questions, clearing a path to Aurenza’s entrance. Unfortunately, that’s as far as he can go.
Only Dante can authorize him beyond this point.
“At the first sign of trouble, call me,” Stephen says. “I’ll be here in under two minutes.”
I nod and step through the turnstile.
The receptionist, who clearly hasn’t missed my arrival, slides a pre-filled registry toward me.
“Good morning, Ms. Delorme. Please sign here.”
I do as instructed. She hands me a visitor badge.
“Ms. Nguyen is expecting you in her office.”
The elevator is already half full when I step inside.
“Good morning.”
“Morning,” a few people answer back.
I can feel their curiosity from here.
The doors close. Numbers light up one after another. On the ninth floor — R to the right, a wall of greenery, with the laboratory tucked farther back. To the left, a modern lounge area in warm tones.
“I wanted your space to feel like you,” he’d said. “Not sterile. Not clinical. Somewhere you’d actually want to come back to.”
Nothing has changed.
This is where Dante came to tell me Auzene had received therapeutic approval. He’d lifted me into his arms, radiant smile spread across his face.
“You did it. You’re going to change so many lives... I’m so proud of you, Valeria.”
He kissed me, and we made love against the sofa bench — slow, passionate.
I force the memory away before it weakens my resolve.
I sit behind the desk, pull my phone from my bag, and power on the workstation.
It’s brand-new, installed in a hurry, probably yesterday.
I take my time, going through the files. Everything is here, including the ones hidden behind an innocuous codename.
Blood pounds through my veins.
I remove the key concealed inside the hollow heel of my right pump.
Just as expected, the USB port is sealed behind a security cover. No direct connection possible.
I take out the ceramic tool kit, undetectable by scanners. My fingers tremble despite myself as I force the mechanism open.
It takes longer than expected.
The clock keeps ticking.
Fuck.
Sweat trickles down my back and along the nape of my neck.
After one final push, the cover finally snaps loose.
I plug in the drive.
The icon appears on-screen. I double-click. A minimalist interface opens immediately.
I select the sensitive files.
The ones no one can ever be allowed to exploit.
I drag them into the open window.
A progress bar appears.
0%.
The workstation emits a faint hum.
I call Stephen. He picks up immediately.
“Everything okay?”
I close my eyes for a fraction of a second.
“It’s started,” I say.
“It’s going to be fine. If you need anything, I’m downstairs.”
“Thank you.”
The line disconnects.
Every percentage gained is a tiny victory and an even greater risk.
I glance toward the door. Still closed.
5%.
I straighten, forcing air into my lungs.
Time stretches.
The seconds crawl by.
Too slowly.
My blouse clings to my skin.
The air conditioning is off and the room is suffocating.
I need water.
I glance back at the screen.
15%.
I open the bathroom door.
My heart nearly stops.
Dante is already there, leaning against the sink.
Watching me.
The encryption continues running.
17%.
Not fast enough.