Chapter 54
Jay and I spent the day working on the manipulator. Once I settled in to focus on the work, it was easy to forget about Melanie and Luke.
This was where I shone. In the lab, everything always fell away. It was just me and whatever problems I was trying to work through.
Now that I’d been able to get the output to not just hold onto memory, but massage it with the oscillating feature I’d installed, the next piece was figuring out how we could mold and change memory into something we actually wanted.
As it was right now, we didn’t have much control over how the memories were changed, which was obviously dangerous.
I hadn’t had time to brush up on how to read NeuroGlyphs, so any testing we did needed to be on Jay so he could translate them to me as I worked.
We focused on small, unimportant memories that were low risk, on the off chance that I changed them to something potentially traumatizing.
I was working on convincing his brain that his memories of making pasta with his dad were actually memories of them baking a cake together, when the elevator dinged, signaling more uninvited guests.
I glanced up from where I had the manipulator pressed into Jay’s temple to find Seb strolling into The Cave.
Melanie of all people was tailing him, a smug smile plastered on her face as she entered The Cave.
Dang it.
I knew she was going to be a problem.
I powered down the manipulator so Jay could sit up without risking damage to the memory we’d been working on.
He turned to glare at Seb, who glared right back.
I swallowed loudly as I took in Sebastian’s expression. He was in another bespoke suit. This one was navy blue, and his hair was perfectly styled as always.
He flashed us a smile, showing off his perfectly straight, white teeth, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
He was angry.
So, so angry.
“Jay,” he growled, and Jay raised an eyebrow at him, his own expression nearly as dark as his friend’s.
“Seb. You’re interrupting. We apparently have an aggressive deadline we’re trying to meet. We’re currently unable to accommodate unauthorized guests in the lab.” Jay’s eyes fell on Melanie pointedly.
“Unfortunately, it couldn’t be avoided. Luke would like to see Milo in practical memory therapy immediately,” Seb deadpanned, referring to the lab Jay had taken us all to on our first day for a NeuroExtractor demonstration.
Jay scowled, but stood up, glancing at me quickly.
“Alright. We’ll head over in a few. We just need to clean up here.”
“No. You’re expected to keep working. Luke doesn’t want this to interrupt your workflow.”
Jay nearly fucking snarled like a wild animal.
“A little late for that,” he snapped. “I can’t continue testing without Milo here. I might as well accompany him for whatever it is Luke needs him for.”
“Melanie will assist you in Milo’s absence.”
I glanced at Melanie, and of course, she looked like a cat with a fat, juicy mouse. She was smiling at me triumphantly, and despite not being a very confrontational person, I wanted to smack that smile right off her face.
“I’m so honored to have this opportunity to work with the renowned Jay Reynolds,” she simpered, stepping forward and boldly reaching out to take the NeuroManipulator from me. I found myself holding onto the device a bit longer than was appropriate.
“Please let go, Milo,” she bit out through her fake smile. “Mr. Reynolds and I have work to do.”
I glanced at Jay, whose jaw was clenched so hard I could see a muscle pulsing in his cheek. After a long pause, he gave me a single nod, and I forced myself to let go of the manipulator, relinquishing it into Melanie’s care.
“As soon as you’re done in practical, I expect you back here,” Jay snapped at me, and I nearly flinched at how cold he sounded.
I knew he wasn’t angry with me, but it was making me anxious to have any of his hostility directed at me at all.
I nodded frantically.
“O-of course,” I whispered, hating that I couldn’t reach out to squeeze his hand, or do anything to comfort him.
“Text me if you need me,” he pressed, and I bit my lip.
“I will.”
“Come on, Milo. My father doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Seb sighed, turning on his heel and striding curtly toward the elevator.
“Coming!” I meeped, scurrying after Sebastian and doing my best not to think too much about the fact that I was leaving Jay alone here with Melanie freaking Larson.
Anxiety churned in my gut as I watched her stroke her manicured fingers over the device that I’d been working so hard on over the last few weeks.
She better not mess anything up…
Jay was looking at her with his lip curled, like she was some sort of cockroach that he just couldn’t manage to exterminate.
The elevator doors closed, cutting off my view, and I glanced up at Sebastian to find him staring straight ahead, his jaw just as tight as Jay’s had been.
“Wh-what does Luke need from me in practical?” I forced myself to ask, despite the fact that I was fairly sure any questions I had at this point weren’t welcome.
“You’re being promoted. I would say congratulations, but I’m fairly certain I made my feelings on you staying here perfectly clear already.”
“Promoted?” I asked, and Seb finally glanced at me, his icy blue eyes swirling with something that looked like a strange cross between fear and anger.
“Yes, Milo. You’re being promoted, which means you need to be approved for additional security clearance.”
“O-okay.” That didn’t sound too bad. As I hurried to follow Seb out of the elevator and onto the MTR floor, I smoothed my hands down my collared shirt nervously.
Security clearance? It sounded so mundane… so why was Seb so upset? And why wouldn’t he let Jay come with me?
I wanted to ask, but one look at Seb’s face told me he was done answering questions. So, I swallowed down my curiosity and just focused on not tripping over my own feet as my much shorter legs rushed to keep up with Seb’s long strides.