Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
ELENA
The knock on her door made Elena jump. She had been so consumed with her work that she forgot about the outside world.
Through the window of her door, she could see Laura's flame-red curls and determined expression.
Before Elena could even motion her in, the door swung open and Laura strode through, two enormous coffees clutched in her hands.
"I come bearing caffeine and guilt," Laura announced, kicking the door closed behind her. "One of these is approximately sixty percent espresso, which is what you look like you need right now."
Elena reached for the cup, gratitude momentarily overwhelming the exhaustion that had settled into her bones. "You're a lifesaver. But I'm not sure what the guilt part is about."
Laura dropped into the chair across from Elena's desk, taking in the stacks of research papers, the large monitor displaying endless columns of data, and Elena's drawn face with a pitiful wince.
"The guilt is because I'm the one who set you up with that absolute jackass David, who is apparently now trying to sabotage your career because you wouldn't sleep with him. "
Elena choked on her first sip of coffee. "How did you—"
"Please." Laura waved dismissively. "The accelerated deadline is all over the national news.
'Local neuroscience lab led by an impossibly sexy mom races against impending deadline.
' Plus, you haven't returned my texts for three days, which only happens when you're furious with me or drowning in work. In this case, apparently both."
Elena set her coffee down, too tired to maintain the polite fiction that everything was fine. All the assistants had already left for the day. All of them except Finn, who was still working at his desk.
"It's not your fault," Elena said, rubbing her temples. "You didn't know he was on the board when you suggested the set-up."
"No, but I should have done better research," Laura countered.
"Jessica made him sound perfect, but clearly she left out the part where he can't handle rejection like an adult.
" She leaned forward, her expression softening.
"But seriously, El, what happened? Did he actually admit he pushed for the deadline change because you turned him down? "
Elena shook her head. "Not directly. But the timing is... suspicious. Our date was on Friday. Later that night I told him I wasn't interested in seeing him again, and by Monday afternoon the board had officially accelerated our deadline by thirty days."
"That's practically a signed confession," Laura said. "Can't you report him or something? This has to violate some ethics rule."
"With what proof?" Elena slumped back in her chair.
"It would be my word against his, and he's a board member with significant influence over our funding.
Plus, how would it look? A 41-year-old researcher bringing her dating drama into the workplace?
Best case scenario is that I make waves, but nothing changes.
Worst case, we lose the grant entirely, and I look like someone who can't separate her personal life from her work.”
Laura opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Elena looked up, jumping a little when she saw Finn standing in the doorway. Even after three days of carefully maintained distance, the sight of him still affected her in ways she tried to ignore.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "I have the Wednesday analysis you requested. There are some interesting patterns in the secondary responses I thought you should see."
Elena nodded, gesturing him in. "Thank you. Laura, this is Finn Cochrane, my research assistant. Finn, this is Laura Hunt, an old friend."
Laura's attention shifted entirely to Finn, her eyes widening as she took in his tall frame and serious expression.
Elena recognized that look. Laura's radar for attractive men was legendary, and she was clearly picking up readings.
"So you're the janitor with hidden depths I heard about," Laura said with a smile as she openly ogled him.
Finn was understandably confused by the statement, as well as startled by Laura's directness, but recovered, shaking her hand with a polite nod.
Elena watched the exchange with growing discomfort. Three days ago, she would have smiled at Laura's obvious interest in Finn. Now, it just made her uncomfortable. Things were supposed to be professional now.
"The analysis shows consistent improvement in the initial patient set," Finn continued, addressing Elena as he handed her the folder. "Especially patients 304 and 217. Their anxiety response metrics are down by eighteen percent."
Laura couldn’t help herself. “Wow. You really know what you’re talking about. Doesn’t he, Elena?”
Elena took the folder. “He is good at this, yes. Thank you for working late again, Finn.”
"Of course. Will there be anything else you need tonight?"
Elena hesitated for just one tiny second, which was all Laura needed to scan them both and land on an assessment that was probably dead-on.
“Oh, I’m sure we could find something for you to do.” Laura teased.
Elena blushed. “Just keep working on analyzing the new patient set.”
He nodded once, then turned to Laura. "It was nice meeting you."
"Likewise," Laura replied, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."
Finn hesitated, glancing back at Elena with an unreadable expression before excusing himself. As he left, Laura's gaze followed him all the way out the door, lingering on the empty doorway even after he'd disappeared from view.
The silence that followed felt heavy with implication. Elena busied herself opening the folder, though the data blurred before her tired eyes. She could feel Laura's attention shifting back to her, practically hear the gears turning in her friend's head.
"So," Laura said, drawing the word out. "That's your research assistant."
Elena kept her eyes on the papers. "Yes, that's Finn."
"Interesting," Laura murmured, in a tone that suggested she found it more than just interesting. "Very interesting."
Elena looked up to find Laura watching her with a calculating expression that made her immediately nervous.
Laura's intuition for emotional undercurrents was uncanny, and the last thing Elena needed was her friend's piercing insight directed at the very situation she was trying so desperately to ignore.
"The research," Elena said, tapping the folder Finn had delivered. "That's what's interesting. These results could help trauma patients who haven't responded to traditional therapies."
But Laura's slow smile told Elena she wasn't fooled for a second. “So have you two had sex before?” Laura asked, opting to cannonball off the high dive rather than dip her toes in the water first. Elena immediately choked on her coffee.
Before Elena could recover, Laura held up a hand. "No, wait. Don't answer that. I shouldn't be encouraging this."
Elena's shoulders tensed. "Encouraging what?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Laura shook her head. "That's just your research assistant. Young research assistant." She paused, then leaned forward. "How young exactly?"
"Laura—"
"For professional reasons!" Laura added quickly. "So I know how much NOT to think about his shoulders. Or that jawline. Or the way he looked at you like you personally invented neuroscience."
"He doesn't look at me like that," Elena said, busying herself with papers that didn't need organizing. "He’s twenty-six,” Elena whispered meekly.
Laura froze mid-sip of her coffee. "I'm sorry, what did you whisper to me just now? Because it sounded like you said twenty-six but that can't be right because that would make him fifteen years younger than you and—" She set her cup down. "Oh my God, my best friend is a pervert. I never knew…"
Elena's silence was confirmation enough.
"Twenty-six," Laura repeated, visibly wrestling with herself.
"That's... Jesus, Elena. Fifteen years." She pressed her lips together, clearly fighting her own reaction.
"Okay. Okay, that's fine. Age is just a number.
Except when it's fifteen numbers. But he's an adult!
Making adult choices! With a fully formed brain and a throbbing penis that is probably—"
She stopped abruptly, studying Elena's face. "Oh my God, something already happened, didn't it?"
"Laura!" This was getting out of hand at warp speed. Ten minutes ago, she was staring at a spreadsheet.
"I'm not asking! I'm absolutely not asking if your hot young research assistant is a good kisser." Laura pressed her lips together, then burst out, "But seriously, scale of one to ten?"
"We're not discussing this.” Elena said with as much defiance as she could muster.
Laura nodded approvingly. "Good. Perfect. Responsible. You’re so responsible and sexy."
"Exactly. Nothing could ever happen between us. He's fifteen years younger than me," Elena pointed out.
"Which is... a lot," Laura agreed, then added under her breath, "of stamina probably."
"LAURA!"
"Sorry! Sorry. Voice of reason. That's me." Laura straightened in her chair. "Elena, you absolutely cannot jeopardize your career for some steamy lab romance. Even if there's clearly insane chemistry. Even if—"
She stopped herself. "No. Bad Laura."
Elena slumped back in her chair. "This is exactly why I ended things before they could begin."
Laura's eyes widened. "Things? What things? No, don't tell me!" She paused. "Actually, tell me everything immediately."
"There was... a kiss," Elena admitted. "After the David disaster. Just once."
Laura made a strangled noise. "Just once? That's very restrained and professional and—oh my God, was it amazing?"
"Laura, you're supposed to be the voice of reason here!"