Chapter Eleven. #2
Polly chuckled. “There’s the Allegra I knew. Come on, it’s the least I can do. You can tell me what happened.”
“Oh, that’s easy, let me nutshell this in words you’ll understand. Car accident. A branch smashed my skull in. Severe brain trauma, hence amnesia. There you go, all up to date,” I retorted, and Polly laughed.
“Damn, Allegra, you were never this fiery. It’s a nice change. Come on, I’m a bitch, and now you’re being one. Let’s get a coffee,” Polly repeated.
“Only for Rain’s sake,” I retorted and stomped towards a diner. Polly snorted and followed me in as I spotted a table in the corner. I headed over and sat down, and Polly took the chair opposite me. The waitress came over, gave us a menu, and we placed coffee orders.
Polly stared, her eyes clearly searching for something.
“What?”
“You’re still suffering pain from the accident. It shows in the way you hold yourself and around the eyes.”
“Thanks, nothing like being told I look haggard.”
Polly chuckled. “You always had a mouth on you, but you were never quite this confrontational.”
“Gonna have to take your word for it,” I replied and spread my hands out.
“You really don’t remember anything?” Polly asked quietly.
“No, nothing. People tell me things, none of it means anything.”
“Do you remember Rain?”
“No. Nor Shotgun. Met with them the day before yesterday and took the twins to see them yesterday,” I said, and Polly’s eyes narrowed.
“The children, do you…?” Polly whispered.
“Nothing. Not their birth, first steps, first word, nothing. They’re strangers. Could be anyone’s kids. Harsh, isn’t it? I’ve seen pictures, but they haven’t jogged anything loose.”
Polly looked horrified. “Shit, I feel even worse now for being a bitch.”
“Why? As far as you’re aware, I ran off with Rain’s child. Makes you a good sister for defending him. But I can’t tell you my side because I can’t recall it.” I shrugged.
“Rain defended you. Refused to hear a single word against you. Hell, we were all convinced you were playing both men, and only recently did everyone learn you were a triad. Talk about making us the assholes.”
“Um, I don’t understand.”
“We’d see you on a date and cosy with Shotgun one week and then with Rain the following. As far as we were concerned, you were deceiving them. Then you moved in with Rain but continued seeing Shotgun. That incensed many people.”
“You called me a slut or a whore?”
“Yeah, and worse. If you’d all been honest, it would have made a difference in how we treated you,” Polly said.
“Why was that your business?” I inquired.
“What?” Polly asked, looking surprised. The waitress brought our coffees over, and we thanked her.
“Why was it your concern if Rain, Shotgun and I were in a triad? What right did you have to pry? Was Rain happy?”
“Yeah…” Polly drawled.
“Again, what gave you the right to interfere? From your point of view, Rain and Shotgun knew I was seeing them and each other, and were okay with it. So why stick your oar in and cause drama?”
“Because we thought you were cheating on them both,” Polly defended.
“But clearly, I wasn’t. What we had was working, but because it wasn’t conventional, you tried to rip us apart.
It didn’t matter if that made either Shotgun or Rain miserable.
Oh, my family spoke about how your MC treated me.
Believe me, you wouldn’t get me anywhere near the bunch of judgmental assholes you lot are. ”
Polly flinched, and I stood up. I threw a twenty down to cover the coffee.
“You’ve filled your mouth with gossip. Now feel free to run back to the rest of the bitches and Shotgun’s brothers and fill theirs.
The truth was, I was apparently devastated when Shotgun chose Hellfire over our child and me.
“So upset that I’d no intention of ever returning. As it stands, I’m happy for Shotgun and Rain to see the twins. However, to point out, they must have hurt me badly. Because nobody, not even they, claims I was a spiteful witch. Makes you think, doesn’t it, how deep that pain went?”
“Allegra…”
“Luckily, I don’t remember you or what was said and done to me.
Given your earlier aggression, you weren’t nice.
However, with the utmost respect, I’m not condemning anyone because I don’t have memories.
I imagine it would be a different story if I did.
Judging people on what others say is unfair, cruel, and weak-minded.
But based on what happened outside, you’re someone I don’t want to know or have around the twins.
That level of hate isn’t welcome in my life.
” With that, and the greatest dignity, I walked away.
Rain
“You did what?” I exclaimed as Polly explained what had happened. Jesus, when would my sisters stop interfering? For goodness sake, I was a grown man. What was their problem? Did they think I wasn’t masculine enough to defend myself?
“Sorry,” Polly muttered, and then began babbling.
If I weren’t getting so riled, I’d be amused; Allegra had handed Polly her ass.
They had no right to keep sticking their noses in.
I just hoped she’d not pissed Allegra off and shoved her into running again.
I was stuck at work, which stopped me from sorting this out. Polly’s timing was always shit.
“Polly, I’ve got to return to work. Let me warn you, if you’ve fucked this up, we’re having serious words.”
“Rain—”
“No, I’m too angry,” I replied and cut the line.
I was unsure whether to phone Allegra, but decided against it.
Hopefully, we’d speak after work. Right now, there was a meeting about yesterday’s incidents.
We’d been told to meet in the small conference room at one, and lunch would also be provided.
I was rather surprised. My old company never communicated or did things like this.
ENS, however corporate they might be, treated the staff well.
Far better than most companies in the States, for certain.
I entered the conference room and took a seat. A woman from HR, Ellen, was nearby and nodded at me. “Doctor Wright, how are you?”
“Concerned. Luckily, I’d not taken anything home, but this seems a coordinated attack,” I answered.
“Yes, we felt that way too, and the board agreed. The CEO has ordered several measures to be installed to protect everybody’s safety,” Ellen replied.
“That sounds like good news.”
“It is. The board takes your decision to join us seriously. You and your team are valuable members of the company. The formula you’re working on could revolutionise the treatment of transplant rejection.
It could save hundreds of thousands of lives.
It’s not common knowledge, but my son had a liver transplant.
He needs anti-rejection drugs daily. What you’re working on means that, one day, he might only have to take one tablet a week.
That would bring considerable peace of mind. ”
“Sorry to hear about your son,” I replied. The liver rejection drug was one of several I was working on, but not my secret project—Jelly Bean.
“Don’t be. He’s seven going on seventeen. But in fifteen years, he would be twenty-two and a young man, and able to live easily. Not having to take a tablet every twelve hours will allow him to be normal,” Ellen stated.
“I’ve no clue what normal is, but I understand your sentiment. Ah, here’s Dr Paulson,” I said with a nod.
The leader of my division approached the table and sat, holding a plate of food in his hands. He placed it down and coughed.
Everyone turned to look. There were ten people on my immediate team, all in the drug discovery phase.
We did the initial development, then transitioned to the pre-clinical stage, and monitored the clinical development.
We weren’t just working on one thing; I had several irons in the fire, one of which was extremely close to moving to the pre-clinical stage.
“Afternoon. Dr Kingston has asked me to liaise with you all. I’m sure the rumours have been abounding today, so let’s get to the facts.
Fact one, four of you had break-ins this weekend.
Second, your personal home offices were turned over, and number three, you all work for us.
That’s not coincidence; that’s targeted.
We have no idea what the target was, but we assume it’s something that you’re working on here.
“Consequently, guards will be walking everyone to their cars at night.
They will search them before you leave. I am increasing security at the entrances and exits.
All visits are being cancelled until the situation becomes clearer.
All individuals entering or exiting the building will be searched.
Guards will be outside your lab, and only authorised personnel shall be allowed entry.
Dr Wright, please stay behind at the end to give us the names of those you need admitted.
“If you suspect you’re being followed, drive to a public place, call the police, and create a scene.
I’d rather you be embarrassed than kidnapped.
We are happy to provide security guards at your homes at no cost to you.
We are aware of the significance of Project Jelly Bean and its value, which is why we’re not risking your safety.
If anyone has any issues or concerns, please inform us. ”
I sat back as Dr Paulson glanced around the room before taking a seat and speaking to one of my technicians, who was located next to him.
This was overkill. Something was majorly wrong.