Chapter 106 The Background Check

Eira shut the lab door behind them.

"Data’s clean," she said. "Nothing missing."

Davies gave her a look, half-impressed, half-spooked. "Since when do you lie that well?"

"Since last month. Lots of practice."

Claire rushed over. "Professor, what’d Dr. Victor Winthrop want?"

Davies opened his mouth to dodge it.

"It’s about Serena," Eira cut in. "And the signing ceremony."

Davies blinked.

"She’s been telling Sebastian she’s running this project. No spotlight at the ceremony, her whole story falls apart." Eira crossed her arms. "And she’s been using this project to pump up her resume from day one."

"You’re right," Davies muttered.

Claire’s jaw dropped. "She’s been talking about the project? She signed an NDA!"

"Kept it vague. Just enough to dodge the fine print."

"Classic," Davies said. "Half a dozen projects in this field she could be hinting at. Nobody can pin her down."

"That’s such crap," Claire snapped.

"You say yes to him?" Eira asked.

"Not yet. He’s waiting."

Claire frowned. "Yes to what?"

"Later." Eira turned to Davies, dead serious.

"Say yes."

He stared at her.

"Tell him no, he’ll make your life hell. Just play ball for now." She headed for the door. "I’ve got this handled."

--

Davies sat on the request all evening, didn’t cave until right before bed. Made the yes look a lot more genuine.

Alpha Victor set his phone down, turned to a staff member. "How’s Serena been?"

"Mostly holed up in her room or the study, Alpha. Only comes out to eat." The woman kept her eyes down, chin tucked, the posture settling into her shoulders before she’d even finished the sentence.

"Not even the garden?" He frowned.

She shook her head, caught the edge in his voice and swallowed against it, throat working once.

"Where is she now?"

"Her room, Alpha."

He headed upstairs, knocked.

Inside, Serena was on the phone. "Who is it?"

"Me." Alpha Victor’s voice cut through the door, no mistaking it.

She didn’t open up right away. "Grandpa’s here. Call you back." Voice went soft. "Love you, Seb. Talk soon."

Hung up, crossed the room, opened the door, pout locked and loaded.

"Still sulking?"

"Wouldn’t dare be mad at you, Grandpa." Just enough spoiled-favorite-grandkid sass to sell it. Alpha Victor didn’t blink. Raised her himself. Knew the act by heart.

She stepped aside, let him in.

He scanned the mess. Clothes everywhere. Books dumped across the desk. "A grown woman ought to keep her room together."

Serena scooped an armful of clothes, dumped them on a maid standing nearby.

The maid caught them without a word, dropped her gaze, and got to work fast, spine curved just slightly, careful never to turn her back fully on either of them.

Alpha Victor turned on her. "Why isn’t anyone cleaning in here?"

The maid’s hands stilled for half a second, scent of nerves sharp enough that even Serena caught it from across the room.

Whole house knew the rule: Serena was untouchable. Nobody wanted to be the one who screwed that up.

Not that they refused. She just never opened the door. Nobody was breaking it down.

"Grandpa, I told them to stay out," Serena said fast. "Not their fault."

He let it slide. The maid’s shoulders dropped an inch, breath easing out slow through her nose. Thank God the girl wasn’t the type to sell people out.

Serena caught her grandfather’s look, knew something was coming. Waved the staff off, shut the door.

"What’s up? It’s late."

"The bid meeting. Professor Davies caved."

"Seriously?" Her eyes lit up, a flicker of gold cutting through before settling back to brown. "He’s handing me his spot?"

She knew exactly what that meant. Standing where Davies stood, that’s a career-launcher. Especially at her age.

But her age was exactly the problem.

"Grandpa, what if someone asks questions? Press is covering the signing."

He waved it off. "Professor Davies already has the story straight. Says you’re a rising star, time to give young talent the stage. Guy’s built his whole reputation on mentoring. Fits him like a glove."

"He said that? Exact words?"

"Yes. And listen." He kept going. "You’ve got the résumé. Published papers, projects overseas. Anyone pushes back, that’s your answer. Nothing shady here. I’m good, not a magician. No skills, no spot, simple as that. Someone digs too deep, I’m the one holding the bag too."

She smiled, closed the distance. "Thanks, Grandpa. Always got my back."

"Then quit moping like I did you dirty."

"Wasn’t moping." She hooked her arm through his, gave it a shake, same trick she’d pulled since she was five. Still worked every time. His stern face cracked, softened right up.

"That was the Sebastian kid on the phone just now, wasn’t it?"

"Yeah." Serena nodded, cheeks going pink, pulse ticking up loud enough he didn’t need to ask twice.

Alpha Victor studied her for a second, curious about what kind of man could keep his granddaughter’s attention for so long.

"Four years abroad, and he waited around the whole time?"

"He did. Flew out every year for my birthday too. Never told you." Serena bit her lip. "Didn’t want you thinking I was distracted, not focused on my work. Sebastian kept his distance too, didn’t blow up my phone. But whenever I needed him, he showed up. Every single time."

Alpha Victor nodded slow, something like approval flickering across his face.

"And in those four years, he didn’t get tangled up with anyone else?"

Serena froze for half a beat.

Then shook her head, firm. "No way. Sebastian wouldn’t look twice at anyone else." She paused. "He told me if he ever has kids, he only wants them with me."

Alpha Victor’s eyebrows shot up. "You two aren’t even married. Haven’t met each other’s families properly. And you’re already talking kids?"

He frowned, clearly not thrilled with the idea.

Serena, meanwhile, had a totally different take. She’d actually been running the math on this for a while. Get pregnant, and Sebastian marries her. She’d bet money on it.

Guy was responsible to a fault. Part of why he’d dragged his feet on the divorce, as far as she knew, was some guilt trip about not wanting to just cut Eira loose.

But a baby changes everything.

They hadn’t used protection last time. Almost a month now. If her period didn’t show in the next few days, she’d swing by the hospital, get it confirmed.