Chapter 57 The Photograph Sterling Group Headquarters

The next morning, Eira arrived at work as usual.

Most of the executive floor was busy with Sterling Group’s proposal for the Sovereign Processor Initiative. Eira was not part of the bid team, so she spent the morning arranging Alpha Killian’s business trip.

It was her first time planning an executive trip. She reviewed his previous schedules, confirmed the flights and meetings, then built a tight itinerary around them.

Every hour had a purpose.

When she finished, she emailed the schedule to Alpha Killian and submitted a request to leave that afternoon.

Half an hour passed without a response.

Eira walked to his office and knocked.

Alpha Killian looked up from his computer. For a moment, he simply stared at her.

"Come in."

"Alpha Killian, I submitted a request for this afternoon. I need to leave by one."

"Where are you going?"

The question left his mouth before he could stop it.

Eira waited.

Alpha Killian remembered his mother’s warning and looked back at his screen.

"Never mind. Log it as personal leave."

"Thank you."

She turned to go.

Alpha Killian watched her leave, annoyed by how much effort it took not to ask again.

--

Shortly before lunch, Alpha Killian passed the break room and heard Eira speaking quietly on the phone.

"Do you think Victor Winthrop is trying to pressure me because Dr. Thorne isn’t here anymore?"

Alpha Killian slowed.

Eira listened for a moment.

"I understand. I’ll be at the institute by two."

She ended the call and turned around. Alpha Killian stood a few feet away with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Alpha Killian."

She slipped her phone into her bag and headed for the door.

"Wait."

Eira stopped.

"If this meeting has anything to do with your work here, tell me," Alpha Killian said. "Sterling’s legal team can handle any outside pressure."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"You heard me?"

"Enough."

"This is a personal matter."

Alpha Killian studied her face.

"Then I won’t interfere. But if anyone tries to use Sterling Group against you, let me know."

Eira had expected questions. She had not expected him to respect the line she had drawn.

"Thank you."

Alpha Killian nodded toward her bag. "Your schedule for my trip is finished?"

"Yes. The itinerary and flight details are in your inbox."

"Good."

He returned to his office and opened her email.

The schedule was clear, accurate, and painfully efficient. She had booked an overnight flight, followed by a breakfast meeting less than an hour after he landed.

There was no time to rest.

Alpha Killian stared at the screen.

She had arranged the trip as if sleep were optional.

Then again, he had delayed her resignation paperwork and made her handle a job she had never wanted.

Perhaps he had earned this schedule.

--

Silix Institute, 1:30 p.m.

Eira arrived at the institute half an hour before the meeting. The autumn wind cut through her coat as she crossed the entrance plaza.

She completed the retinal scan, stepped inside, and took a mask from her bag. After putting it on, she tied her hair into a low ponytail.

Professor Davies was waiting in the lobby.

"This meeting is about Serena," he said as they walked toward his office. "I’d bet money on it."

Ever since the gala, he had stopped calling her Dr. Winthrop outside formal meetings.

"She already has a role in the project," Eira said. "What else does she want?"

"Publication credit."

Eira frowned.

The Sovereign Processor Initiative was classified, but several related papers had been approved for public release. Serena had already been listed as a senior consultant despite her limited contribution.

"She’s already ahead of half the team on the author list," Eira said. "What does she want now? First authorship?"

Professor Davies did not answer at once.

He could not rule it out.

"She won’t get it," he said. "Your name has already been submitted as first author. I made sure of that."

"Good. If Victor tries to give Serena credit for my work, I’ll file a formal complaint and step down as technical lead."

Professor Davies glanced at her. "You’d really leave?"

"I won’t let someone else claim research they didn’t do."

He could not argue with that.

When they entered his office, Professor Davies closed the door behind them.

"There’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask," he said. "Is your divorce final?"

"Not yet. The dissolution agreement has been signed. We’re waiting for the Pack Registry to issue the certificate."

"At least Sebastian signed it."

Eira noticed the edge in his voice.

"It’s fine."

"No, it isn’t." Professor Davies frowned. "You spent years cooking for him, managing the house, and taking care of his parents and sister. Meanwhile, he was flying overseas to see Serena."

Eira went still.

She knew Sebastian had sent Serena money every year. She had not known about the trips.

"He went to see her?"

Professor Davies’s expression changed. "You didn’t know?"

"No."

He hesitated before answering.

"More than once. I thought you knew."

Eira looked toward the window.

Of course Sebastian had never told her. While she stayed home and kept his life in order, he had been crossing the ocean to see another woman.

The money, the trips, and the years of silence had all been part of the same lie.

Professor Davies watched her carefully. "Eira?"

"I’m fine."

Her voice was calm, but her eyes had turned cold.

A black sedan pulled through the institute’s main gate below. A few minutes later, Serena stepped out and headed toward the entrance.

Eira watched her cross the plaza.

"It looks like Victor didn’t come alone."

Professor Davies joined her by the window and frowned.

"I told him this meeting was limited to authorized participants."

"Serena has temporary access to the administrative wing."

Eira turned away from the window.

"Let her wait."

--

Victor arrived at the institute shortly before two and was taken to a conference room in the administrative wing.

A few minutes later, Serena entered using her temporary project badge. Her clearance allowed her into the administrative area, but not the secure labs.

At the security desk, she smiled at the guard.

"Has Dr. Crawford arrived?"

"Good afternoon, Dr. Winthrop."

He checked her badge but did not answer the question.

Dr. Crawford’s schedule was protected.

Serena kept smiling. "Of course. Security rules."

She walked away before he could ask why she wanted to know.

The administrative hall had a small seating area near the conference rooms. Serena chose a chair with a clear view of the corridor and pretended to read something on her phone.

Ten minutes later, three people appeared at the far end of the hall. Victor’s assistant led the way. Professor Davies followed, with a woman walking beside him.

Serena narrowed her eyes.

Professor Davies blocked most of the woman from view. All Serena could see were plain slacks, flat shoes, and a dark coat. Nothing stood out.

As they came closer, Serena quietly turned off her camera flash and sound.

Professor Davies reached for the conference room door.

Serena raised her phone.

Three quick photos.

The group disappeared inside without looking in her direction.

Serena immediately opened her photo gallery.