Chapter 97 Damage Control

Professor Davies’s voice dropped, gentler now. "I know this hits you both ways, professionally and personally. But at least hold off until the project’s done. Somebody gets exposed now, the whole thing gets shut down. This was Dr. Thorne’s life’s work."

That last part got through to her. She let go.

Professor Davies closed the email window himself. "Keep the footage. Don’t delete it." He paused. "Did you run into her when you got here?"

"No. She must’ve felt something was off and bailed."

Eira stood and stepped back. Claire quietly pulled her out of the room.

When Dr. Victor Winthrop walked in, all three of them were standing there waiting.

"I heard someone got into your lab data. Any idea who?"

He wasn’t asking like someone trying to get to the bottom of things. He was asking like someone trying to get ahead of the story.

Eira lifted her gaze. "Security here is airtight. Anyone within two kilometers with a phone camera gets stopped and questioned on the spot. Whoever got in and tripped that alarm came from inside this institute. There’s no other way it happens."

"You didn’t see who it was?" His tone turned stern. "Was any data taken?"

"No," Eira said flatly.

He relaxed, just slightly. "Then we’re fine."

If data had actually gotten out, this would’ve turned into a real problem. National security territory.

"You’re not going to look into it, Dr. Winthrop?" Eira kept her voice even.

He paused, then settled back into his usual tone, calm, sure of himself, the kind of voice that expected the conversation to end wherever he decided it would. "An investigation would slow everything down. I’m guessing that’s not what you want either, Dr. Crawford."

Eira met his eyes without flinching.

That look threw him more than he expected.

"That’s enough, then." He’d shown up for exactly one reason, to shut this down before it went any further.

"Dr. Winthrop." Eira’s voice stayed quiet, sharp. "I’d appreciate it if you kept your granddaughter in check."

He froze mid-step, turned back slow, his face going dark. "Don’t throw around accusations you can’t back up."

"It’s not hard to work out," Eira said. "Every project runs its own lab. Leadership can get into any of them, but regular researchers only have access to whatever they’re assigned. I already checked. Everyone on my team has an alibi. Everyone except Serena."

He had nothing to say to that.

Professor Davies stayed quiet, playing dumb on purpose.

Claire had no real say in any of this, but her just standing there added weight to the room anyway.

Victor knew exactly what Eira could do to his granddaughter’s career if she wanted to go there. His face lost all its color.

He didn’t push back. "This ends here." He left.

Claire finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

Professor Davies spoke quietly. "He’ll deal with Serena. That much I know for sure."

--

Serena sat in her grandfather’s office, wound tight as a spring.

She’d worked so hard just to catch someone walking into the inner lab, one glance at the passcode, that’s all she needed. Memorize it, jot it down later, done.

Except they didn’t just lock the door. They wired the whole thing to an alarm.

So nobody gets to touch that data but Dr. Crawford? That’s not leadership, that’s hoarding. Why isn’t anyone calling this out?

The door swung open. Victor walked in.

Serena shot up. "Grandfather."

For the first time since she’d gotten back from her program out in California, he actually raised his voice at her.

"You have any clue what happens if Dr. Crawford reports you for trying to steal classified research? You’re done. I’m done. We’re talking federal espionage charges. Decades, easy."

She flinched. "They don’t even know it was me. And I’m part of this project anyway, how’s that stealing? She’s the one sitting on everything."

"You think the cops are dumb? Those cameras are just decoration? You cut the feed in your own lab and figured that made you invisible?" Victor stared at her like he didn’t recognize his own granddaughter. "So this is what you learned all those years overseas? Taking shortcuts instead of building real skills?"

Her face went hot, anger and shame all tangled up. "How can you talk to me like that? You’re the one who kept pushing me to publish! I rushed it because of Sebastian. I wanted to help him. I wanted us to make you proud."

"I told you to sit on the publication." Victor’s voice sharpened. "This is about the Hale kid, isn’t it?"

Her eyes lit up. "So you’ll actually help him? Back his company for the bid?"

She stepped closer, hope all over her face.

Victor’s expression stayed hard, but Serena knew better. When he was really furious, he went dead quiet, ice cold. This was just noise.

"You’d torch your own future over some guy. What else am I supposed to do?" He sighed. "Besides, I like the kid. Sharp. We’re picking the winner on merit this round, not connections."

"Sorry, Grandfather. I shouldn’t have gone after the core data."

Even with the alarm blaring, she hadn’t panicked. She knew he’d bail her out. The only thing that had her nervous was how mad he’d be about it.

Victor was the one person on the planet Serena actually respected. And feared.

"Dr. Crawford’s genuinely pissed this time," Victor said. "Don’t pull this again. I can’t cover for you twice."

Serena pouted, stayed quiet a beat.

Victor exhaled. "Alright, spit it out. What are you angling for?"

"Can I rep the project at the signing ceremony?" Straight shot, no dancing around it.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Dr. Crawford’s the lead engineer. That spot’s hers. And even without her, it’d go to Professor Davies. Not you."

Her face dropped.

Victor studied her. "You’ll get your turn. I’ll put you front and center, even if it means easing Professor Davies out. Guy’ll probably be relieved, honestly, hand the torch off, retire early, play golf, whatever old professors do with their free time."

"Isn’t that kind of cold? He’s senior."

She wasn’t totally shameless about it. What actually bugged her was watching someone her own age outshine her at every turn, especially after getting frozen out of this project from day one.

But bigger than that, she’d already told Alpha Sebastian she was running point here. No way she could lose face in front of him now.

"Cold how?" Victor waved her off. "Guy’s only got his title because he’s smooth and married into money. Take that away and he’s nobody. Someone like Dr. Thorne, who actually built something from scratch, that’s one in a million. Don’t lump the two together."

Something clicked behind Serena’s eyes. She smiled, sugar sweet. "Got it. Thanks, Grandfather. No more trouble, I promise, scout’s honor."

"Once this wraps, I’ll bump you up to something better. Eira won’t want you anywhere near her crew, but without this project backing her, she’s not exactly untouchable either."

Victor shot her one last look, warning written all over it. "Stay in your lane. Stick to the plan. Your future’s solid if you don’t blow it."

"Thank you, Grandfather." She looped her arm through his. "Sebastian taught me how to make noodles from scratch. Let me cook for you tonight."

They walked out together, chatting easy.

And ran straight into Professor Davies, Claire, and Eira coming down the hall.

Face to face.

Serena’s eyes locked on the woman in the middle.

Finally.

Never got that photo last time. Now here she was, in the flesh.

Serena clocked her top to bottom. Tall. Sharp dressed. Put together.

But something felt off.

Why does she look so familiar?