Chapter 38 38
Maisie's Pov
By the time the clock struck one, my spine was straight and my emotions were locked nearly where no one could reach them.
“It's time.” I told Clyde in a stern voice I don't recognize as mine.
He looked up from his tablet and nodded. “Let's go.”
As the car pulled into the road, I adjusted my blazer and glanced at him. “If you struggle with any questions in there, let me answer.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “Yes, ma'am.”
Dominion Industries rose ahead of us in a heap of glass, steel and arrogance stacked into one towering structure.
The driver stepped out first and opened the door. Clyde exited, followed by Emma and me. Our bodyguards moved swiftly, forming a quiet barrier as we walked inside.
The moment we entered the building, heads turned.
Whispers followed us like shadows.
“Isn't that Clyde Monroe?”
"He's even taller in person."
"I don't like him. He's always after small companies.”
“I have a feeling this merger is just a ruse to buy Alpha Xavier's shares.”
“Clyde is a dangerous man. I don't know why the boss agreed to meet with him.”
I ignored their whispers and kept my gaze forward. We didn't owe any of them reassurance.
One of them made a nasty comment and I almost retorted when I saw them — Xavier and Roman.
Xavier's smile was wide as he pulled Clyde into a hug. “Welcome to Dominion Industries.”
“Thank you,” Clyde replied smoothly.
Xavier led us towards a private elevator.
The doors slid shut behind us — Xavier, Roman, Clyde, Emma, and me inside. Our bodyguards took the other one.
“I notice you didn't bring them along,’ Xavier said lightly.
Clyde smiled. “I have a lot of enemies. Can't be too careful these days.”
Xavier chuckled, though his shoulders stiffened.
I stood at the back. Roman was there too. I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to look at him.
Electricity tingle ran down my spine when I felt his fingers brush against mine. It was brief but it was also dangerous. I moved away immediately, stuffing my hands into my trouser pockets.
I knew he'd notice. I knew he'd be upset but I couldn't afford to be distracted right now. Not when I had my eyes on my target.
The elevator doors opened and we all exited.
It took a few minutes trip to Xavier's office and I avoided Roman's gaze the whole way.
Once we were all seated, Xavier leaned back in his Italian swivel chair. “Now that our companies are merged, it's time to restore Dominion's image as a global tech leader
Clyde nodded. “Agreed.”
“Our next move,” Clyde continued, “is to revive one of your abandoned projects.”
Xavier laughed. “You must be joking.”
“Healer,” Clyde said calmly.
Xavier's smile vanished. “That project failed.”
“I'm not laughing,” Clyde replied.
Xavier pushed his chair back. “Healer was a black hole. I invested millions. Thousands of medical professionals. It failed.”
“You invested blindly,” Clyde countered.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?!” Xavier snapped, pushing off his chair but Roman was to grab his arm, steadying him.
That was when I spoke.
“You went after popularity,” I said. “Not genius.”
Xavier turned to me. “Excuse me?”
“Alfie Solomons, Jeremiah Johnson, Brent Williams, M. C. Shayla.” I listed the names off by heart.
He frowned. “Who are they?”
“Scientists the internet doesn't know about,” I said. “They've cured viruses bigger institutions failed to touch.”
I paused. “One of them worked on the Red Howl virus.”
His face paled. I could tell he remembered the name of the virus. It was the virus that killed our daughter.
I continued, voice steady. “The project failed because you chased people with followers. Real intelligence doesn't trend.”
Silence stretched across the room.
“Can I think about it?” Xavier asked finally.
“No,” I replied.
He stiffened.
“Our competitors are already moving,” I said. “Delay means defeat.”
Roman spoke then. “She's right.”
Xavier sighed. “Fine. We revive Healer.”
Clyde smiled. “You'll see the results.”
Xavier turned to me. “Where did you learn to convince people like that?”
“College,” I said.
He chuckled and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Sure.” Then he sat up and smiled. “We should head out to lunch to celebrate our work in progress.”
Clyde was the first to speak and he read my mind. “Lunch sounds like a wonderful idea but I'm sorry but I'd have to decline. I have a business meeting to attend.”
“Well, that sucks,” Xavier chuckled then turned to me. “What about you, Chloe? Care for lunch?”
I gave him a polite smile even though I wanted to sock him in the eye for calling my fake name in a very flirty tone.
“Thank you but I'll be joining my boss for a meeting.” I said, still holding my smile but I could feel it slipping.
Xavier straightened. “Oh, I see.”
I'm sure you do.
“We'll update you when we begin production.” Clyde said, already rising to his feet. Emma and I joined him up.
“Great.” Xavier said with a smile but I could tell it was forced. He wasn't happy about the declined invitation to lunch.
“Shall we?” Clyde turned to me and I gave him a nod.
Xavier joined us up and stuffed his hand in his pockets. “Mind if I join ?”
Together, we left Xavier's office.
The bodyguard escorted us outside to where our car had already been turned around.
We got into the car and it began to move.
Inside the car, I turned to Clyde. “Contact the scientists please.”
“Operation Revive Healer is a go.” Emma announced from the passenger seat. “And honestly, it is really cool. A device that can detect any illness and cure it.”
“Any illness huh?” Clyde trailed off, then he looked at me slowly. “Did you choose to revive the Healer Project because of Aria?”
I didn't answer. Instead, I stared out the window.
I remembered that night Xavier kicked me out of the car. Even when I'd told him Aria wasn't breathing, he'd left me on the roadside and driven to Kylie and Howard. I remember running barefoot to the pack's clinic. I remember hearing it's too late.
“Maisie?” Clyde called my name softly but I didn't answer. I clenched my fists and typed a message to one of my contacts.
Me : Can Red Howl be weaponized?
The reply came instantly.
Dr. Greg : Good day, ma'am. Yes, it is possible. The Red Howl virus can be weaponized.
Good. I put my phone away.
The virus that killed my daughter… will kill Xavier too.
And this time, no one would stop me.