Chapter 95 The Stolen Formula
[Nyx]
He paused. "An enhanced healing compound. Revolutionary concept, but the team could never solve the critical flaw—severe side effects from compound degradation."
He pulled out another document. "The base molecular structure is nearly identical to Apex's formula."
My blood ran cold as I compared the two documents side by side.
"They stole her research," I breathed.
"That's what I suspect." Alexander's expression darkened. "But here's what doesn't make sense—your mother spent years trying to solve the stability problem and never succeeded. She documented every failed attempt." He gestured to the thick stack of research notes. "Yet somehow, NorthStar not only solved it, but perfected it enough to launch a commercially successful product with zero reported side effects."
I stared at the documents. "How is that possible?"
"That's the question." Alexander adjusted his glasses. "Either they found a breakthrough Diana never had access to, or they discovered something completely different that allowed them to bypass the problem entirely."
"Or they're hiding something," I said slowly. "Side effects that haven't manifested yet, or—"
"Or they have access to research your mother didn't." Alexander's voice dropped. "Nyx, the timeline bothers me. Diana died five years ago. NorthStar launches Apex now, fully stable, commercially viable. What happened in those five years?"
I looked down at the Legal report again. NorthStar funneling money to Phoenix Lab on Rebirth Isle.
"Tonight's meeting," I said. "I want Dr. Mitchell there. She worked directly with my mother on Project Lunar—if anyone can figure out how they solved what Diana couldn't, it's her."
"You want to reverse-engineer Apex?"
"I want to understand the science." My jaw tightened. "Bring everything—Diana's complete Project Lunar files, whatever intelligence we can gather on Apex's formula, current market analysis. And see if we can acquire samples for chemical testing."
"If we can figure out their breakthrough—"
"Then we'll know whether they legitimately solved the problem or if they're using something dangerous." I met his eyes. "And either way, we'll know the truth about what they did with my mother's research."
Alexander nodded grimly. "I'll make the arrangements. Nineteen hundred hours, core team only."
After he left, I sat alone with my mother's research portfolio. Ran my fingers over her handwriting, the failed formulas, the desperate notes trying to solve an impossible problem.
What did they find, Mom? What piece of the puzzle were you missing?
And where the hell did NorthStar get the answer?
---
At 18:45, I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of Conference Room A, watching the city lights flicker on against the darkening sky. Behind me, the team was assembling—Alexander setting up his laptop, Dr. Mitchell arranging file folders, the Legal and IT heads murmuring in low voices.
All people who'd worked with my mother. All people I could trust.
"Chairman." Mia appeared at my elbow. "Everyone's here. Should I seal the room?"
"Do it. And activate the jammers. No signals in or out."
She nodded and pressed a code into the wall panel. A soft hum filled the air as the electromagnetic shielding engaged. Whatever we discussed in here would stay here.
I turned to face the table.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice." I moved to the head of the conference table, where my mother's chair used to sit. "What we discuss tonight is classified at the highest level. If anyone feels uncomfortable with that, leave now."
No one moved.
"Good." I nodded to Alexander. "Let's begin."
He pulled up the first slide—a financial flowchart showing the money trail.
"Over the past three years, Raymond Hartwell embezzled approximately thirty-seven million dollars from Eclipse Pharmaceuticals. The money was funneled through shell companies—primarily NorthStar Supply Co.—before reaching its final destination: Phoenix Laboratory Ltd. on Rebirth Isle."
Dr. Mitchell's face darkened. "The exile islands? Why would they—"
"We don't know yet," I cut in. "But there's a connection." I gestured to Alexander. "Show them."
He pulled up the next slide—research notes side by side with what little intelligence we'd gathered on NorthStar's Apex formula.
"Project Lunar," Dr. Mitchell breathed, leaning forward. "Diana's project."
"My mother didn't conduct the research herself," I clarified. "She studied at business school, not biochemistry. But as Eclipse's CEO, she assembled a team of the world's leading experts on werewolf cellular biology and enhancement compounds. She funded the project, directed the research priorities, but the actual scientific work was done by specialists she recruited from across the globe."
I paused. "You were one of them, Dr. Mitchell."
She nodded slowly. "Diana brought together brilliant minds. We were working on revolutionary concepts—accelerated healing, enhanced regeneration. But we hit a wall. The compound triggered irreversible shifting. Test subjects couldn't return to human form."
"And my mother shut down human trials because of it," I said. "She refused to continue with something that could trap people permanently in wolf form."
"The base molecular structure of Apex is nearly identical to what our team developed," Alexander confirmed, pulling up the comparison. "Which brings us to why you're here, Dr. Mitchell." I met her eyes. "We managed to acquire samples of Apex. I need you to analyze it. Figure out how they solved the problem our team couldn't."
Dr. Mitchell's expression shifted to professional focus. "You want a full chemical breakdown?"
"I want to know their secret." My voice hardened. "My mother assembled the best scientific minds in the werewolf world. They couldn't solve the stability problem. Yet somehow NorthStar perfected it within a few years of her death?"
"I'll need time," Dr. Mitchell said slowly. "Full spectrum analysis, cellular testing—"
"You have forty-eight hours." I pushed a secure case across the table toward her. "Everything you need is in there. Work in the private lab on the fifteenth floor. Tell no one."
She nodded, already opening the case to examine the vials inside.
The meeting continued for another hour—Legal outlining the criminal case against Raymond, IT discussing security protocols, Alexander presenting market analysis. But my attention kept drifting back to Dr. Mitchell, who had pulled out a portable analyzer and was already running preliminary tests on the Apex samples.