⊰ 25 ⊱ A Stolen Moment
As I step into the lab, a sense of finality settles over me. This is it, the last time I’ll be working with Ben and Pablo on the drone project. A part of me feels a twinge of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to this little haven of science and innovation, but I know it’s for the best. Marcel and I are finally in a good place, and I don’t want anything to jeopardize that.
*Just one more month. One more month and this will all be over…right?*
While I’m now more hopeful of where Marcel and I stand, there’s the lingering thought, the creeping fear of time running out. I have no idea how close they are to finding Luciano, let alone what the plan is to get rid of him.
*Trust him. Trust Marcel. He said he’ll get it done. It’ll get done.*
“Hey guys,” I greet Ben and Pablo, forcing a cheerful note into my voice as I make my way to the lab table. “I just wanted to stop by and check on the calculations for the new drone model…for old time’s sake.”
Ben glances up from his computer, his green eyes meeting mine. There’s something different about his gaze, a heaviness that wasn’t there before. He’s been acting strangely since the night of my birthday party, when we had that…moment in the lab. I thought he was about to kiss me, but Marcel interrupted before anything could happen…thankfully.
Since then, there’s been an awkward tension between us, and frankly, I’ve been too afraid to confront him about it so I’ve been pretending whatever was there that night isn’t *really* there. It was just my imagination, my momentary lapse in judgment.
“Sure thing, Mercy,” Pablo says, sliding a folder across the table to me. “The first pair are still running smoothly, and we’ve made some tweaks based on the feedback from the last test of the new model. I think we’re really close to perfecting the design.”
I nod, flipping through the pages of complex equations and technical diagrams. As always, I’m struck by the brilliance of their work, the intricacy and precision of the calculations.
*I wonder what’ll happen to all of this once Luciano is gone.*
…
*Probably remain government property to be used somewhere else.*
“This looks great,” I murmur, my finger tracing over a particularly elegant formula. “Just gonna double-check the power distribution algorithms, make sure we’re optimizing the battery life, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
Pablo offers me a small smile, nodding before averting his gaze back to his computer.
I lose myself in the numbers for a while, my mind whirring with possibilities and potential improvements. It’s a familiar rhythm, a comforting routine that I’ve come to cherish over the past few months.
*To whoever picks this up after me…I’m so jealous of you.*
As I continue to work, I can’t shake the feeling of Ben’s eyes on me, the weight of his gaze prickling at the back of my neck. I glance up, catching him looking away quickly, a faint flush coloring his cheeks.
*What’s going on with him?*
Suddenly, Pablo stands, stretching his arms above his head. “Gonna hit the restroom real quick,” he says, his voice casual. “Be right back.”
Before I can respond, he’s gone, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him unnaturally loud in the stillness. Silence stretches in the room, heavy and awkward, the only sound the gentle hum of machines.
For a moment, neither Ben nor I speak, the air between us thick with tension. I keep my eyes fixed on the printed sheets with copies of the blueprint and the equations, my gaze flying over the paper, desperate for a distraction.
*Do I really want to end this on an awkward note?*
…
*Fuck me.*
I clear my throat, trying to break the tension. “I’m really going to miss working with you guys,” I say softly, my gaze flickering to Ben’s. “This project, it’s been…it’s meant a lot to me.”
Ben frowns, his brows furrowing. “Why are you stopping now?” he asks, a note of confusion in his voice. “We’re so close to finishing this new model. And…this might all be over soon anyway.”
I sigh, setting down the folder. “It’s for the best,” I explain, my voice gentle but firm. “I wasn’t supposed to stick around this long anyway. And with everything going on with Marcel…”
I trail off, shaking my head, unable to put into words the complicated tangle of emotions that knots in my chest whenever I think of my husband and the fragile peace we’ve managed to forge.
I offer him a small, sad smile. “I’ll miss you both, though. Hopefully, when all of this is over, maybe we’ll see each other again.”
Ben doesn’t respond, his gaze intense, his jaw clenched. There’s a strange tension in the air, a heaviness that makes my skin prickle.
Then, before I can even process what’s happening, he’s moving, crossing the distance between us in two long strides.
His hands cup my face, his skin warm, slightly rough against mine. Without warning, he’s leaning in, his lips pressing against mine in a sudden, impulsive kiss.
I freeze, my eyes widening in shock. For a moment, I’m too stunned to react, my mind reeling as I try to process what’s happening. Then, reality crashes over me like a bucket of ice water, and I’m shoving him away, stumbling back, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Ben, no,” I gasp, my voice shaking. “What… w-why would you do that?”
He blinks, seeming to come back to himself, realization and regret flickering across his face. He opens his mouth, an apology forming on his lips, but before he can speak, the sound of the door opening cuts through the tension, shattering the moment like a hammer through glass.
Pablo steps into the room, his eyes darting between us, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Everything okay?” he asks, his voice tinged with concern.
I can’t answer. I can’t even look at him. All I can feel is the panic rising in my throat, the sickening realization of what just happened, of what it could mean. If Marcel finds out about this, if he thinks I’ve betrayed him…it could ruin everything we’ve just barely begun to rebuild.
*How could he do this? How could he put me in a position like this?*
Without a word, I’m moving, my feet carrying me to the door. I push past Pablo, ignoring his startled shout and the sound of Ben calling my name.
*I can’t be around him. I have to get away from him.*
I’m so lost in my own thoughts, my rising fear, that I don’t see Alessandra until I’ve nearly run her over. She stumbles back, her hand resting protectively on the gentle swell of her belly and her eyes wide with surprise.
“Hey!” she exclaims, steadying herself against the wall.
I blink, trying to focus on her face, the concern etched into her delicate features. “I’m sorry,” I breathe out. “I-I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t see you.”
Alessandra hesitates, studying me for a long moment. “It’s okay,” she finally says. For a moment, I can’t think, and she notices, her eyebrows furrowing. “You okay?”
*I don’t know.*
“I’m fine,” I mumble, my voice sounding distant and hollow to my own ears.
She frowns, her gaze searching my face. “Mercy… I wanted to apologize. For what I said at your party… it was completely out of line. I’m sorry. I’m just…hormonal.” She chuckles awkwardly, shrugging slightly. “Bitchy and hormonal.”
I nod, barely registering her words. My mind is still reeling, still trying to process what just happened with Ben, the potential fallout if Marcel were to find out.
*Maybe I should just tell him. Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do?*
“It’s okay,” I murmur, my voice flat and lifeless. “I’m just… I’m tired, Alessandra. It’s been a long day. Can we talk later?”
Again, her brows furrow, her gaze sweeping over me, taking in my disheveled appearance, the tears still glistening in my eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she presses gently. “You look upset.”
I force a brittle smile, shaking my head. “I’m fine. Really. Just need to go lay down.”
She nods, a flicker of understanding crossing her face. She knows she’s in no position to push, not after what happened just a few nights ago.
“Okay,” she says softly, taking a step back. “I’ll see you around, Mercy.”
With that, she turns and walks away, leaving me alone in the hallway, my heart pounding, my mind racing.
*Why can’t I catch a fucking break?*
…
*I swear… I’m gonna be in therapy for the rest of my life.*