Chapter 10 Lunar Spectrum
Briar's POV
Then I saw Owen standing behind Kai with the most obsequious smile I'd ever seen plastered across his face, and I felt the blood drain from my head. My vision swam and I had to lock my knees to keep from swaying.
I forced myself to straighten my shoulders and arrange my face into something resembling professional composure. "I apologize for the interruption," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I came to the wrong room."
I turned to leave but Owen's voice rang out behind me. "Don't leave, Briar! Since you're already here, come say hello to Mr. Stone!"
I stopped mid-step, my hand already on the door handle. Every instinct was screaming at me to get out immediately.
Something flew through the air toward me and I flinched, but whatever it was hit the wall beside the door with a sharp crack. The overhead lights went out instantly and the room plunged into darkness.
Everyone went silent. I could hear my own breathing and the faint rustle of fabric as someone stood from the sofa.
Then something soft and heavy dropped over my head and shoulders, enveloping me in darkness and the scent of expensive cologne mixed with whiskey. Lucian's voice came from directly in front of me, low and quiet.
"Put the jacket on properly. I'm turning the lights back on."
My hands caught the fabric automatically and I realized with horror that my dress was torn worse than I thought. The entire back was hanging open and one shoulder was completely exposed. If the lights had stayed on, everyone would have seen half my bare skin.
I fumbled with the jacket and my nose bumped directly into Lucian's chest. I jerked backward immediately, nearly tripping.
Lucian made a sound that might have been a laugh. He stepped back, maintaining careful distance, not asking questions about what had happened.
"I'll walk you out," he said quietly.
The lights flickered back on and I clutched his jacket tighter, keeping my head down as he guided me toward the door. We were almost there when someone knocked and the door swung open.
Devon stood in the doorway with Sienna right behind him in a different dress. Her eyes went straight to me. "What kind of outfit is this? Can't sell your products so now you're trying to sell sympathy instead?"
I stepped aside, pressing myself against the wall and keeping the jacket pulled tight. Devon gave me a small nod as he passed, his expression neutral.
I immediately realized Montgomery Medical Group and Apex Bio-Solutions had already arranged this partnership. The timing, the seating arrangement, Kai's lack of reaction—it all pointed to a deal that had been in the works for weeks.
I started toward the door but Owen's hand shot out and grabbed my arm right where Chad had dug his fingers in earlier. Pain flared hot and sharp up to my shoulder and I sucked in a breath through my teeth.
Lucian's head turned immediately and his eyes locked onto Owen's hand on my arm. His gaze was sharp and cold and something dangerous flickered behind those gray-green irises.
Owen didn't seem to notice. He was too busy pulling a small plastic bottle out of the bag he had been carrying and holding it up like it was some kind of prize. The bottle was filled with a pale blue liquid that glowed faintly under the fluorescent lights.
Lucian leaned slightly to the side, his attention shifting to the bottle with what looked like genuine curiosity.
"This is a sample of our company's new product," Owen announced to the entire room, his voice filled with excitement that made me want to sink through the floor. "It glows in several different colors! Blue, green, and purple!"
I watched in growing horror as every person in that room fought to keep their expressions neutral. Several of them were visibly biting the insides of their cheeks. Sienna even threw her head back and laughed out loud. "Briar, did your research team lose their minds? Why would anyone create a sedative that glows in three different colors? Is this for werewolves or for Christmas trees?"
My brain completely shut down. I stood there staring at Owen and the glowing bottle and Sienna's delighted face and I couldn't form a single coherent thought.
Owen bristled and turned to glare at Sienna. "That comment just proves how shallow your knowledge really is. I suggest you stop talking before you embarrass yourself further."
Sienna's laughter cut off abruptly and her eyes narrowed. "You're the one embarrassing yourself. Look at what you brought here—some cheap gimmick that glows in the dark. Did you really think anyone would take this seriously?"
"Sienna," Devon said quietly from his seat, but she ignored him.
"This is pathetic," she continued, her voice rising. "Vance Botanicals is so desperate they're bringing novelty toys to a business summit. No wonder you're failing."
The other investors and business leaders in the room were looking at Owen and me with expressions ranging from pity to outright contempt. I felt the weight of their judgment pressing down on me and suddenly I was back in Julian's office with his hand around my throat and his voice in my ear telling me that I would never be anything more than what he allowed me to be.
Something hot and furious rose up in my chest. I had spent an entire year letting Julian dictate the terms of my existence, letting him set the rules and define the boundaries of what I was allowed to do. I had been playing his game by his rules and it had gotten me nowhere except deeper into debt and closer to losing everything.
Why did I have to keep following his script? Why did I have to accept that the only options were the ones he gave me?
If I was already at rock bottom with nowhere left to fall, then what did I have to lose by taking a swing at the people standing on top?
I stepped forward and snatched the glowing bottle out of Owen's hand before he could react. Every eye in the room turned to me and I felt Selene stir inside my mind, feeding me her reckless confidence.
"This is actually part of a new series we're developing," I said, my voice coming out steadier than I felt. "We're calling it Lunar Spectrum."
I walked slowly around the table, holding the bottle up so everyone could see it clearly.
"This particular formula is our Moon Phase Sedative," I continued, making it up as I went. "The color-changing properties are designed to help werewolves track their emotional regulation cycles. Blue indicates a calming effect is active, green shows when the formula is metabolizing, and purple signals when it's time for the next dose."
I reached into the bag Owen had brought and pulled out another sample bottle, this one filled with a greenish liquid that also glowed faintly. "We also have a Full Moon Sleep Aid in development, which uses a similar tracking system to help werewolves manage insomnia during high-stress lunar phases."
I looked directly at Sienna. "And we're currently working on a New Moon Anxiety Relief formula specifically designed for younger werewolves who struggle with emotional control during their first shifts."
I turned back to Kai and said, "I know Apex is looking for partners who can help expand into new application areas. I'm hoping you'll consider Vance Botanicals as a potential collaborator."
Kai's eyebrows rose and he glanced sideways at Lucian, who was now staring down at his whiskey glass with intense concentration.
"We don't have many advantages," I admitted, "but we are an established brand with decades of experience in plant extraction technology. We have a loyal customer base in the mid-tier market and our production costs are significantly lower than most competitors."
Several of the investors were now looking at Kai expectantly. Devon had leaned back in his chair and was watching me with what might have been respect. Sienna just looked angry.
Kai opened his mouth to respond but before he could speak, Lucian set his whiskey glass down on the table with a sharp bang.
Kai's expression changed immediately. "You make some interesting points. We're always interested in partnerships that can help us reach new demographics. I'd like to hear more about your ideas. We can discuss this in more detail later."