“Mr. Chambers, this is thetest batch of Forest Elves Coffee, air–freighted in just this morning Care to give it a try?”
The woman’s slender, pale hands moved with practiced grace over the coffee tray, her barista skills a pleasing sight to the eyes.
Soon, a freshly brewed cup of coffee was gently pushed towards Avery
The aroma wafted through the air, veiled in a misty haze, and the woman named Alexia had a face both radiant and cool, her contradictory features somehow blended harmoniously Her skin was as wless as the finest porcin
Indeed, those in this man’spany were always the cream of the crop, carefully cultivated.
Anyone problematic would have already been cleanly erased from this world
“Thank you, Ms. Alexia,” said Avery, lifting the cup without removing his intense gaze from her face
She had the air of someone he knew
Someone he had loved for a long time, someone he held dear.
“Mr. Chambers, why do you look at me so? Is there something on my face?” Alexia inquired with a light smile
“No, my apologies, Avery quickly averted his gaze, pupils constricting.
Behind the curtain, the man chuckled. “Alexia, you’re <b>too </b>beautiful, that’s all. Everyone has a weakness for beauty. Mr. Chambers, how does Alexiapare to Evadne?”
Avery felt a tightness in his chest, responding carefully, Tm sorry, sir. Ms Alexia is indeed charming, but Evadne is the love of my life. To me, she is unparalleled in beauty, irreceable!
The man sipped his coffee,ughing softly. “Such devotion world well lost”
<i>But</i><i>, </i>M.
Mr. Chambers, surely you’ve heard the saying. All for love, and the
confrontation aboard the ne, his heart still aching.
“Let it be lost then” Avery cl
chuckled bitterly, recalling the intense cor
“Huh, such unlucky words are best left unsaid, Mr. Chambers. Be careful, lest theye true. If you were truly to be ruined by Ms. Evadne, I don’t know if she would suffer, but my boss would certainly be devastated Without you, he would lose a right–hand man, and how would the Helgen business carry on? Finding another speaker as outstanding as you, Mr. Chambers, would be no easy task
Alexia smiled sweetly, a shadow flickering in her eyes, “Ms. Evadne is not only a paragon among women, but she also has men like you and Mr. Thaddeus bending over backwards for her. She is the untouchable rose high on the mountain. This only heightens my anticipation to meet Mr. Chambers dream lover again”
The manughed. “Don’t worry, there wille a time for you to meet her.
Avery paused with <b>his </b>cup at his l*ps, casting a suspicious nce at her.
Again?
Had Alexia met Evadne before?
Impossible
Since he had known her, she <b>had </b><b>always </b>been by the man’s <b>side</b>, never having set foot in the country let alone having any
interaction.
Alexia rose to stand beside the man, moving behind him to massage his shoulders tenderly
“Sir, when do you n to return to Elmsworth?”
Avery’s gaze turned icy, “With Elspeth no longer in y, Thaddeus now towers over the Abernathy Group unchallenged, with no one left to bnce him I fear Mr. Frederic, out of quilt towards them and under Mr. Hamilton’s pressure, might once again yield authority to Thaddeus Wouldn’t that make him unstoppable within the Abernathy <b>Group</b>?<b>” </b>
“Chess” the man’s voice was casual as he moved a piece on the board.
Avery bit his l*p, about to make his move when the man <b>spoke </b>again with a smile, “Mr. Chambers, you seem so eager for my return, is it for my benefit, or to add another ally, another chip to your game? Are you <b>hoping </b>to use me to trip up Thaddeus and win Ms. Evadne?
“No, sir, my loyalty is to you alone!” Avery’s suit soaked with cold sweat as he professed his fidelity
“Helping you isn’t an issue. But I’ve helped you many times, yet there <b>has </b>been no progress between you and Ms. Evadne, only pushing her further away. You must rely on yourself, depending on others <b>is </b>meaningless,” the man spoke like a sage. Didn’t you
09:29
ask for a certain medicine <b>from </b>me before, Mr. Chambers? Haven’t you used it yet?”
Alexsa blinked, seemingly concerned, “If you find it ineffective, ourb has developed a new, more potent drug I believe if used on Ms Evadne, she would bepletelypliant. Even matters of the heart can <b>take </b>shortcuts
Avery’s brow furrowed, gripping the coffee cup tightly
“Alright, Alexia<b>, </b>stop teasing Mr. Chambers,” the man said, returning to the matter at hand. “The dad0044 medication has officially entered the testing phase, but we’ve encountered a small issue”
Avery sat up straight, “Please, tell me
The research institute has invested incalcble funds and <b>manpower </b>in the development of this drug, aiming to lead the world in curing Parkinson’s disease it dad0044 proves sessful, it will be a historic milestone in medicine, with whopping profits”
The breeze stirred the curtains as the man’s voice remained <b>pleasant</b>, “When that timees, all the major families will be beneath me, even purchasing the entire Abernathy Group will be effortless“.
Avery’s eyes shone, leaning forward. “Sic given the link between Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, could dad0044 possibly cure Alzheimer’s as well?”
The man nodded, seeing through his thoughts, Once dad00-44’s research is sessful, curing your mother’s illness will be within teach”
Avery thought of his mother’s long suffering from the disease, now finally glimpsing hope, and his voice trembled with emotion. “Sir,mand me as you will, I shall go through anything in your service
Lounging back with a leisurely sip of his ck coffee, Alex sprawled in the <b>armchair </b>while Avery took the lead in the conversation “<b>We’ve </b>got thetest intel. The Bright Group back home is developing a simr drug and they’re slightly ahead of
“We’ve tried infiltrating their ranks multiple times to extract their research data, but to no <b>avail</b>. It we keep dragging our feet, it’ll mess up the boss’s n. What’s worse, they’ve got state backing if they beat us to the punch,unching this <b>drug </b>into the market, all of the boss’s efforts will be for naught, and the losses will be devastating”
Avery’s brows furrowed deeply. “So Sir, you want me to hinder The Bright Group’s drug development? With all due respect, if you can’t do it, how can I possibly.”
“I need you to push our experiment forward, the man’s voice suddenly turned sharp, devoid of any mirth. “No matter what, dad0044 has to see the light of day before The Bright Group’s version”
Alexia leaned forward, picking up a box from the table and cing it in front of Avery
“To get a drug on the market, it needs to go through countless tests followed by clinical trials. This process can very least, and if unsessful, it could stretch to three or even five years.”
take a year at the
With a cold re, Alexia continued, “<b>What </b>Sir means is that he wants you to take these drugs back and test them directly on living subjects”
“Human trials?” Avery gasped, his throat constricting <b>as </b>if gripped by a <b>giant </b>hand.
“Mr. Chambers, you’re not getting cold feet, are you?” Alexia sneered. I’m well aware of the things you’ve done in Helgen. Now, it’s just about making a few sacrifices for a cause that will benefit generations toe. Can’t you stomach it, Mr. Chambers?”
Avery’s gaze pierced through the woman’s mocking <b>and </b>disdainful expression.
No, she was nothing like Evadne. Evadne <b>was </b>the sole light in his shadowy existence, a beautiful butterfly fitting through his icy abyss of a world.
Evadne was his angel. Alexia was merely a pretty, obedient, and coldly efficient tool found by the <b>boss</b>.
“Alexia, don’t say that. After all, human life is sacred, and it’s only right for Mr. Chambers to have his reservations,” the man said with a warm smile, though an undercurrent of intimidation was palpable.
Avery’s breath deepened, his voice low I will aplish the task you’ve given me, sir.”
“Appreciate it, Mr. Chambers. Once youmence the trials, you’ll need people to document the data and monitor the subjects reactions. Alexia will send you the specifics in the next couple of days,” the man said, his smile growing more satisfied by Avery’s response
“Sir, if I may ask, are there any side effects to dad0044? Avery adjusted his sses, cautious.
“Psychotic episodes, seizures–those are the evident ones. We’re still observing thetent effects.”
Alexia tapped her chin thoughtfully “Well, it’s roughly simr to <b>a </b>drug addict going through withdrawal
???
Avery’s hands, resting on hisp slowly clenched “Sir, forgive my boldness, but why not conduct the experiments abroad? The regtions are less stingent than at me, and as you know, my current rtionship with Evadne and Thaddeus is quite strained. Every move Lake is likely under their close watch While I’m more than willing to serve, my current situation isn’t exactly favorable, and I fear it might jeopardize your grand <b>ns </b>
“The headquarters are here, and I <b>don’t </b>want anyplications on my own turf to disrupt my <b>ns</b>. Having you conduct the tests back home is about creating a fallback”
“A fallback?
“If necessary, we can pin the troubles on the Bright Group”
Avery sharp as ever, quickly grasped the implication
“The test subjecti Ive already found them for you. The side effects of dad0044 are incredibly simr to a drug addict’s withdrawal if it’s injected into regr <b>drug </b>users, it can easily be mistaken for just another episode, avoiding official suspicion”
Avery nodded finally understanding “Thank you for your guidance, sar
Well yed, Mr Chambers?
Mi
As the crystal chess piece settled into the board. Avery realized he was in checkmate
With a mix of resignation and admiration, he cuiled the corner of his l*p slightly, understanding it was time to take his <b>leave </b>Rising respectfully, he said. “Si, I shouldn’t keep you from your rest any longer I know of your fondness for antiques, so I’ve prepared a special gift for YOU”
With a p of his hands, the doors slowly <b>parted </b>Elsie, d in a sleek ck evening <b>gown </b>reminiscent of the bygone era’s elegance, gracefully entered bearing a case
Alexia’s gaze lingered on the face that bore an uncanny resemnce to Evadne’s, a shadow of malice fleeting across her eyes.