Chapter 2
Kristie
My phone buzzed in the pocket of my lab coat. It had been for several minutes. But my gloved hands were quite busy. I’d been working on a new compound for months for a new cancer-fighting drug. A new oral drug that would be stronger, faster, and had fewer side effects. Well, that was if I could get the formula right. It went to trial again next month. I’d been working on this project far before actually formulating the current compound, so the phone would have to wait. I was so close, I could taste it.
A knock followed by the door opening forced a sigh from my chest, fogging up the shield covering my face. “Why knock if you just come in?” I asked, looking up finally at the bright and sterile room I had been camped out in for hours.
“Because this is an emergency,” my superior said. She was in her late forties, always kept her dark brown hair in atight bun at her crown, and her beady eyes could invoke fear in the strongest of souls. Her red lips thinned. “They’re cutting funding.”
I stood, pulled the gloves off, and flipped the face shield up. “What? Why? We go to trial next month!” I couldn’t contain my fury but quickly corrected. “My apologies, Ms. Danders, but we’ve worked so hard and we’re so close,” I said, waving my hand over the counter I had been working at.
Her arms crossed over her chest, the arms of the black blazer a stark contrast to the crisp, white shirt under it. “Believe me, that’s exactly what I said. At this point, we’d be losing money not to follow through.” Frustration rang in her voice. I watched the vein in her neck pulsing out of control. “But it fell on deaf ears. I’m sorry, Kristie.”
“Well, what does this mean for me? Do I get a new project?” I didn’t want a new project. I didn’t want to start over. Not without finishing this. This drug could change lives. But I still needed a job.
“I–I have another meeting with the board this afternoon. But.” Ms. Danders looked down at her feet before connecting to my gaze again. I’d never seen her nervous. “I’m happy to write a letter of recommendation for you, Kristie.”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t cry after my boss offered to help me find another job. But holy shit. The culmination of my life’s work just got pulled from under me. Because I was funded by the board, the formula I had created was proprietary. So, it would die with them. I lost my miracle drug and was about to lose gainful employment all in the same day.
“Why don’t you take off for the day? I can fill you intomorrow?”
“I’d rather not wait to hear, if you don’t mind.” I tugged at the collar of my lab coat. It suddenly was a thousand degrees in the lab, even though the thermostat stayed at refrigerator temps to keep it dry and stable.
She stepped closer, unfolding her arms and placing her thin hand on mine. “I can call you if you like. But, Kristie, I think it’s safe to take your things home. I’ll do what I can but–”
Nodding, I cut her off. “But they’re canning me and my project. I got it.” Pulling off my lab coat, I said, “I’ll grab my things. Can you email the separation letter to me?”
“Of course. I’ll put some feelers out for you. I have a lot of connections. You’re truly brilliant, Kristie. Don’t let these stuffy old men make you feel any differently.” She started to walk away, then turned. “Hell, I may be out of a job myself. At least your contract allows for a severance package. I’m salary. I’m probably going to be fucked.”
My eyes widened. I’d never heard even a PG-rated curse from my boss.
“The gig is up, Kristie. I’m a human, too.” She winked as she turned to leave.
Blowing a breath through puffed cheeks, I hung up the lab coat and pulled my phone from the pocket. Ms. Danders had texted and called me, but I also had messages from my cousin, Elisabeth. She was saved to my phone as Bit since that’s what we all called her.
She’d been in the middle of some kind of pre-midlife crisis. She’d recently returned to Jersey and was crashing at myplace until she could get settled. Honestly, I was a tad jealous of her. I used to be a free spirit and had lots of crazy plans for myself. But something in me snapped. Like a light switch had simply been turned off.
Don’t get me wrong, until five minutes ago, I was happy, or at least content. But the girl I used to be didn’t seem to exist in twenty-eight-year-old me.
Shoving the sleeves to my blouse up, the familiar pang shot into my chest at the sight of the dainty tattoo just above my wrist. I wore long sleeves daily since I worked for a prestigious pharmaceutical company and it had been ingrained in me that tattoos weren’t professional. I thought my parents were going to blow a gasket that first time I’d gone home for the holidays during college after I got it.
It was a small sparrow, no color, but beautiful details. And every time I saw it, even now, I was reminded of the short time withhim.
“Fuck it,” I said. I was out of a job anyway, and I was too hot to push the sleeves back down. Leaving the lab and turning the light off, I had a moment of pettiness, and flipped the switch back up.Enjoy the power bill, assholes. Okay, I knew it wouldn’t do much, but it was my own little fuck-you to them without causing a scene. I’d have to find another job so I couldn’t damage anything or create a ruckus.
Instead, I went to the shared office space with four cubicles, emptied the small amount of personal items like pictures, lip balm, hand cream, and an old dingy admit-one ticket that I’d kept from that summer with Rick. It was stupid. But even though it hurt, I’d always be grateful for that time withhim. Although, I’d thought long and hard for years about what I’d do if I ever saw him again. The violent scenarios were vivid and outlandish but always sent a tiny grin to my face. Still, I must be a glutton for punishment since I kept reminders of him.
As I walked from my building, not leaving my badge since they’d just deactivate it the second they canned me, I pulled my phone from my bag as I waited for the bus in the sweltering heat. You’d think in September Jersey would be mild, but it was that time of year you needed a sweater in the morning and a tank top for the afternoon.
“Hey,” Bit said. “What are you thinking for dinner? I googled and saw this new restaurant with awesome desserts. What time you getting off work?”
“Soon, actually. I’ll fill you in. But how about we go for more rustic tonight? I’m feeling like some bar food.”
“Uh oh. You okay?”
Glancing down the street to check for the bus, I sighed. “Yeah, but comfort food and cheap drinks are in the works. Maybe that biker bar not far from the condo.”
“Sure, we can do that. They have great wings and hot guys. I had fun last time!”
