Chapter 8
Chapter 8:
Morning light flooded the study of June’s new penthouse.
She sat before her sleek new monitors, a video call active on the screen. An elderly Asian man with kind eyes and a brilliant mind looked back at her — Dr. Zhang, a Nobel laureate and June’s former mentor.
Tears welled in Dr. Zhang’s eyes. “June. You’re finally coming back to the light. The medical community has bled for four years without you p>
June lowered her head slightly. “I’m sorry, Professor. I got lost in the dark for a while p>
“Brogan Clements, the CEO of Apex Bio, is a former student of mine,” Dr. Zhang said, dabbing his eyes. “I’ve already called him. He knows you’re a ghost. He’s prepared to offer you the Chief Scientist position p>
“No,” June said firmly. “I don’t want backdoors, Professor. I want to walk through the front door on my own merit. And I can’t use my real name. Not yet p>
𝗧𝘩𝗈u𝘀𝘢ո𝘥𝗌 𝘰𝗳 𝘳𝖾a𝗱e𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘯
Dr. Zhang smiled with quiet pride. “With your mind, June, you own the building. Go take back your throne — whatever name you choose to wear p>
An hour later, June walked into the towering glass lobby of Apex Bio.
She wore a sharp, tailored black suit from her Bergdorf haul, her hair pulled back into a severe professional knot. As she stepped into the elevator, two interns nearby were whispering without much effort at discretion.
“Did you hear? Dr. Alycia Beasley is partnering with us,” one said. “Compton Group is funding the whole thing p>
“Yeah, but her data looks sloppy,” the other replied. “I don’t understand why we’re taking her project p>
June listened, a cold smirk touching the corner of her lips.
On the thirtieth floor, the HR manager reviewed June’s résumé with a deepening frown. The résumé was submitted under the name Jane Doe, her credentials verified through a blind, encrypted academic portal.
“Miss Doe,” the manager said, setting the papers down with poorly concealed dismissal. “You have a four-year gap in your employment history. In biotech, four years makes you a dinosaur p>
“I was conducting independent research,” June replied evenly.
The manager scoffed. “Independent research with no publications and no institutional backing? What exactly were you researching — sourdough starters p>
The conference room door swung open. A tall, striking man with piercing blue eyes stepped out — Brogan Clements, the CEO. He caught the tail end of the exchange and stopped.
“Let her in p>
“Mr. Clements, she’s just a p>
“Anyone recommended by Dr. Zhang is not a ‘just a,’” Brogan said, cutting him off, his gaze settling on June with sharp, undisguised curiosity.
Inside his expansive office, Brogan did not offer her a seat. Instead, he gestured to a large whiteboard covered in dense molecular structures.
“My team has been stuck on this enzyme breakdown for a month,” he said, folding his arms. “You have five minutes p>
June did not hesitate. She picked up a black dry-erase marker.
She did not need five minutes. She did not even need three.
Her hand moved across the board with quiet certainty, erasing a section and redrawing the bonds. The soft squeak of the marker was the only sound in the room.
Two minutes later, she set it down.
“The hydrogen bonds are unstable under heat,” June said, pointing to her correction. “Replace them with sulfide bonds. Problem solved p>
Brogan stared at the board. His mouth parted slightly. He looked from the diagram to June, and back again, pure astonishment crossing his face.
Then, slowly, he began to clap.
“Brilliant,” he said quietly. “You’re hired. Lead Researcher. Name your salary p>
“I don’t care about the salary,” June said, stepping closer to his desk. “But I have two conditions. First, my identity remains confidential. Only you will know who I am — to everyone else, I am a remote consultant operating under the codename Nemesis. Second, I want absolute veto power over all external partnerships p>
Brogan raised an eyebrow. He could sense the hidden blade folded into that second condition. He extended his hand.
“Deal. Welcome to Apex Bio, Nemesis p>
June shook it. The trap for Alycia was officially set.