Elias was doing the last experiment in an extremely high-end laboratory when Brian gave him a phone call. Around him were all the hallmarks of the latest tech: automated biomolecular interaction analyzers, a cell harvesting system, biomarker monitors, and various other pieces of equipment and instrumentation.
He picked up the phone excitedly and could not help but boast about what he'd done.
He smiled and said in English,"Emperor, the final phases of the medicine are complete. The product should be ready for testing. As per your requirements, it does the least harm to human body."
"So you're saying I can have it?" Brian was eager too. This was better than he expected. All of a sudden, joyfulness filled his dark black eyes. He wanted to know how quickly he could get his hands on it.
Elias stared with his blue eyes at the pharmacological analysis numbers displayed on the monitor in front of him. With a look of insolent pride, he said arrogantly,"I'm doing the final LADMET analysis, which will be finished in two or three hours at most. Those tests will measure how good it is at its job. Besides, I've booked an airline ticket. I'll be at the airport tomorrow afternoon unless something unexpected happens. And I'll need a ride."
"And you'll have it. Looking forward to meeting you!" Brian said simply while walking upstairs. "See you tomorrow! By the way, you'd better not disappoint me, because I hate being disappointed. Things get complicated when I'm disappointed, and they have a tendency to spin out of control. And we don't want that, do we?" There was more than a hint of menace in Brian's voice.
After saying that, he hung up the phone, without waiting for Elias to respond. There was only one response he wanted anyway, and he didn't have time to wait around for Elias to say it. He walked to his bedroom, put his hand on the doorknob without hesitation and entered the room as soon as the door was opened. He was confident like that. Every action he made was his alone. Becky hung up the phone when he walked in.
"Bri?" Becky asked in a soft voice.
"Hm?" Brian answered while walking towards his bed and sitting down. His sharp eyes glanced at Becky's injured leg and hand, which had just been bandaged. He gently picked up her injured hand and held it in his. He said in a low voice,"You'd better stay at the villa so I can look after you."
This was the best news she could have heard. She was so happy, but didn't want Brian to know that. Instead, she lowered her head and pretended to be depressed while saying,"I don't want to put you out if I stay here..."
"I've told you before. It won't put me out. I've been trying to get you to move in here anyway!" Brian said affirmatively. He regarded the woman before him now, who didn't want to trouble him with anything. He felt sorry for her. But he was still depressed and angry. Was she still testing him after all these years?
Becky played with his thumb with her non-injured hand and nodded,"Bri, please don't blame her..."
And of course, like clockwork, the image of Molly staring at him like she wanted nothing more to do with him sprang unbidden to his mind.
As Brian kept silent, Becky gradually developed a worried look on her face and said,"It wouldn't have happened if I were able to see. It's not her fault."
Brian fixed his gaze on Becky's eyes. They used to be bright and inspiring but now were pale and vacant. Brian's heart was hurt deeply by the change. He raised one of his hands and slightly swept his fingers across Becky's eyelids. She closed them reflectively and looked even more lovely. He said in a faint voice,"Tomorrow there's a medical wizard coming here. With any luck, he'll cure you. Where everyone else failed, he might find a way."
"Really... ouch..." Becky gasped in pain as she tried to grasp Brian's hand with her injured hand. She was so excited to hear about the possibility of a cure that she forgot the wounds underneath her bandages. They didn't hurt unless you did something to them. Because they were so fresh, the merest touch caused her pain.
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