Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Storm
The breakthrough on the Perseus gravitational study made international scientific headlines.
A paper authored by *Dr. Claire Bennett and Dr. Julian Hayes* was published in the *Journal of Modern Astrophysics*.
I had intentionally kept my photo off the press releases, but a young intern snapped a picture of the research team celebrating outside the MIT symposium hall.
The photograph was shared on an academic Twitter feed.
In Chicago, Daniel Carter stared at his tablet computer with dread.
He walked into Adrian’s office without knocking.
Adrian was sitting behind his desk, surrounded by empty whiskey glasses and unread corporate reports.
The king of Chicago looked like a hollow ghost of his former self.
“We found her,” Daniel said quietly.
Adrian leaped to his feet so fast that his desk chair toppled backward.
“Where?”
“Boston,” Daniel answered, placing the printed photograph before him.
Adrian stared at the image.
There I was, standing in the cold Boston wind, laughing genuinely beside Julian Hayes.
My cheeks were flushed with excitement, my hair tied in an unpretentious ponytail.
I looked five years younger.
I looked radiant.
Adrian’s eyes locked onto Julian’s hand, which was resting respectfully on my shoulder as we posed with the research plaque.
A terrifying, violent rage flared in Adrian’s chest.
“Who is the man beside her?” Adrian hissed, his knuckles turning pure white.
“Her research partner, Dr. Julian Hayes,” Daniel warned.
“Adrian, do not do what you are thinking.”
“She is at MIT.”
“This is an international academic institution under federal oversight, not a Chicago back-alley casino.”
“She is my wife!” Adrian roared, grabbing his overcoat.
“Ready the jet.”
Twenty-four hours later, the bitter Massachusetts winter was pierced by three black Lincoln Navigators pulling up in front of the Cambridge Institute.
Students and faculty paused on the sidewalks as eight large men in dark coats stepped out, creating a perimeter.
Adrian Moretti walked through the glass doors of the physics building like an invading conqueror.
He walked straight to the directory board, found my lab number, and took the stairs two at a time.
He shoved the double doors of my laboratory open with enough force to rattle the glass instruments on the tables.
The room went dead silent.
Four graduate students froze in terror at the sight of the armed security guards standing in the hallway.
I was standing by the chalkboard, a piece of white chalk in my hand, deriving an equation.
I did not jump.
I did not drop the chalk.
I slowly finished writing the final variable, underlined it twice, and turned around to face my past.
“Adrian,” I said, my voice as flat and emotionless as a winter lake.
Adrian took three rapid strides toward me, his face a storm of relief, fury, and agonized longing.
“Claire,” he choked out, reaching his hands toward my face.
“Claire, thank God.”
“Pack your things.”
“We are going home right now.”
Before his fingers could touch my skin, Julian Hayes stepped between us, placing a firm, unyielding hand against Adrian’s chest.
“Excuse me, sir,” Julian said with absolute authority.
“You are trespassing on restricted research property.”
“Remove your hand before I have campus police and federal marshals remove your breathing privileges,” Adrian snarled, his hand reaching beneath his jacket toward his holster.
“Adrian, stop,” I said, stepping past Julian.
Adrian looked at me, his eyes pleading.
“Claire, I made a mistake.”
“I sent Sophia away.”
“The New York penthouse is sold.”
“I fired the advisers who encouraged me to go.”
“I will burn Chicago to the ground if that is what it takes for you to forgive me.”
“Just come home with me.”
I looked at the man I had once worshipped.
I saw no god.
I saw no king.
I saw only a pathetic, desperate child who broke his most precious toy and now demanded the universe glue it back together.
“Adrian,” I said softly so everyone in the room could hear.
“This is my home.”
May you like
“You are nothing more than a stranger who forgot to knock.”
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