Everett called back three minutes later.
Aurora had expected it.
She stood near the ICU corridor window, her suitcase at her feet and her phone still in her hand. The hospital lights reflected off the glass, turning her bandaged face into a pale, tired ghost.
She let the phone ring twice before answering.
“What else?” she asked.
Everett’s voice came through colder than before. “We weren’t finished.”
“We were. You just didn’t like the result.”
“Aurora, don’t play business games with me.”
A small laugh escaped her. It had no warmth in it.
“Business games? Everett, you run Stone Biotech. You know exactly what licensing means.”
“I also know when someone is using a personal dispute to threaten a company.”
Aurora turned from the window.
Behind her, beyond the ICU doors, Ruth Walker l
