~Elara~
"Interesting," I said, forcing a casual tone. "What field was she in?"
"Genetic research, if I recall correctly." Marcus dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. "Lost touch years ago."
Liar. You know exactly what happened to her.
I took a sip of water, using the moment to master my reaction. "Seems like TechNova attracts brilliant minds across many disciplines."
"We certainly try," he agreed, letting the subject drop as smoothly as he'd introduced it. A warning shot across my bow. We know who you are. We know why you're here.
The rest of lunch proceeded with careful conversation about Seattle's tech industry, the upcoming charity gala, and the project timeline. By the time we headed for the research floors, my initial shock had crystallized into cold determination.
They knew abou
