Oxytocin: The Love Hormone

Chapter 2

Stepping out of my car the wind was brisk against my skin sending a shiver through my entire body. Arriving at D-Tech the building was massive. It was sleek but had a slight curve, the windows reflecting the sun making them look almost black it was as modern as any building could come. The only indicator that it was a research facility was the big sign in blue and white letters that said D-Tech bettering your future on it. I spent most of the day nursing the hangover and preparing my notes for this interview. It was a grueling process coming up with questions that would be sure to get a more elaborate answer out of Dr. Russell. I should just count myself lucky enough to get to look the man in the face to ask these questions. Checking in the building was easy enough to walk through a metal detector and with my belongings going through an x-ray scanner. The security screen was necessary since there was some government project that D-Tech had the hand in. 

Holding my breath I knocked on the door that had in nice silver letters, Dr. Russell Freedmen Ph.D. Head Engineer he was accomplished for sure and hoping that he wouldn’t undermine me as for the fact that I’m a woman having that problem in the past for some reason there is still a stigma that women can’t do science. Waiting for the door to open or at least a cue to come in I knocked again starting to feel agitated did he stand me up. He was known for blowing off reporters waiting a couple more seconds after no answer. Again I jiggle the knob to see if it’s locked and to my surprise, it opens. Peeking through the door all I see is a man asleep on his desk. I felt my nerves spark blond hair fall over his eyes. It looked as if he fell asleep in the middle of work. He looked like he was a broad man; he could possibly be just as fit too. 

“Excuse me?” trying to wake him up I spoke a little louder than I normally would. I knew I was on his schedule since I’d confirmed it with the lady at the front desk. “Dr. Freedmen are you awake?” he just grumbled trying not to get irritated with how unprofessional he was being. I nudged his shoulder just a bit “Don’t touch me.” I jumped as he spoke. I didn't think he was even awake, his voice was groggy. It came off the horse and rough I felt a twinge in me causing me to sit and cross my legs. It was sexy and did something to me but, I have to keep it professional even though it’d been a while since Derek was too preoccupied with someone else instead of filling my needs. It surprises me just because I haven’t had too much desire for almost five months now. I hadn't even seen this man’s face yet but his voice was so tempting. I knew that twinge I felt was a form of desire. “I’m sorry I thought you were completely out, are you still able to take my interview?” hoping he doesn’t change his mind. I regret the question the second I asked it. He finally lifted his head and his eyes were a bit bloodshot making them look dark they could easily seduce anyone if he wanted to. He could seduce me if he pleased. Shaking the thought from my head almost as if he could see right into my thoughts. “I’ll still do your interview, after all not all of the reporters I get to talk to are as lovely a sight as you.” he gave a sly grin. Something about it made me want to slap it off his face. 

“Thank you, to get started I wanted to ask how exactly you were able to program your nanobots to detect cancer in the trials?” asking the question as confidently as I could no one really ask specific questions like this in the past interviews he’d done. Not only did I spend time coming up with the questions I was reading old interviews to see how he had answered them and how they were asked. The look on his face seemed almost surprised at how specific the question was scanning my face. He looked as if he was playing some form of a game with me that I didn’t know about. He liked to talk around questions and not give straight answers. Most people just accepted the fact I was not going to do that. “As I’m sure you are already aware that in the trials we looked for the chemical imbalance that certain cancers produce, my nanobots were programmed to tell the difference between an in balance and what’s normal.” I was aware of this fact from my research, shaking my head in agreement. I scanned his face for more while waiting for him to give me more than a blanket statement. He sighed, noticing that I wasn’t going to make the statement “My nanobots fix that in balance with synthetic chemicals to re-balance everything back out.” he stated I wasn’t completely pleased with the answer but it was something more than he’d given others.

As I made the note of what he was saying I felt him watch which not only made me twinge but heat up on the inside. “What’s your name again?” I looked up at his dark eyes meeting mine. I felt the desire in me curious about what was going through his head. “Raven Thomas” I stated quickly wanting to get back to the interview “Beautiful just as you are.” I paused, shocked by his statement “Excuse me?” I want to keep this professional but a glare escapes me “Just a compliment I’ve already stated that you were lovely.” it was like he was trying to bait me “I thanked you for calling me lovely and while I appreciate the compliment I would like to stay on track with the interview.” stating calmly and not wanting my rage to show I’ve already given too much emotion away with the glare I shot him. “I understand that I just feel as if I’ve already answered so many questions about my nanobots that it’s getting kind of old.” talking as if he didn’t make a breakthrough in medical history as if it was just an accident “Old? Do you not care what your technology can do for the sake of humanity?” questioning his morals before I was even able to filter my words they were spoken before I even knew it. “My work is my life, yes but, I wouldn’t say that it’s the only thing I care to talk about. I bet there are more mundane questions you could ask me even if some were off the record.” he winked at me. “Excuse me Doctor but I wanted this interview to talk about your nanobots because in most interviews you don’t give many answers the world deserves to know how it’s done.” His arrogance was starting to piss me off now and I felt myself losing my cool.

“Yes that is true but that’s because they all ask the same question and I just did give you a more in-depth answer than I have most.” he was not wrong he still had that stupid grin on his face I could tell he liked getting his way I wasn’t sure if I wanted to amuse him though this was my career on the line, not some game. Knowing there was a way around his game and decided to ask a more mundane question “Since you would like a mundane question would your nanobots be able to combat depression and admit oxytocin?” he looked a bit caught off guard and his grin shifted to a smirk “The love hormone? That is an interesting concept and could actually be possible if the correct formula for oxytocin could be manufactured.” I wasn’t disappointed with the answer this time and it seemed I’ve captured his interest a bit more than I had before. “I might say you have a way with asking questions, Mrs. Thomas.” There was a slight chuckle in the undertone of his voice “Miss'' I corrected him “Ah, I see how has someone as lovely and as beautiful as you stay single?” the prying kind of irked me but there was something inside me that said play his game. “It isn’t exactly by choice that my partner of three years just cheated on me,” I started hoping he would at least get some hint. “If you were mine I wouldn’t do such a thing.” walking towards me there was this look in his eyes I could tell his mind. I froze as he got closer to me looking for words so he would stop, but it was too late.

I felt his breath against my forehead as he had both arms on the back of the chair. I was stuck “What are you doing.” trying not to give away that I was nervous he smelled earthy though it had a hint of what could only be described as metallic. “I’m just getting a closer look at what could be mine.” staring into my eyes his pupils were dilated which meant I wasn’t the only one in the room that felt arousal. “Why would I want to be yours?” his arrogance pissed me off though it did something to my body. My body was tangled with anger and arousal. “If you were mine I’d never treat you poorly, I'd worship your body.” my jaw almost dropped trying to keep my guard up and thinking of a way out of the situation. My heart was pounding so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if he heard it next thing I knew he pressed his lips to mine parting them with his tongue as if a fire was lit within me it was like a dance. A moan escaped my mouth. His hands were now on my shoulders, they were rough on my skin feeling his hands down my arms to my lap. 

Snapping out of it before I knew it my hand flew across his face leaving a red mark where I made contact. "Don't you ever touch me again!" My anger finally got the best of me. I noticed I caught him off guard as he backed up quickly. My body still wanted him but I knew better choosing logic over anything else. 

We sat there in silence almost as if we were having a staredown. He was arrogant about it if I didn't already slap him I'd wipe the grin right off his face. “I think I should leave.” getting up out of the chair while I could so he didn’t have a chance to keep pinned in the chair. If I was being honest I was probably just as surprised as him when I slapped him. My hand stung from the impact to his cheek. The shock on his face was finally starting to disappear into what looked like a mix of amusement and anger. “You’re a feisty one, I think we shall be seeing each other again sometime soon.” He was looking me up and down as if I just challenged him “I will email you the rest of the questions I had for my article.” Trying to finish my job and get out of there to the best of my ability my flight or fight was up. “I don’t think that will be necessary because if you go to view a house with me I’ll answer all of your questions and tell you about my new project.” it almost sounded as if he was trying to make a wager with me. 

He’d piqued my interest and I accidentally gave that away on my face “I will give you an exclusive not only on my new project but an in-depth interview on my nanobots.” he literally just offered me a career on a silver platter by saying this and all I had to do what view a house with him. “What do you get out of this?” There had to be more to this than met the eye. He was arrogant and used to getting his way and I basically just killed his ego. I think at least. “I get the pleasure of your company and hopefully a friendship out of it.” he held a grin on his face that I couldn’t stand. “Give me a night to think about it?” I don’t know why I was asking such a thing but I’d rather weigh my options. “Go ahead, I'll give you a call tomorrow.”