Read Online Torn (Lords of the City #1) by Alice Ward - Free Book Online
Authors: Alice Ward
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Stafford was a bad decision I could never make. I followed behind him, but my heels made it impossible to match his speed, and they clicked against the floor in a way that gave me a headache, so I stopped to take them off.
“What are you doing?” Noah rumbled.
“Keeping up,” I replied. “I don’t mean to be unprofessional, but I can’t wear heels like these, even if they are part of the dress code. I’ll be discreet when I carry them into the boardroom. No one will notice.”
He inspected me as if I were a piece of fruit he was trying to decide was ripe enough to pluck. “You’re lucky I like you in bare feet. Otherwise, I would never allow it. I didn’t give you permission to take off your shoes. Next time, ask before you act. I’m not paying you for your initiative. I’m paying you to obey my command.”
I took a deep breath, wishing Corey was there to ease the tension I felt. “Do I have your permission to buy sandals?”
“No. When you walk my halls, you either wear heels, or you go barefoot. The choice is yours.”
It was an easy choice. The marble was cool against my feet. I would gladly go barefoot.
In the boardroom, a dozen people waited for us in silence. Noah marched to the front, a torpedo locked onto his target. Not sure where to sit, I remained in the back and prepared my tablet to record the minutes of the meeting.
My fumbling stopped when Noah bellowed across the room, “Imogen, please don’t stand in the back like a ghost who doesn’t wish to be seen. Your place is up front, in the corner.”
Embarrassed, I quickly made my way towards him, absorbing the empathy that radiated off those who sat around the table, their understanding of my humiliation written all over their faces.
“Let me remind everyone here that you are bound by non-disclosure agreements,” Noah began. “Nothing is to leave this boardroom. You are never to talk of what we discuss outside the company. If you breach this agreement, I will take action against you. You and your families will suffer.”
No one protested. The room remained silent. Satisfied, Noah signaled for a tech guy to turn on the projector, and he started a lecture on nanotechnology.
I didn’t take notes on the presentation. As soon as the projector was turned on, it was sent straight to my tablet. As Noah spoke, I read his words in front of me. It was fascinating. I had a background knowledge of nanorobotics, but I had no idea of the implications of the technology. According to Noah, tiny robots the size of molecules could physically repair tissues within the human body like little mechanics. He predicted they could one day change DNA sequences, creating or erasing mutations to eliminate birth defects and other inherited diseases.
“We can’t alter DNA just yet,” he said in closing, “but here at Stafford Scientific, we have experienced a breakthrough in nanotechnology that would allow us to repair human tissue. We’re very close to human trials, but we need to win over the medical community first. I plan to reveal our breakthrough at the convention next month.”
Excited murmurs rose around the table, and I went to work. There was a lot of technical talk I didn’t understand. As a scientist, I found it insanely frustrating, so I made a commitment to study more about nanotechnology later that night so that I was ready for the convention.
“We can’t wait for the approval of the medical community,” a man towards the back argued. “At the convention, we need to present more than just the possibilities of the research. Sure, a few rats were cured of their heart defects, and a blind guinea pig could see again. Who cares? It’s not enough to prove nanotechnology can be safe for humans. We need conclusive evidence. Begin the human trials now.”
“We’re not there yet,” Noah said impatiently. “The whole point of this convention is to draw in the medical community so that we can safely begin the human trials.”
“Fuck the
“What are you doing?” Noah rumbled.
“Keeping up,” I replied. “I don’t mean to be unprofessional, but I can’t wear heels like these, even if they are part of the dress code. I’ll be discreet when I carry them into the boardroom. No one will notice.”
He inspected me as if I were a piece of fruit he was trying to decide was ripe enough to pluck. “You’re lucky I like you in bare feet. Otherwise, I would never allow it. I didn’t give you permission to take off your shoes. Next time, ask before you act. I’m not paying you for your initiative. I’m paying you to obey my command.”
I took a deep breath, wishing Corey was there to ease the tension I felt. “Do I have your permission to buy sandals?”
“No. When you walk my halls, you either wear heels, or you go barefoot. The choice is yours.”
It was an easy choice. The marble was cool against my feet. I would gladly go barefoot.
In the boardroom, a dozen people waited for us in silence. Noah marched to the front, a torpedo locked onto his target. Not sure where to sit, I remained in the back and prepared my tablet to record the minutes of the meeting.
My fumbling stopped when Noah bellowed across the room, “Imogen, please don’t stand in the back like a ghost who doesn’t wish to be seen. Your place is up front, in the corner.”
Embarrassed, I quickly made my way towards him, absorbing the empathy that radiated off those who sat around the table, their understanding of my humiliation written all over their faces.
“Let me remind everyone here that you are bound by non-disclosure agreements,” Noah began. “Nothing is to leave this boardroom. You are never to talk of what we discuss outside the company. If you breach this agreement, I will take action against you. You and your families will suffer.”
No one protested. The room remained silent. Satisfied, Noah signaled for a tech guy to turn on the projector, and he started a lecture on nanotechnology.
I didn’t take notes on the presentation. As soon as the projector was turned on, it was sent straight to my tablet. As Noah spoke, I read his words in front of me. It was fascinating. I had a background knowledge of nanorobotics, but I had no idea of the implications of the technology. According to Noah, tiny robots the size of molecules could physically repair tissues within the human body like little mechanics. He predicted they could one day change DNA sequences, creating or erasing mutations to eliminate birth defects and other inherited diseases.
“We can’t alter DNA just yet,” he said in closing, “but here at Stafford Scientific, we have experienced a breakthrough in nanotechnology that would allow us to repair human tissue. We’re very close to human trials, but we need to win over the medical community first. I plan to reveal our breakthrough at the convention next month.”
Excited murmurs rose around the table, and I went to work. There was a lot of technical talk I didn’t understand. As a scientist, I found it insanely frustrating, so I made a commitment to study more about nanotechnology later that night so that I was ready for the convention.
“We can’t wait for the approval of the medical community,” a man towards the back argued. “At the convention, we need to present more than just the possibilities of the research. Sure, a few rats were cured of their heart defects, and a blind guinea pig could see again. Who cares? It’s not enough to prove nanotechnology can be safe for humans. We need conclusive evidence. Begin the human trials now.”
“We’re not there yet,” Noah said impatiently. “The whole point of this convention is to draw in the medical community so that we can safely begin the human trials.”
“Fuck the
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