CROSSING RIVER (B×B×B..) *COMPLETE*

Chapter 14- Temptations

There was a knocking on the door and after being permitted an entry inside the office, A lady in red blouse and black fitted pants with blue pumps came strutting in, it was Olivia. Erina gave her a questioning look for having come to see her without being called by her.

“I apologize for coming here without a call but there is something I must discuss with you and it’s really important”, she said but she didn’t make any eye contact with Erina. The boss lady dropped her pen to the side and closed the file she was reading then folded her arms, “What is it Dr. Olivia? Something regarding clones?”, she asked.

“I could make three of them from the samples but they are still developing and you know it takes time. However, their growth is much faster than the original source we had so, I’m guessing they will be matured within a year”, she hesitated then continued, “I am not here to discuss clones but I am here because of River”, she said.

Erina raised her brow then unfolded her arms, “You are in-charge of making clones, Olivia. Focus on making them survive past few hours and don’t interfere with Veronica’s work”, she reminded the woman. Olivia walked to the desk and slid her tablet in front of Erina, “How did you know increasing temperature would do this to his body? Why are you so inclined on keeping Subject M and him together? Is it for this?”, she sighed then worriedly said, “I’m starting to suspect you have different goals than the ones you have fed the investors”.

The corner of Erina’s lips stretched then she got up and turned to look at the screen, she saw River running around trying to catch fish and said, “What are you implying Olivia? Are you saying I am leading an organisation and the people investing in it to a never attainable goal?”, she asked instead.

Olivia raised her eyes and looked at the most powerful woman she knew and said, “You have always been my inspiration. I have read all about you and your expedition. I joined this organization because I wanted to help you fulfil your vision for humanity and I have not been let down. We have discovered so much but only now am I noticing how all of this came so easily on our hands since we found River”, she slowly walked up to Erina and stood in front of her.

“You would always imply on something about him and after we experiment on your theory, it would succeed. His diet, his behaviour and his lifestyle, it has all been done according to your precise order and it has all been right. The only thing you have been wrong on are human experiments. You allowed others to check in on things with subject M which cost some of them their lives, half of them went mad and You, who have never been to that chamber, came up with solutions to our problems as if you already knew what had caused it in the first place”, she argued.

Erina watched her intently then glanced at the tablet, “You came up with so much questions only after seeing rise of oestrogens level in his blood? You disobeyed by orders to quench your curiosity about my ways of making decisions?”, she laughed, very amused by the woman in front of her.

“Would you believe me if I say it’s all a lucky guess? An instinctual output after observing the subjects?”, she asked as she sat on her desk, crossed legs, in a relaxed manner. Olivia felt like she was being mocked by her idol. She wasn’t even trying to come up with strong reasons. She felt really conflicted.

“What are your plans? What is your end game?”, she asked instead then saw the woman reveal very genuine smile. Then she got up and walked in front of her then lowered her head to her ears and said, “I want freedom. I don’t want to just exist, I want to live and conquer further”, she walked away from her side but the warm air still tingled and loomed over her ears, turning them red.

“Have you ever felt wronged Olivia? Like you tried so hard to do something for the people and place you loved but it all backfired and slapped you right down, stripped your confidence, your very essence? Have your ever had such feelings before?”, Erina asked as she dragged her manicured hands on the display glass of skeletal remains of a siren.