Free The Fair & Foul (Project Gene Assist Book 1) by Allie Potts Page A

international corporations could trim expenses by conducting meetings without travel, but also without sacrificing senses like touch; one where consumers could sample virtual products before buying them, reducing the need for stores to carry excessive inventory. The crowd ate up his every word as he worked them into a fever pitch. If there were any investors in the room, they had to take satisfaction in watching their wallets expand before their eyes.
    Louis paused in mid-stride and smiled at Juliane before turning back to the crowd. “We are now at the dawn of a new age, an age where our history can be brought back to life and one where reality can be what we make of it. I would like to introduce you now to the brains behind this amazing advancement. If you haven’t already done so, please take off your glasses and put your hands together for Dr. Juliane Faris.”
    As the lights gradually returned to full brightness, Juliane noticed a woman near the center of the room wipe away a tear as she removed her glasses. Whether the tear was from joy or from sorrow Juliane couldn't tell, but really, it didn't matter. That droplet of moisture proved their system was a success. Anyone could manipulate senses such as sight and sound, but that tear proved the scenes had been real enough to produce an emotional response.
    Juliane scanned more faces in the crowd. Toward the back, cloaked in near shadow, was a man with hair nearly as black as hers. He was dressed in a dark, expensive, tailored suit. He met her gaze, inclining his head ever so slightly, before handing his glasses back to the small man with the clipboard and exiting the auditorium.
     

Nine
    Juliane waited while the audience finally filed out of the auditorium. Her high from the presentation’s success had already transformed into uncertainty about her next steps. A trio of individuals, two males, one female, continued to orbit around Louis. They were an odd group. One man was desperately trying to hide a balding hairline in the front but appeared to lack the same concern about his backside. The other man, significantly younger, had coated his hair in enough gel that it could likely stop a bullet. The woman, a young blonde, had a smile fixed on her face that never quite reached her eyes. Juliane had the nagging suspicion that she had seen at least two of these three once before.
    She watched Louis gesture toward the pillars with his charismatic grin firmly in place, but the motion was an afterthought. Rather than returning his hands to his side, he twirled a pair of the glasses while answering the rest of their questions. As impressive as his speech had been, Louis continued to misunderstand where the power behind the technology was housed.
    The trio had closed in around him so tightly that she was unable to hear exactly what their questions were, but they looked like they were lapping up whatever he was dishing. The little man with the clipboard hovered impatiently on the fringe of the room. Most likely he would prefer to move the impromptu question-and-answer session out of the room so that he could begin preparations for its next usage, but he was nervous about interrupting such a powerful personage.
    As Juliane watched Chad pack up their computing supplies without waiting for instruction, she realized she almost envied his complete lack of personal ambition. He was content to be a drone. Do as instructed, set up equipment, clean up equipment. Repeat. Her next steps were not as clear, yet whatever she did could impact her reputation. Should she take charge of the cleanup? It might reinforce that she was the expert, but it might make it look like she couldn't handle delegation. Should she inject herself into Louis's conversation? It might potentially jeopardize his media dynamic. Should she continue to play coy? Chad saw her looking at him, shrugged at her unspoken question, and continued with his task.
    Juliane considered leaving the auditorium. She could listen to one