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

of the other presentations, but that might ruin the illusion of mystery she was expected to maintain. Am I still supposed to be mysterious after Louis's introduction? she wondered.She could go back to her room, but that would feel like surrender. She could go in search of something to eat, but found she had no appetite. Unsatisfied with any option, Juliane decided to continue to wait in the shadows while Louis basked in the glow of the public’s adoration. He's turned me into Chad.
    After agonizing minutes, Louis finally looked her way. She captured his focus and returned his attention with a fierce glare, the type of which frequently caused Chad to remember some errand he had to immediately attend to. She realized she shouldn’t have bothered with the effort. Rather than shivering from its icy point, Louis threw his head back in laughter. She was not able to maintain her ire faced with such genuine humor, and her visage softened. He gestured her quite urgently to come to his side.
    “Of course, as I said on the dais, none of what you witnessed today could have been made possible without the lovely Dr. Juliane Faris. You may want to start lining your interviews up now, as she is destined to go down in the history books as one of the great innovators of our generation.” The trio, who had barely registered her presence, turned toward her like children shown candy. “Unfortunately for you, you aren’t going to be able to start with those interviews at this moment.” Juliane could have sworn the woman pouted. Juliane recognized her then as Melissa Bryant, a field reporter for the Financial Sector Times Network. The other two must also be part of the press corps , thought Juliane, although she was not as familiar with either of them. Louis crooked his elbow expectantly. “My lady?”
    Juliane allowed her lips to turn up while taking his arm like an old-fashioned southern belle. Together, they departed the auditorium to the relief of Mr. Clipboard. As she glanced back, Mr. Clipboard put his finger to his ear, likely speaking into a wireless headset, as the convention center’s version of a SWAT team descended upon the now-vacant room.
    Along the way down the hallway they passed the room where Alan was giving his own presentation. He did still have a fair turnout, but Juliane took a nearly indecent pleasure in the knowledge that his crowd was less than her own. The day might not have gone completely as she would have preferred, but at least she had this small triumph. Before she turned away, she noticed the same man with dark suit and hair. He was near the front of Alan’s stage, looking out toward the crowd rather than at Alan, and she could tell he had noticed her watching. The corners of his mouth pulled back in a wolf’s grin. As much as she wanted to continue walking, her legs were rooted to the floor. Louis turned to investigate the cause of the delay, and the moment was shattered.
    Louis's expression hardened. The man tipped his head in Juliane’s direction before turning his attention back to Alan. Juliane jumped when Louis spoke. “I think today’s presentation was a success, don’t you?” His tone felt forced. As quickly as it came, the cloud over his features passed, and Juliane found herself thinking of an eager puppy dog looking at the expression that took its place. She felt her early annoyance melt away. While she might not have been given the opportunity to shine to her fullest, her algorithm had. “Durham’s probably out there getting himself into some trouble. How about we join him?”
    She laughed. She had only spent a few hours with Durham, but could guess that Louis's jest wasn't far from the truth. Everything Juliane had done since childhood had been done with precision and had gotten her nowhere. Durham, on the other hand, struck Juliane as one who lived in the moment. And yet he was able to fly in a private jet and party with the rich and famous. Perhaps Alan had been right. Perhaps she