Silence fills the hotel room. Edward keeps pacing around and everyone else, including the advisors, watch him. No one wants to break the ice and say the wrong thing.

He takes his seat, and his advisor immediately takes the one behind him. One by one, the members sit and one hour later the president arrives.

“Everyone,” Edward looks at his watch, “time was once on our side, but now, after the latest developments, it isn’t any more. Isn’t it ironic how fast things change when we want them to remain the same?”

What is it with all this flowery speech, Edward? Are you on a verge of a breakdown, finally? Marianne looks at her wristwatch too.

“Laurence, Jessica, I hope you are keeping Eurasia’s questions about the bracelet as far away from us as possible!” Edward says.

“We have manufactured the medical records of the students that have gone to the hospital. The cause is no longer aneurysms.” Laurence explains.

“Every post mentioning headache and brain damage in connection to the bracelet has been removed!” Jessica smiles.

“Good. Now that the Congress has decided to debate the nationwide mandatory bracelet. Let's keep anything harmful away.”

“We could improve the bracelet.” Saif says.

Edward taps his fingers on the table, making an audible noise that cuts through the silence.

“We don’t have time or money to waste on it. Moving on, Jessica, our number one, Jade Harris, was supposed to have a speech yesterday. One that you were extremely proud of. Where is it?”

“Sir, I’m having a hard time dealing with Ms. Harris. She hasn’t been cooperative ever since the attacks on the students.”

“Madeleine… care to join the conversation?” Edward faces her while she’s holding a mirror, looking at her wrinkles.

“I’m sorry, what are you talking about…?” she closes the mirror.

“That Jade Harris had a speech that was supposed to be aired yesterday and Jessica is saying that she hasn’t been cooperative.”

"She's really traumatized, poor girl." Madeleine hands the mirror to her advisor and continues, “Emily and her were a thing. For years I think, and she thinks the girl is being tortured! That’s not good for her mental health!”

“Madeleine.”

“Also, the students were beaten. Some won’t make it, probably. I mean, the girl is having a hard time. It’s okay, she’ll do the speech some other time.”

“Madeleine… Laurence ran the numbers, it’s important to keep a momentum. Jade’s speech yesterday was important. I said,” he picks up the glass of water and drinks it, “that her speech was yesterday. It’s up to Jessica, and more than her, it’s up to you to make sure the girl goes through.”

“Sure, Edward. What am I supposed to do?” Madeleine rolls her eyes. “Grab her by the arm? Point my gun to her head and force her?”

“If you are incapable of dealing with her, then we’ll find a solution that doesn’t involve you.”

“Incapable? Me? I’m a winner, Edward. I’ll talk to the girl. I’m sure she just needs the right motivation, and that comes from a place of understanding, not violence.”

“She’ll say the speech tomorrow, Madeleine. Is that understood?” Edward’s stark tone ends the discussion.

Madeleine nods and looks at Jessica Miller.

“Now, we have a problem, don’t we, Thomas?”

“As I have informed everyone, the Parker’s Foundation lost its entire capital. It’s gone. Stolen. For safety reasons, they decided they won’t hand the Institute any more money in the meantime.”

“You told us that having the extra funding for the new lab would be ‘painless and smooth’. Instead, not only we won’t have the extra funds, but the ones we had already secured are gone. Is that it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“All because your wife, dear Mary, failed to convince them. Is that it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thomas, how disappointing. I thought Mary had the upper hand with the Parkers. Laurence, any news on the money? Who stole it? Where is it?”

Laurence’s advisor hands him the papers.

“Sir, we haven’t made any progress. It’s gone.”

“What is our solution here, everyone?” Edward shakes his head. "Constructing the new lab is our top priority!" His voice sharpens. “Things are looking bright with the newly elected members, still… we want a nationwide mandate on the bracelet. We need everyone to be reminded of the threat of the terrorists, Madeleine.” He faces her and turns to Thomas. “Thomas, our scientific work needs a lab. We need the right conditions to study our marvelous subject, the Angel of Death.” He faces Marianne now.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Sir, with the loss of funding from the Parkers… We’ll have to put a hold on the lab for at least two years.”

“Two years, Laurence?!”

“Yes, with the current funding and even if we were to find more investment, it would take us two years.”

“Can we double our current funding?”

“Sir…” Laurence begins, “even if we double what everyone is already contributing… still, it would take us…” Laurence runs the numbers on his calculator. “One year.”

“One year?” Edward sits down again and looks at his watch.

Marianne looks at Edward, more than his shouting or his anger outbursts. It’s his silence that tells on him, that he’s cornered. She tries not to smile despite how beautiful it is to her his demise.

“Sir, if I may,” Laurence asks for permission and Edward nods, “we have an element controller, very talented…”

“The one that was overpowered by Rachel Moore?” the president asks.

“… and we have a very talented amplifier,” Laurence continues.

“The one that was overpowered by Rachel Moore, again?” the president asks.

“Overpowered only by the Angel of Death.” Laurence replies and continues. “And we have neighboring countries with already crippling economies.”

“What are you proposing, Laurence?” Edward asks.

“A natural catastrophe. It would force the Congress to approve a care package to rebuild the countries. Not all of it can be used, but a good part. We could set several volunteering agencies there, between all the chaos, no one would notice if the entire money made it there or not.”

“I’m sure that you are thinking about Central America. They don’t have the means of Eurasia, sure, but if Eurasia finds out, it wasn’t natural at all but the act of a deviant…” the president says.

“All done by an African boy.” Laurence smiles.

Padma’s lips tremble. Marianne notices it, and so does Aymee.

“If everything goes sour… We’ll build the narrative of a mentally challenged boy that came from Africa, was too jealous of not making it to number one, and in a clear demonstration of power joined darker forces. We’ll start working already on all that to make it credible. Let Central America and Africa go at each other’s throats. Eurasia won’t be able to prove that we had anything to do with it.” Laurence looks around the room, searching for the enthusiasm for his proposal.

“Start making all the preparations. We’ll begin building the lab with the funds that we have already and as soon as the catastrophe and the Congress approve the aid, we’ll finish it,” the president says.

Edward smiles and ends the meeting. Padma and Marianne grab a taxi and head to Marianne’s hotel. Padma doesn’t say a word throughout the entire journey. Once they reach her room, Padma sits on the couch and puts her hands on her face.

“What do you want to eat? Choose anything. It’s on me.” Marianne hands her the menu for room service and Padma pretends to look at it. “what’s wrong, Padma?”

“Nothing.”

“Mmm, I know you too well, don’t I? If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s one thing. But if you do, then tell me what’s going on. Maybe it will be helpful to you to talk.”

“They are using Aminu to destroy countries and kill people. All for what, Marianne? Money?” Padma shakes her head while trying to keep the tears at bay.

Marianne gets on her knees to be at Padma’s level. She sees the tears beginning to form in her eyes.

“It’s always about money, Padma. Money or power. Sometimes they have the same value, sometimes one is the means to the other.”

"Why are we doing this?!" Padma's voice breaks.

“Mmm, there will be different answers depending on who you ask. If I ask you, for example, it will be about survival, or at least, it once was.”

“And if I ask you?”

“In my case, I chose this path many years ago. I felt I had no other choice. And once you choose a path, Padma, it keeps getting harder to take a different road. Don’t do anything to jeopardize Edward’s plan, Padma. I saw him killing someone in front of me, the former head of strategy. I’m sure he was behind my husband’s death. It wasn’t just the generals.”

“I don’t understand you, Marianne.” Padma scoffs and wipes her tears. “Your work for the organization that killed your husband, all because… you are in too deep and can’t step away now? Is that it?”

“Yes, Padma. No turning back after that choice. Can't the same be said about you? You work for the people that want to restrict your rights. The same people that are using a boy, one that you are helping to be used, one that you supposedly care deeply about. All because you chose years ago to give your family better conditions. We all have our reasons behind our choices. Yours is family. Mine… is recognition. Is knowing that I’ll be the one to artificially create the gene. That’s my goal. Studying the Angel of Death is the step toward it.”

***

It's close to midnight when Padma leaves Marianne’s room. She heads to the elevator, gets in. The doors are about to close when she hears someone ask to hold the door.

Aymee Ortiz shows up in front of her and gets in.

“Paddy.” Aymee’s voice is somber.

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, it’s my hotel.” She smiles.

“Sure. I’m tired, Aymee. I don't feel like talking.”

“Oh, me neither.” Tenth floor.

Padma obeys and touches the button for the tenth floor. The doors close and the elevator goes up.

Follow me.

Padma follows Aymee to one of the rooms. Aymee scans the key card and the lights light up immediately.

“What’s going on?” Padma looks around the room after regaining control.

“Padma,” Aymee shuts the door behind her and sighs loudly. “You are planning to go home and tell Ikubor all about Pierce’s plan.” Sit down.

Padma sits and shakes her head, “No, I wasn’t-”

“Please don’t lie to me. Even after Marianne’s warnings, you were still going to do it.”

“Get out of my head!” Padma shouts.

“After our meeting today, Hall asked for me. To talk about you.” Aymee’s voice remains calm throughout the entire speech.

“What?” Padma’s hands tremble.

“Being Marianne’s advisor is just a cover. My true purpose there is to spy on everyone and report back to Hall. When Ikubor was hired, he asked me if you were going to mess things up, because he knows, because Ahktar told him, about your friendship. So, now, he asked me to let him know if you are going to keep your mouth shut.”

“You erased his memories at the factory, didn’t you? He found out about the children and you caught him.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about. I haven’t touched that boy. If his memories are gone, that was someone else.”

“Sure, like I believe you. Why are you here? You know that telling Aminu crossed my mind during the meeting. Why didn’t you tell Edward Hall, then?” Padma’s eyes fill with tears.

“Padma,” Aymee goes closer but still keeps a distance comfortable for Padma, “do you know what Hall is capable of? Deep down, you know. Marianne has warned you about him. Still…” Aymee’s voice finally shakes, “still you want to tell Ikubor.”

“They are going to make him kill people, Aymee! Blame everything on him.”

“He’ll never have to know what he did. The blaming thing is only if Eurasia raises questions. That’s not a certainty! Maybe they won’t!”

“Maybe they will!”

“Padma, please. Please stop pursuing this. I can’t protect you from Hall. He’s too powerful.”

“I can’t.” Padma refuses to face Aymee.

“You won’t have a choice. I’m sorry.” Go to sleep.

Padma closes her eyes and sinks into the chair. Aymee goes closer, puts her hands on Padma’s head and erases the part of the meeting in which they discuss the plan, her memories of wishing to speak to Aminu later, her conversation with Marianne about it and her conversation with Aymee. Instead, after the meeting, Padma went home, played video games with Aminu. Went to sleep. An uneventful evening.