“Are there any questions?” I ask, praying to every higher power I can think of that there aren’t any. Apparently my prayer is not entirely wasted because the first one to break the silence is Daniel, not Mr. Hale.
“Miss Snow, this is very impressive indeed. Aside from its inherent protein, can the formula support add-on medication?”
“Yes, Mr. Samson. Drugs can be incorporated in powder form. There would need to be an adjustment for taste, but chemically, it’s possible.” I look from Daniel to Mr. Hale and speak without thinking.
“Would you like a taste?” Even I hear the excitement in my voice.
A warm tingle darts up my spine as Mr. Hale nods and answers, “I would.”
I try to walk—and not wobble—to the podium where I have a handful of the protein candy, wrapped in glossy recyclable paper.
“Sorry, I only have them in pink for now,” I mumble. I hear a low chuckle from Hale’s direction.
I open my hand and all three reach simultaneously for the candy. I watch only Mr. Hale’s fingers as they graze my palm. The electric tingle jolts down my arm and nestles at the spot he touched.
“So, are these safe to eat? Have they been tested?” asks Daniel.
Denton jumps in, bouncing on his seat. “Oh, yes. I eat them every day, especially when I forget lunch. Poor Isa has had to make extra just to account for me alone.”
But I want to be scrupulously open, and I don’t want to upset Mr. Hale. “Technically, Mr. Samson, they have not been approved by the FDA yet.”
The male gender is apparently eager to try anything previously untested for safety. They open the wrappers and pop the little candy in their mouths. I know it will start melting on their tongues instantly. I avoid looking at Mr. Hale as much as possible because his lips are puckered around the candy in a way that should be illegal.
Daniel laughs. “It tastes like cinnamon.” He smacks his lips.
“Yes. This batch does.”
“You’ve tried them in other flavors?”
“Yes. Peppermint and chocolate. Oh, and steak once because Professor Denton thought that would go well with men. I don’t recommend it.” I wrinkle my nose. Denton laughs, Daniel with him. Mr. Hale gives that same low chuckle again. I wonder if he ever truly laughs. His eyes are dancing with amusement and a dimple forms in his cheek—an innocent trait at odds with the sinful face and the savage scar. How did he get that scar?
“How did you come up with the idea?” Mr. Hale asks his first question.
It’s the most basic of questions but the tingles evaporate because of the memories it triggers. “It’s something that my father originally came up with when I was young. I have continued his work.” I try to control the emotion in my voice.
Mr. Hale’s eyes narrow a little. Denton knows this is a touchy issue so he jumps in. “Isa is being too modest. Her father formulated the idea of a tiny candy packing as much nutrition as a healthy meal but the protein, the content, the taste and the process are all hers,” he tells Mr. Hale, who continues to regard me intently.
“Has your father helped you during this project?” he asks. I swallow hard. I wish he had.
“No, Mr. Hale,” I say softly, finally making full eye contact. Please don’t push it, I beg him. He nods once as if he can hear my thoughts.
“And how far are you in the process of finishing and obtaining FDA approval?”
“I have one last stage of testing. Preservation, shelf life, that sort of thing. That should take about six months. Then, the product would be ready for FDA approval and patenting. I understand the process for that can take a while.”
“Who owns the supplement legally?”
“I do, sir. Reed has a minor share but it’s assigning it to me upon graduation.”
“And you’re graduating next week?”
“Yes, sir.”
“So, what happens to the supplement then?”
Denton interjects. “Ideally, we would work on the last stage together. That way, Reed would attract more funding and Isa would supervise the project.”
“That’s the ideal outcome but what is the actual plan?” Mr. Hale’s brow furrows slightly.
“Well, due to circumstances outside of our control, she will work on the last stage alone, although I’ll continue to advise her to the best of my ability.” Denton looks at me uncertainly for the first time. I smile and hope that it conceals the devastation I feel inside.
“What circumstances?” Mr. Hale looks at me now, as if he has had enough of Denton.
I think Denton notices it too, because he looks at me expectantly. After all, it’s my problem to tell, not his. Bloody hell, Hale is nosy. But for some reason, I don’t want to tell him that I’m leaving forever.
“Private reasons, Mr. Hale,” I say with as much volume as possible.
He does not like my answer, that much is obvious. His resolutely impassive face does not change but for a very slight, almost imperceptible flexing of his sculpted jaw. Suddenly, I am worried he will not renew the funding for the department.
“Mr. Hale, there’s no reason to doubt the department’s ability to accomplish tremendous other projects. I have full confidence in Professor Denton. It was his mentorship that made it possible for me to create the supplement. Please, don’t alter the financial support.”
Mr. Hale’s eyebrows arch as if he is surprised by my little rant but his eyes soften.
“I will not pull the funding, Miss Snow. There’s no reason for your concern. But at the moment I’m focusing on your invention. Surely, you need assistance with the last stage?”
I smile as I realize his frustration may actually be kindness. But unfortunately, his investment in my project would not keep me here. Only my own investment of a million dollars to an existing American business would.
“Professor Denton and I will continue to collaborate. Someday it will be finished, Mr. Hale. You have my word.”
He smiles at the last sentence. “What are your plans after you graduate?” he asks, tenting his long fingers.
“No plans at the moment.”
Immediately, his eyes harden, no doubt because of my secretive answer. There is something sentient about them, as though they have thoughts and feelings of their own.
“You may have your reasons for guarding this supplement closely, Miss Snow. However, I would advise you to think practically. You could profit from this.” His words are careful, almost a warning. As though he is telling me I have my priorities wrong. But priorities imply options, and I only have one.
“Well, if you want to buy it for a million dollars net of taxes, I would sell it to you today,” I offer because I already know the answer.
He chuckles. “A million dollars for an unfinished invention? That’s a steep price, considering that I do nothing with science. No offense to your accomplishments, of course.”
“None taken, Mr. Hale. How much would you sell your dreams for?”
He stops smiling. “I’m a venture capitalist, Miss Snow. I don’t have dreams. I have goals.”
Life without dreams… “That sounds very safe, Mr. Hale.” Maybe I should have followed that philosophy. If I had, perhaps this end would not hurt so much. “Are there any other questions I can answer for you?” I smile.
Daniel smiles too. “I don’t think so, Miss Snow. Your materials are very clear and I have this handy packet, which I’ll study in detail. I do thank you for making time for this when you’re wrapping up your final year here.”
I nod and look down at my hands. He has no idea how literal his words are.
Daniel stands, and so does Denton. Mr. Hale doesn’t stand until Daniel shakes my hand and walks with Denton to the door. The tension in Mr. Hale’s posture remains palpable. I reach for his hand, half-scared, half-curious to see if the same electricity will jolt through me again. It does, the instant our hands touch.
“Thank you for your support of the department, Mr. Hale.”