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“From what I’ve read, it seems you’re on the edge of a breakthrough in spinal injury treatment. I’m just curious if you have plans to continue your work on the nano-regeneration when you finish your doctorate.”
She glanced Liam’s direction again, but the noise of the treadmill seemed to be loud enough to cover their conversation. “I’m really excited about it, and so is my advisor. He’s already applied for a patent. But I’ll probably have to switch to something else in May. My professor hasn’t offered me a post-doc, and I can’t take my research with me to another place.”
“I’m aware that Dr. Staghorn made a patent application a few weeks ago. But I’m confident this research could be moved to Limitless,” Bran said. “My legal team tells me our grant contract gives us specific rights to any marketable discoveries. Limitless doesn’t provide grants to help a few lucky people get rich. Our goal is to help all the people out there who aren’t so lucky.”
Carly cringed. “Dr. Staghorn is going to be so mad. If he blames me, I may not get my degree.”
“At the moment, I wouldn’t say he’s angry,” said Bran. “I’d describe it as sweating bullets. He took a risk and ended up cutting his own throat. Otherwise, I’d be offering this job to him instead of you.”
“You’re actually offering me a job?” She froze. “At Limitless?”
It was a dream come true! Things like this didn’t happen to Carly.
“We’re creating a position at our research facility in Seattle.” He cleared his throat. “Eh-hem... where Liam works.”
I knew there had to be a catch.
A quick check showed Liam hard at work on the exercise bike, his forearms pumping two integrated handles. Carly restarted her rowing efforts.
“Bran, did Fordham tell you about Liam and my brother and the accident?”
“Yes, he did. And I’ve kept my promise of secrecy, in anticipation of the guacamole coming at lunchtime.” He waggled teasing eyebrows, then sobered. “I only agreed to hide your identity from Liam to allow you the time to tell him yourself. He’s both a friend and business partner. I can’t keep lying to him.”
Acid boiled in her empty stomach.
“I’m going to tell him. I’m waiting for the right time.”
“Do you blame him for your brother’s death?”
She’d been mulling that question over in her mind since her eye-opening conversation with Nora. “I honestly don’t. They were teenagers who made really stupid decisions that night. My brother got off easy. All the rest of us, including Liam and I, have suffered the consequences for sixteen years.”
As much as she’d tried, she couldn’t unload the guilt hanging on her own shoulders.
“Tell him that,” said Bran. “It’ll do him good to hear it.”
“I will, sometime today.” She nodded, belatedly remembering Bran couldn’t see it. “But about that job you mentioned... I’m grateful and honored, but I could never work that closely with Liam.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not strong like he is. I’ve suppressed my feelings all these years. I’m practically a walking zombie. And you know how Liam is. He’s got a huge heart, and he thinks he’s responsible for everyone else’s happiness. If I were around him every day, what are the chances he wouldn’t start blaming himself for what I’ve become?”
Bran slowed the treadmill to a brisk walking pace, his brows knitted together with concentration. “I understand what you’re doing, Carly. It’s a coping mechanism.”
“How much will I owe you for this analysis, Dr. Freud?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “The guacamole will be enough, providing it’s as good as you claim.”
“It is.” She lifted her chin. She wanted to ignore his statement, but she was too curious not to ask. “Fine. Tell me what you think I’m doing.”
“It’s simple. You can’t do anything about the past, so you try to control the future. Not just for you, but for all the people you care about. I know, because I do the same thing.” Bran increased the speed until he was sprinting faster than before. “Take exercise, for instance. It’s the ultimate control of your body.”
“Maybe I am trying to control things.” She upped her rowing pace, feeling the urgent need to punish herself. “There aren’t many areas of my life where I have control, but this is one of them—making a choice that could protect someone from pain they don’t deserve. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“It would be okay.” Bran spoke between heavy breaths. “But you’re underestimating Liam.”
“That’s not true. I think he’s amazing in every way.”
“Ha! That’s good to know.”
