Side Story: A peek into the past 3

The moment she stepped into the stage, the deafening roar of the abundant talking died down little by little until it became hushed whispers. There were some perks of using the element of surprise, since everyone expected Adam to step out and do the presentation, they were clearly blindsided when she stepped in. Now she wouldn't be wasting too much time to have them keep quiet.

She felt weird about having to make an audience made of college professors and doctors quiet down and pay attention to the lecture. but that was the truth of this situation. she knew that no one was there for what she was about to say, they were there for the show.

Raising her head, she met Adam's eyes who settled in, facing her and ready to launch the presentation at her signal. P. wattani was among the first row, sitting back with his arms crossed, he rose one eyebrow when she looked at him, as I daring her to screw him moment of glory up. The department chief was sitting beside him giving her a friendly smile, Sarah felt the gazes and the expectations on her like shackles choking back her next breath, but she couldn't let them. Too much was at stake at this point, both she and Adam knew. as much as this is important for the professor so it was for them. they had to see the Queen go through...

She adjusted her microphone and looked up into the crowd with a neutral expression and waited for the whispers to die down. when she had everyone's attention she put a smile on her face and said

"Good day everyone, I'm Sarah Keissi, I'm a plant research doctor from the agricultural institute. And today we are going to tell you about our research project, as we affectionally name it, the queen."

She announced not letting the crowd settle before continuing, "As we all know, new species are discovered all over the world, whether they are animals, insects or plants. and as their numbers grow, the Classification System becomes more and more diverse. but, some Families in the classification system are considered as known because there have been no recent discoveries of new species in a long time." Sarah explained knowing that she was simplifying this too much for these people, this is something she wouldn't have to tell her student in a lecture, but the audience is too diverse in their specializations that it would be unfair to placate them with foreign terms.

She nodded at Adam and he played the animated display they created, " but, imagine with me, if two random plant species, who didn't have anything in common, except for one little bee, who happened to land on both of them. And then next we know, there is a new plant, holding the properties of both these species" As Sarah spoke, the crowd grew noisy, she smiled "we're still imagining. let's suppose that the plant that came out of this union is one of a kind, a new species that holds new genes, new molecular composition, and new traits...."

As she spoke she knew the moment when she caught their attention, mutations are so rare in their fields, so presenting evidence of a mutation the completely transformed a plant species would pick up any Biologist's interest. as she continued explaining the process of their research, some of her audience began scribbling and some were staring intently into the displayed pictures.

Sneaking a look at her boss, he was watching her with the same expression since the presentation started. A shiver ran down her spine, no matter how much she tried to get used to his impassive and brusque demeanor she never managed to.

P. kinsley who sat beside him stopped pretending to pay attention to the presentation and was outright glaring at the display pictures. 'Now you're showing your true color' she thought to herself. He orchestrated all this to humiliates them, and even though she's against using science to settle personal scores, she couldn't help but feel a bit of triumph when she realized that they turned his plan against him. they've been working too hard to let someone defile their research in a few hours without a reason.

"This will be all. Thank you so much for taking the time to attend our presentation" she told them with a smile. They kept looking between her and the display, the session was cut too short for their liking.

'Sorry folks but we have to eat bread from what we do too,' she thought. if she let out any more information their research would be a sitting meal for plagiarism, by the time they're done with it, it would be all over the world.

"If you have any more questions please go ahead and ask our Head Researcher Professor Wattani" she said stepping down from the stage accompanied by a round of applauds.

P. Wattani took the mike she handed him with the same cold expression, and headed toward the stage.

"I'd give you a huge hug if we weren't under the microscope." Adam whispered as he came to stand beside her.

"I appreciate the thought but keep your arms to yourself unless I'm about to fall into my face." She retorted with a smile.

"Yeah, I'd make sure to have my hands tied when that happens" He responded playfully. "You shone out there by the way, i was worried for a moment there."

"yeah, well so was I. I'm never doing this again, even for you." she grumbled, remembering the strong urge to run away from all those stares, but as soon as she started talking about science, all her worries melted away.

Feeling like she was being watched, she looked up to the audience, she met the eyes of the young man who caught her attention earlier, he gave her a gentle smile that automatically made her smile back. Then the reason why he seemed to clear out when she realized where she saw him.

"The guy who was with P. Kinsley earlier, do you know him?" she asked Adam.

"Elias Sandstone, we entered this university around the same time." Adam responded, eying the professor who was answering questions, or just plain insulting anyone who asked. "We didn't hang out a lot but we ran in the same circles.

"Is he working here now?"

"Yeah, his family's in pretty powerful in this city. The professors were always trying to scurry favor from him."

"A coattail tail rider?"

"Not exactly, the guy is good at what he does. he deserves it. You'd hear the contrary but i think that the department just wanted to scurry favor he's not the type to throw his family's name around."

"Coming from someone who was wronged out of his position is really something."

"if we had a fair competition, i'd be the one winning of course" Adam said with a grin, Sarah chuckled. Adam seemed to respect this person, and look at him as his peer. she wondered if it was the same for him too, he was among the only people who payed attention since the start and seemed to take in her words.

"It will be all for today" P. Wattani's clipped tone announced. As soon as he stepped down he was surrounded by the attendants all wanting to talk to him. Sensing that her turn was coming by, she signaled Adam and she sidestepped him intending to sneak out of the conference room, but her escape was interrupted when she stumbled on her heels at the last step, she almost fell on her face but she was caught before her weight gave out from under her.

' Just when the door is so near' she though steadying herself and mumbling excuses as she looked up. a familiar face was facing her, and she kept staring at him dumbfounded until he chuckled.

"Weren't you heading somewhere?" Elias sandstone said with a smile.

"Oh, Right. My escape was interrupted." she said without thinking, then kicked herself internally for being too honest.

"Far be it from me interrupting your plans, Please allow me." he said ceremoniously opening the door to her escape route. With a last glance at Adam who gave her the thumbs, she left the room Elias following behind her.