Chapter 11: The Board's Scrutiny

I smoothed down my blazer, took a deep breath, and pushed open the big wooden doors to the Drake Technologies boardroom. The air inside felt thick, like something bad was about to happen.

Everyone's eyes were on me as I walked in, my heels echoing on the shiny floor. I knew most of these people from the files Ethan had given me, but seeing them in person was different. These weren't just names anymore; they were the big players in the tech world, ready to judge us.

Ethan stood at the head of the table. He looked his usual confident self, but there was something off, like he was on edge. When our eyes met, I saw a flicker of relief in his face. He needed me here as much as I needed him.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the board," Ethan started, his voice strong despite the pressure. "I'd like to introduce my wife, Dr. Olivia Chen-Drake."

Wife. The word still felt strange. We'd gotten married less than a week ago in a rush of paperwork and quiet promises. Now, standing in front of the board, the reality of our fake marriage hit me hard.

I put on my best smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

A low murmur spread through the room. I caught bits of their whispers: "So young," "Why the secrecy?" "Is she qualified?"

At the far end of the table, a man with silver hair and sharp blue eyes leaned forward. I knew who he was right away: Jonathan Blackwell, the most outspoken critic of Ethan's leadership.

"Dr. Chen-Drake," Blackwell's voice was polite but dripping with suspicion, "We were... surprised to hear about Ethan's sudden marriage. Perhaps you could tell us about your background?"

I felt Ethan tense beside me, but I was ready for this. I'd practiced my story a hundred times.

"Of course, Mr. Blackwell," I said, meeting his eyes. "I completed my PhD in Economic Theory at MIT, focusing on predicting market behavior. For the last three years, I've been working on a research project involving quantum computing in global finance."

I paused to let that sink in. The mention of quantum computing got their attention. Good.

"Ethan and I met at a tech conference in Singapore last year. We found we had... similar interests." I allowed a small smile to suggest a romantic connection. "When Ethan proposed both marriage and a collaboration on Drake Technologies' latest project, I couldn't resist."

Blackwell narrowed his eyes. "And what project might that be?"

I was about to answer, but Ethan stepped in smoothly. "I'm afraid that's classified, Jonathan. But I can assure you, Dr. Chen-Drake's expertise will be invaluable."

A woman with a sharp bob and even sharper eyes—Sandra Liu, if I remembered right—spoke up. "With all due respect, Ethan, the board has concerns. This marriage, the secrecy around your latest project... it all seems rather sudden."

I felt a drop of sweat run down my back. This was the moment of truth. Either they'd believe us, or everything would fall apart.

Ethan stood taller. "I understand your concerns. That's why I've asked Olivia to join us today. She'll be working closely with our R&D team on a project that, I assure you, will change not just our company, but the entire tech industry."

He nodded to me, and I stepped forward, pulling out my tablet. "If I may, I'd like to present a quick overview of the project's potential impact on our market position."

As I brought up the graphs and data, I noticed a slight movement out of the corner of my eye. Victoria, the new board member, was watching me with an intensity that made me uneasy. There was something... off about her stare. Too calculating, too cold.

I pushed the thought away and focused on my presentation. Numbers, predictions, market analysis—this was where I thrived. As I spoke, I saw the doubt in the board members' eyes slowly turn into interest, then excitement.

All except Victoria. Her face stayed blank, her dark eyes fixed on me as if trying to see through my lies.

When I finished, there was a small round of applause. Even Blackwell looked a bit impressed. I let out a small sigh of relief. We'd done it. We'd convinced them.

Or so I thought.

"Very impressive, Dr. Chen-Drake," Victoria's voice sliced through the room. It was the first time I'd heard her speak, and something about her tone sent a chill down my spine. "But I have just one question."

She stood up, smoothing her suit. "Your theories on quantum computing's uses in predictive modeling are fascinating. Almost... prophetic, one might say." Her eyes locked onto mine. "Tell me, Dr. Chen-Drake, have you experienced any... unusual phenomena since starting this work? Any strange visions or unexplained knowledge of future events?"

The room went dead silent. My heart pounded in my chest. How could she know? The visions I'd been having were a secret I'd kept even from Ethan. The flashes of the future, glimpses of stock prices and market trends that no one should be able to predict. I'd told myself they were just stress-induced hallucinations, but now...

I forced a laugh, hoping it didn't sound as nervous as I felt. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Ms. Victoria. My work is based on complex algorithms and data analysis, not crystal balls."

Victoria smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. My apologies. It was merely an... academic curiosity."

But as our eyes stayed locked, I knew this wasn't over. Somehow, Victoria knew about my visions. And I had a feeling she wasn't going to let it go.

Ethan cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Well, if there are no further questions, I think we can call it a day. Thank you all for your time."

As the board members left, talking quietly among themselves, I felt Ethan's hand on my arm. I turned to see his worried face.

"Are you alright?" he whispered. "What was that about with Victoria?"

I opened my mouth to answer, to tell him about the visions, about the fear growing inside me. But before I could speak, a sharp pain shot through my head. The world spun, colors blending and swirling around me.

And then I saw it. Clear as day, a vision of the future. Flames engulfing the Drake Technologies building. Ethan, unconscious, trapped under a fallen beam. Victoria standing over him, her eyes glowing a strange blue.

And in her hand, a device I'd never seen before, pulsing with an eerie energy.

The vision faded, leaving me gasping and disoriented. I blinked, finding myself back in the boardroom, Ethan's worried face coming into focus.

"Olivia? What's wrong?"

I grabbed his arm, my voice barely a whisper. "Ethan, we're in danger. All of us. And I think... I think Victoria might not be human."

As the words left my mouth, the lights in the boardroom flickered ominously. And somewhere in the building, an alarm began to blare.