Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
He held out a hand to her next. “Ben Harbin. Good surprise?” he asked, gesturing to the group of scientists.
“Yes. Thank you.” A tremendous relief washed over her. She wouldn’t be facing this alone. When she turned to make sure Hawking was still next to her, she breathed a sigh of relief. He was right behind her. He set a hand on her lower back as he quietly introduced himself to the crowd as her boyfriend.
“Everyone needs to take their seats,” Charlene announced. She hurried around, pointing to indicate where each person should sit. She positioned Celeste in the chair directly next to Ben Harbin.
When Hawking backed away from the stage, she felt a bit of panic well up inside her. What if that woman hadn’t been bluffing? What if someone killed him right here in the studio in front of her?
Hawking spoke to several people in security who scrambled off in different directions. He also pulled out his phone and typed into it. She figured he was letting Phoenix know of the threat.
She was flustered and in no way emotionally ready for this interview when Charlene announced it would begin in “five, four, three, two…”
“Good morning. I’m Ben Harbin. Joining me this morning are six world-renowned scientists, including Dr. Celeste Blanke. I’m sure many of you have heard that name in the last few days. Dr. Blanke is the scientist who discovered a drug that has proven to dramatically slow down the reproduction of cancer cells in the human body, a breakthrough that is hoped to buy precious time for millions of people all over the globe. Unfortunately, Dr. Blanke is also the center of a huge controversy since her former boss, Dr. Alan Hughes, has been accused of stealing Celeste’s data and claiming it as his own.”
Celeste sat ramrod straight, her gaze often roaming to Hawking as Harbin continued to present the audience with the facts. How many people were watching? How many people would see snippets of this interview in the coming days and weeks?
When Harbin started asking her and her peers questions, she easily fell into step and answered without hesitation. This was her element. She knew everything there was to know about this subject. And bless these other six men for joining her. They each had amazing stories to tell about how Dr. Hughes also stole their research.
When the interview cut to a commercial, Celeste sought out Hawking, and she breathed easier when she found him smiling at her.
Two makeup artists jumped onto the stage during the short break and dabbed at Harbin’s face. No one spoke to her.
All too soon, they were back on air, but Harbin’s next words sucked all the oxygen out of the room. “Joining us now is Dr. Alan Hughes, the scientist accused of stealing decades’ worth of research.”
Harbin stood as Dr. Hughes stepped onto the stage while someone dressed in black added a chair to the other side of Harbin’s.
Celeste’s jaw dropped. What the hell? Why would Harbin blindside her like this? All of them.
Telafette stood also. He looked like he might strangle someone, and Celeste wasn’t sure if he would start with Harbin or Hughes. Either way, he would have to get in line because one glance at Hawking told Celeste he was also close to joining them on stage.
Dr. Hughes shook hands with Harbin before taking his seat, looking as cool as a cucumber.
His grin made her want to vomit. Her ears were ringing. It was difficult to focus on anything Harbin was saying as Hughes painted a picture of the sloppy scientists who’d worked for him over the years. He insinuated that none of the PhDs on the stage were smart enough to put on a pair of shoes, let alone make any scientific breakthroughs.
Just when Celeste thought she might walk off the stage, Harbin changed his tactic and started asking Hughes very specific questions about her research. Harbin had an amazing grasp of her discovery. He’d done his homework. He was framing Hughes.
Hughes smirked. “I don’t think your audience is interested in the nitty-gritty of cell growth. It would bore them to tears.”
“Oh, on the contrary, Dr. Hughes, I think my audience is very interested in hearing how you came to make your discoveries. The process is fascinating.”
Hughes chuckled sardonically. “Well, without my papers in front of me, it would be difficult to discuss specifics.” He adjusted himself on the chair and straightened his jacket. His face was pale.
Harbin fired off three more questions that any one of the true scientists on the panel could answer in their sleep. Hughes could not. But more importantly, it didn’t matter if the general public understood a word. What mattered was that every important person in the scientific community around the globe was watching or would see this in the next few days. They would all see Hughes making a fool of himself.