58 The Professor’s Chilling Demands
58 The Professor’s Chilling Demands
Zachary Newman’s suite was impressive but austere, much like the man himself. At precisely 7 AM, Elara and Julian stood before him, having spent the entire night.
preparing their presentation.
“Sit,” Newman commanded, gesturing to two chairs positioned across from his imposing desk.
Neither Elara nor Julian spoke as they arranged their materials. The weight of exhaustion pressed against Elara’s shoulders, but she maintained perfect posture. Showing weakness before Newman would be fatal to their cause.
Julian connected their presentation device to the room’s display system. Their prototype’s interface materialized on the large screen. “Professor, we’ve prepared a comprehensive overview of our-
“Skip the introduction,” Newman cut in sharply. “Show me what you didn’t reveal yesterday.”
Elara nodded and took control of the presentation. “Our core innovation lies in the neural mapping algorithms. Unlike conventional approaches, we’ve developed at recursive pattern that-
For the next forty minutes, they detailed their work. Newman remained silent, his piercing gaze never leaving the screen. Occasionally, his fingers would tap against the desk–the only indication he was processing their information.
When they finished, the silence stretched painfully.
Finally, Newman leaned forward. “Your approach is… unconventional.”
Julian exchanged a quick glance with Elara. Was that approval or criticism?
“Unconventional doesn’t mean incorrect, Elara stated calmly.
Newman’s eyes narrowed. “No, but it often means untested. He stood abruptly and walked to the window. “You’ve built an impressive theoretical framework. But your implementation is flawed.”
“We’ve tested extensively, Julian argued. “The results-”
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“Are insufficient,” Newman finished. “Your sample size is too small. Your stress testing Inadequate. He turned back to face them. “And your timeline is unacceptable.”
Elara felt a chill run down her spine. “What would you suggest, Professor?”
Newman’s gaze was cold. “I don’t suggest. I instruct.” He returned to his desk and pulled out a tablet. “Your current product isn’t ready. And I don’t want to see either of you again until it is.”
The finality in his tone was crushing. Elara struggled to maintain her composure.
Julian leaned forward. “We understand your concerns. Perhaps if we had more time-”
“Time isn’t the issue. Focus is.” Newman tapped something on his tablet. “I’m heading back to Boston tonight. I want a complete technical summary of everything you’ve seen at this expo on my desk by midnight.”
Julian’s eyes widened. “Tonight? That’s impossible. There are dozens of presentations
“Is it impossible, Mr. Croft? Or merely difficult?” Newman’s voice had dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Because if you find it impossible, perhaps you should consider another field entirely.”
Elara felt her throat tighten. “We can do it,” she said firmly.
Newman ignored her. His eyes remained fixed on Julian. “Well, Mr. Croft?”
Julian swallowed hard. “We’ll have it ready”
“Good.” Newman’s attention finally shifted to Elara. His expression changed subtly- somehow becoming even colder. “Ms. Vance, I must say I’m particularly disappointed in you.”
The personal attack caught her off–guard. “Sir?”
“Your academic record was exemplary. Your early papers showed remarkable promise.” His eyes bored into hers. “Then you married Damien Thorne and apparently lost your ambition along with your surname.”
The words struck like physical blows. Elara’s cheeks burned with humiliation,
“My marriage has nothing to do with my work, she managed to say.
58 The Professor’s Chilling Damanda
Newman’s laugh was utterly without humor. “Everything has to do with everything, Ms. Vance. The choices we make define us. He gestured dismissively. “You had the potential to revolutionize this field. Instead, you chose to play corporate wife to a man who clearly doesn’t value your intellect.”
Julian stood abruptly. “That’s completely inappropriate-”
“Sit down, Mr. Croft.” Newman’s voice cracked like a whip. “Your loyalty is admirable but misplaced.”
Elara placed a restraining hand on Julian’s arm. “It’s all right, she murmured, though it wasn’t. Nothing about this was all right.
Newman gathered his papers. “You have until midnight. Don’t disappoint me further.”
They were clearly dismissed. As they gathered their materials, Elara’s mind raced. What had Zachary Newman heard about her marriage? Had Damien said something? Or Vivienne?
The elevator ride down was silent. Once they reached the lobby, Julian exploded. “That was completely unprofessional! He had no right to bring your personal life into this.”
Elara’s face remained carefully blank. “Focus on what matters. We have an impossible task to complete by tonight.”
“Elara, about what just happened-”
we need to tal
“No, we don’t.” Her tone was final. “Newman wants us to fail. I refuse to give him that satisfaction.”
They exited the hotel into the bright morning sunshine. The exhibition hall loomed ahead, bustling with attendees arriving for the day’s events.
“We’ll split up,” Elara decided. “Cover twice as many presentations. Take detailed
notes, record what you can.”
Julian looked concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but that didn’t matter.
As they entered the exhibition hall, Elara spotted Damien and Vivienne across the atrium. Damien’s expression remained impassive when their eyes met briefly. They both looked away simultaneously.
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58 The Professor’s Chilling Demands
Julian followed her gaze. “Don’t let them get to you.”
“I’m not,” Elara lied. “Let’s focus on work.”
Throughout the morning, Elara methodically attended presentations, taking comprehensive notes. She avolded the section where Damien and Vivienne were holding court with investors. Their laughter occasionally drifted across the hall, each sound like a needle under her skin.
During a brief break, Elara noticed Alistair Dubois, Vivienne’s father, entering with an entourage of business associates. Their eyes met for a moment. In the past, he had always greeted her politely, if distantly.
This time, he looked directly through her and turned away.
The deliberate snub was unexpected. Elara knew Alistair was protective of Vivienne, but he had never been openly rude before. Something had changed.
From across the room, she caught Vivienne watching the interaction, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Beside her stood Lennox, Vivienne’s aunt, whispering something.
Elara approached a refreshment table near them, pretending to examine the offerings while listening.
-shouldn’t worry about her,” Lennox was saying, “Newman barely acknowledges her
existence.”
“I’m not worried,” Vivienne replied smoothly. “But connections matter in this industry. She’s attempting to leverage her past with him.”
“Please,” Lennox scoffed. “She was just another student. You’re the one with the impressive CV
Elara selected a water bottle and moved away, her face carefully neutral despite the burning in her chest. Zachary Newman’s words echoed in her mind: “The choices we
make define us.”
She spotted Julian across the hall and made her way toward him. They needed to coordinate their afternoon schedule if they were going to fulfill Newman’s impossible demand.
As she passed Alistair Dubois again, realization dawned. He wasn’t just being rude–he was deliberately avoiding acknowledging her. The social dynamics suddenly became
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clear. If he greeted her, he would have to explain who she was to his associates.
And how embarrassing would that be? To admit that the quiet woman taking notes in the corner was Damien Thorne’s wife, while his daughter stood publicly by Damien’s side?
The humiliation of the situation hit her with fresh force. In their world, she wasn’t just being ignored–she was being erased.”
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