The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project Series, # 2) (30 page)

Before I could answer she ran over to Erik. “You’re so handsome, Erik!” He blushed as she turned back to me. “But I love most any guy in a tux. I think it’s so sexy!” Erik looked disappointed; her compliment was now meaningless.

“Well, now that I know you two are ready, I’ll head back to the dining room. There’s a cocktail hour going on now. Dinner will start shortly. Walter will bring you to the dining room, but you’ll wait outside. Drew will make a short speech and then announce you. And that’s when I’ll come out and get you, okay? And then after dinner, when we get to the ballroom, he’ll announce you again and you’ll do the first dance. I told you this a hundred times, I know, but I just wanted to go over it once more.”

I smiled at her. “Yes. We’ve got it, Rachel. We won’t screw it up.”

“Oh, I know you won’t. Ignore me. I’m just nervous. This is a big event. Drew’s counting on me to make sure everything goes perfectly. See you soon!” She raced back out the door, leaving us with Walter.

“You both look,” he paused, “appropriately dressed this evening.” It was the one and only compliment we would ever get from Walter. “Shall we go?”

We walked down the hall past the front entrance. The guards were still there, but even they wore tuxedos rather than their usual dark suits. The entire entrance area was decorated with large white trees covered in sparkly white lights. The regular lights were dimmed to allow the soft glow coming from the trees to fill the room.
 

We got to the dining room and waited outside as Rachel instructed. I could hear Drew’s speech. Most of it was stuff about how great GlobalLife was, curing illness, feeding the hungry, and other lies. Finally, he paused to introduced us.
 

Rachel came out the door. “Ready?” she whispered to us.

“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Drew announced. “The arrival of our stars for the evening. Prototypes of the future. May I introduce for the very first time, Samantha and Erik. The golden couple.”
 

The golden couple? I glanced at Erik, who seemed just as confused. Rachel pushed Erik toward me, reminding him to take my arm as we walked out onto a small stage that had been set up. Bright lights shined down on us and people stood up and clapped. I peered through the light to see the room of onlookers. There were people of all nationalities. I could hear different languages and accents in the crowd.
 

“They are simply amazing,” I heard one woman say.

“What a gorgeous couple,” another woman said.
 

I noticed two ladies near the stage staring up at us. “Oh, can you imagine?” the one lady said to her friend.

“They’ll be even more gorgeous. And perfect in every way,” her friend responded.

I looked back to see a large banner hanging behind us. On it were the words “Celebrate The Golden Couple” along with the Greek letter phi. Just like the one on the necklace Allie gave me.
 

“Samantha, turn around,” Drew scolded as he smiled at the crowd.

The clapping got louder as everyone stood up. The room gradually quieted. Drew went to the microphone again. “Thank you. I can see you’re all as excited as I am about these two. And I encourage you to express your enthusiasm for the project by continuing to invest in the research that will bring this technology to life in all of us.” He gave them a huge salesman grin. Then he came over next to us and said loudly and forcefully, “This is the future, my friends! Let us celebrate it!”

Everyone clapped again. Drew made us stand there for a minute, then led us off the stage. Rachel was waiting to take us to the head table that was set up in the front of the room. We were stuck sitting next to Drew and some foreign investors. Owens sat at the far end of the table. His device didn’t work from a distance, so we couldn’t listen to anyone’s thoughts.
 

People stared at Erik and me as we ate. Apparently, they weren’t allowed to talk to us until later at the dance. And even then, they were only allowed a few minutes of our time.
 

With the bright lights off us, I could see better. I scanned the room to get a look at everyone. There was a sea of sparkle from the diamonds and other jewels the women were wearing. All the ladies wore white gowns and the men wore tuxedos, like a room full of brides and grooms. I spotted Allie’s mom flittering from table to table, trying to gauge how much money she would get out of the night.

When we got to the ballroom, Erik and I had to wait outside while everyone filed in. I could see inside as people entered. The ballroom was filled with huge floral arrangements made out of black and white flowers. There were also trees adorned in white lights like the ones in the lobby. An orchestra was set up somewhere near the back of the ballroom. I could hear the music but couldn’t see the musicians.

After everyone was in the ballroom, Rachel came out with Terrance.
 

“You must make this your very best waltz,” Terrance instructed. “The best one yet! Remember, you must feel the connection between you. Feel the passion! The love!”
 

Erik and I tried not to laugh as we watched him almost act out each word.
 

Sensing we weren’t quite feeling the connection, Terrance nudged Erik toward me. “Give her a kiss for luck,” Terrance ordered. Erik hesitated. “What’s wrong with you? She’s beautiful. Kiss her!”

I gave Erik a look to let him know it was okay. Anything to get Terrance to shut up.

Erik leaned in and softly kissed me on the lips. It was only the second time we’d kissed. The first time, back in Texas, was incredible. But this kiss topped even that! It ignited that intense chemistry between us that I’d been trying so hard to ignore.
 

“Okay, there’s the music,” I heard Rachel say.
 

Erik pulled away. I could see from his face that the kiss was just as intense for him.
 

“Good luck!” Rachel said as she guided us to the doors.

“You’ll do wonderful! I know you will!” Terrance called out from behind us.

We walked into the ballroom. People were hovering above us watching from the balcony. Others were lined up along the outside of the dance floor. Erik got in position, putting his hand firmly around my waist. We stood tall and kept our eyes locked on each other. And then we began. I could feel it after our first step. We were completely in sync. Even more than during practice. Erik guided us across the floor, turning and stepping as if he’d been doing this his whole life. I followed his lead, not even thinking about my footwork.
 

The music eventually stopped and the room was silent. Did we screw something up? I thought. It seemed like we did everything right. And then the applause began. Louder than it had been in the dining room. I could hear words coming from the crowd. “Absolutely magnificent!” “Such talent for people so young!” “The future indeed!”

The music began again and people joined us on the dance floor. “Great job, Erik,” I said, as we continued to dance, “especially since that was your first real dance in public.”

“Thanks. I’m just glad it’s over. I hate having people stare at me.”
 

“So are you gonna ask Rachel to dance?”

“Maybe later. But I don’t know. You look even hotter than she does tonight. I might just stick with you.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment? Because that last part kind of—”

Erik smiled. “It’s a compliment.”

When the next waltz started, we took a break and stood off to the side of the dance floor. People stopped by to say hello and tell us how much they enjoyed watching our dance. I attempted to use some of the greetings I’d learned for the foreign guests, but I kept getting strange looks followed by polite smiles. I’m sure my pronunciation was off.

The night continued with more smiling, meeting, shaking of hands, and dancing. Occasionally, Rachel or Drew would make Erik or me dance with someone. Rachel later explained that these people had made a large investment in the project, earning them a dance.
 

Midway through the evening, Owens approached me, asking me to dance. I agreed, of course, and he updated me on the plan.
 

“Act natural and pretend we’re talking,”
he thought.
“Did Erik figure out the cipher yet? Does he have the password?”

“Almost,” I whispered, still smiling.

“Good. So tonight I’m hoping to find out where the genes are stored. I’m now certain that Drew is the one who has the vials or at least has access to them. I’m going out in the hallway soon to introduce Drew to a friend of mine. A potential investor. I want you to accompany me. As we’re talking, I’ll ask Drew some questions. He may or may not think of the vials. But listen closely in case he gives you any clues. Did you get all of that?”

“Yes,” I said as the music changed. “It was nice dancing with you as well.”
 

Owens left and Erik took his place.
“What was that about?”

“I’m going in the lobby soon to meet with Drew, Owens, and some other guy. As they talk, I’ll listen to Drew’s thoughts. Owens has the device on and will be right next to Drew, so I should be able to hear what he’s thinking.”

“Should I go with?”

“He said just me. I’ll fill you in when I get back.”

A few minutes later, Owens came back and we went out into the lobby. We walked over to an old man wearing a tuxedo and black cowboy boots. I remembered seeing the man earlier when I’d overheard Drew at dinner saying how the boots were inappropriate for a formal ball. Drew was mingling with some other people. He quickly ended his other conversation and came over to Owens.

“Preston, I see you’ve brought a friend with you tonight.” Drew gave a quick nod to acknowledge me, then focused on the man I didn’t know.

“Yes,” Owens said. “This is Orton Wolcott, owner of Wolcott Oil. They’re based in Houston. Orton, this is Drew Chamberlin. He’s the head of GlobalLife Genetics. He’s currently based here in Iceland.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wolcott.” Drew shook his hand. “And I assume you’ve met Samantha already?”

“No. That’s why I asked Preston to bring her out here. I wanted to see the girl up close.” Wolcott turned to shake my hand. “Hello, Samantha. It’s good to finally meet you. It must be a real privilege for you to be part of such a historic project.”

“Yes, it is,” I lied. A privilege to be part of a project that’s experimenting on me and keeping me prisoner? I thought. Did he even know about the project?

Owens quickly turned the conversation back to business. “As you can see, Samantha and that boy, Erik, are truly a success. It’s time we get this project moving forward.”

“Yes, and now is an excellent time to get in on this opportunity,” Drew added, preparing to go into his sales speech.
 

Owens stopped him. “Drew, before you continue, Orton had some concerns he wanted you to address.”
 

“Of course. Ask me anything.” I could tell Drew was annoyed by the interruption but tried to hide it by smiling.

“Preston says these genetic sequences that GlobalLife has come up with are top secret. And he’s assured me that nobody can replicate them. Is that correct?”
 

Genetic sequences? So that’s what the investors think? That GlobalLife just developed some unique genetic sequences? Then they haven’t told them about the alien DNA. The investors think it’s just a change to human DNA. I wondered how many people actually knew the truth.

Drew nodded. “Yes, that is correct. The genetic sequences and the software that goes with them are proprietary to us.”

“So you’ve got these secrets in a vault somewhere? How can I be sure they won’t be stolen and copied by some other company?”

Drew seemed offended by the question. “We here at GlobalLife use the latest security technology. I, myself, am the guardian of the genetic material. So you can rest assured that the material is safe.”

“Yes, well, I’ve heard that before,” Wolcott said. “Then I invest millions only to find some competitor comes out with a similar product, making my investment worthless.”

Owens sensed Drew’s blood boiling at the man’s comment. He stepped in to address Wolcott’s concerns. As he did that, I listened to Drew’s thoughts.
 

“How dare he question the security of the genes! As if I’m incompetent! If he only knew that they were right here behind me. If anyone tried to find them, do you think they’d look in the lobby? Of course not! Putting them here was brilliant! And all my idea!
” Drew struggled to maintain his fake smile as Owens talked.

I glanced behind Drew to see what he was talking about. What was behind him? Nothing, really. Except a statue. Was that what he meant? The marble globe? But how? There was no way to open it.

Drew’s thoughts were active again.
“I’m the one who suggested using the brain wave fingerprint. And I never get credit for it! I wish I could think those words right now and watch that damn thing open. Just to see the look on this idiot’s face!”

“Drew, do you want to explain the next steps for investors?” Owens looked at Drew, who heard the word “investors” and got his sales face on again.
 

Drew turned to me. “Samantha, now that you’ve met Mr. Wolcott, you can return to the ballroom.”

Mr. Wolcott shook my hand again. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Samantha. I look forward to seeing you at future events.”
 

“I’ll escort her back to the ballroom,” Owens said. “Please continue. I’ll return shortly.”

“Did you get anything?”
Owens thought to me as we walked away.
“Do you know where the genes are?”

I looked back at the globe. Drew was still standing right in front of it in full sales mode, his hands gesturing as he talked. Mr. Wolcott stood across from him looking bored.

Owens glanced back.
“What? The statue?”
 

He waited for me to answer, then remembered that I couldn’t.
“Okay, well, it must open somehow. So we know it’s in the globe. And Erik’s working on the cipher and you know the biometric. So all you need is access to the globe without anyone around?”