Body Chemistry Read Free Page B

“I understand.”
    Brenda wondered how she could delicately tell Sonya to Go away . She opened her mouth to do so when Sonya suddenly gasped. She stared at the Weekly Science Journal , which was lying on the seat next to her. She picked it up and began reading. Without any warning, she tapped it, making the paper look as though it were ready to fly. “Can you believe this?”
    Brenda silently prayed that it wasn’t more bad news. “Believe what?”
    “Haven’t you read the paper?”
    “No, not yet. I was just sitting here hoping for some time by myself and—”
    “It says Dr. Franklin won the National Science Research Grant.”
    Brenda felt her body go cold. “I see.”
    “He’s getting millions for his project. Millions. Are you okay? You look a little ill.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “I wouldn’t blame you if you were. The thought of that jerk getting all that money makes me ill too. Oh no, there he is.”
    Brenda glanced over her shoulder. Yes, there he was—tall, proud and handsome, standing at the counter, likely ordering an espresso. He always ordered one with an almond biscotti. He was a creature of habit and one creature Brenda liked to compare to a parasite. He knew whom to latch on to, based on what he needed, and would suck them dry until he found another host. She’d been one of them. His methods had worked and now he was a world-renowned scientist.
    Sonya’s cell phone buzzed. She checked the number, then jumped up. “Better go. Bye.”
    Brenda waved and watched her leave. She looked over at Franklin again, desperately wishing she had a cigarette so she could smoke her brains out. What was the use of staying healthy when your life was going into the toilet?
    She’d better leave. Brenda gathered her things and headed for the exit. Unfortunately, she reached the door the same time Franklin did. He gallantly held it open.
    “Thank you,” she said, only because she had to. The rain had stopped but drops still fell from the awning. Three large ones splashed her coat.
    He smiled, a smile that used to make her knees weak, but now only made her stomach turn. “You’re welcome,” he said. “Glad the rain stopped.”
    Oh damn, he wanted to talk. “Yes.” She stared at him. They were the same height, which she loved because he tended to look down on others both figuratively and literally and never had that chance with her.
    “I just bought two biscotti.” That was being dangerously extravagant for him. He liked to keep his body fit and rarely allowed himself to indulge.
    She maintained her bold stare. “Great.”
    “I’m celebrating.”
    “Uh-huh.” She knew he wanted to be congratulated, but she would make him work for it.
    “You must not have heard. I won the National Science Research Grant.”
    “Yes, I heard,” she said, sounding bored.
    Some of his bravado crumbled as did his smile. “I was chosen out of a total of sixteen hundred applicants. The competition was extremely stiff. Only ten grants were awarded.”
    “Quite an accomplishment.”
    His smile returned. That was all the credit his ego needed. “Yes.”
    Brenda moved past him.
    He blocked her. “You know I have to staff this project. Most of the positions are filled, but I could always find a place for you.”
    She sent him a flat, cold look. “I have a career.”
    He sniffed. “You have a job supervising that motley crew of rejects for a research project that will likely never be completed.”
    “They are not—”
    “I know you, Brenda. You try to be like the rest of us, but you’re not. Everyone knows Dr. ‘Loony’ Lawson is one day away from a nervous breakdown. And that Ling girl bounces all over the place as though she were about to burst into a cheer.”
    “She used to be a cheerleader.”
    “She should have stayed one. She doesn’t have what it takes to be a scientist.”
    Brenda resisted the urge to reply.
    He shook his head. “Your researchers are the ones I fired. Not because I’m a bad guy, but