Clara had been working quietly all morning, completely absorbed in her experiments. By the grace of God, Laura hadn't bothered her once. She felt a small sense of relief she hadn't shared with anyone—no one knew the tangled history between them, and she intended to keep it that way.
Lunchtime came faster than expected, and Mara appeared at her bench, smiling brightly.
"Let's go to the canteen. I'm starving," she said cheerfully.
"Sure," Clara replied, stretching her shoulders and letting out a quiet sigh.
They hung their lab coats just as Dr. Patel's voice called from across the room, still focused on his paperwork.
"Could you guys take Laura with you? Clara, you're new too, so it might make her feel at ease. And Mara, you can show both of them around."
Mara looked at Clara, silently asking for confirmation, but the expression on Clara's face said everything. She was about to make some excuse when Laura's voice cut in, smooth and overly sweet.
"That would be lovely," she said, flashing a perfectly timed smile.
Dr. Patel didn't look up. "Great, thanks, ladies."
The three of them started walking toward the canteen, and Mara took the lead, ordering her lunch while chatting casually about the menu. Clara let the warm smell of food and the bustling canteen calm her for a moment. But as Mara stepped away to get trays, Clara could feel her patience fraying.
She turned to Laura, letting her voice carry a hint of controlled sharpness. "Why are you here?"
Laura blinked, not missing a beat in her practiced politeness. "To work," she said.
Clara scoffed. "Don't lie. You're not smart enough to fool anyone here."
She knew she was being rude and blunt but she didn't know what game Laura was playing at and she needed to know.
Laura's smile faltered for just a second, then she recomposed herself, feigning hurt. "If I weren't smart enough, I wouldn't have been hired. Cross Pharmaceuticals doesn't make mistakes when it comes to hiring."
Clara raised an eyebrow, curious despite herself. Really? Is she? Her mind raced through the data, the lab protocols, the precision needed. She knew this job required brains, not just charm. Could Laura actually have the skills to pull this off?
Clara's tone sharpened and she asked again "so you expect me to accept you working here after threatening me last week at the cafe."
Laura blinked, confusion mingling with disbelief. "Café?"
"I… I don't remember ever going to a café."
Clara froze, studying her. She really doesn't remember. The pieces clicked together—the faint fear, the veiled threats—they were all from after Clara had been reborn. And Laura genuinely had no memory of them. At least she looked like she didn't remember at all.
"What about the dinner party?" Clara asked, testing gently.
Laura frowned, thinking, then shook her head. "I… I remember our university days, but I don't remember the dinner party."
Clara's stomach tightened. She looked at Laura, the full weight of the realization settling in. Laura had no memory of all the events after Clara's rebirth—the manipulation, the threats, even the moment she had been drugged. Something's not right… Clara wondered why, though a part of her knew this might work in her favor.
Laura's voice softened suddenly, serious and careful. "Clara… I know I wasn't always the best friend back then. But I don't want any trouble with you."
Clara studied her, curiosity and suspicion warring with a faint sense of relief. She didn't answer immediately, just watched Laura fidget slightly, the perfect mask of confidence slipping a fraction.
Mara returned, trays in hand, glancing between them. "Everything okay over here?" she asked, oblivious to the tension.
Clara nodded, straightening. "Yeah. Just… talking."
Laura's eyes flicked away, her expression unreadable. Clara felt a strange unease settle over her—like a puzzle she didn't yet have the pieces for. Something about Laura had changed, or maybe something had been hidden all along. And as Clara watched her, she realized she was going to have to figure it out… before it was too late.