Change is Tough 

“I still don’t get why we have to move…”

“Because the other site is compromised.” She mocked his words behind her lover’s back.

Her nose scrunched up as he continued to unpack the last of his boxes. She liked his old office better.

Her poker face snapped back into place as he turned to her. He sighed, already knowing better than to believe her innocent face.

“You hate it. I get that.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye. “But, there’s nothing I can do. Why don’t you go back downstairs and meet some of your new employees?” He led her to the door, popping her bottom as she walked out.

She stuck her tongue out at him, the only thing she could before he closed the door.

After meeting her new employees, she begrudgingly got back to work.

They were suited up and ready, beginning a new project. A mainly secondary type of project. Testing new ideas while others worked on the main floor to stabilize enhanced formulas and work an efficient plan for mass production.

The work had been going smoothly. Those on her team worked swiftly and followed orders well, even the newcomers, and it pleased her to no end. This might turn into their next big project.

“Alright… Looking good.”The scientist beside her smiled at her boss’s encouragement. They’d known each other for years now. Practically friends.

“Shall we try the next step then?” Given the go-ahead, she grabbed a set of prongs with gloved hands and carefully lifted the beaker from the burner.

As she began to move it to the next set of instruments, her boss moved back, being mindful. However, she bumped into another scientist with the clipboard. Trying to correct herself, she took a tiny step forward, almost hitting her friend carrying the beaker.

“Sorry.”

“No, no. You’re fine.” She set the beaker down, careful to not jostle the contents inside.

---

“What’s that noise?” One man sneered at the alarm that interrupted their meeting.

His boss, however, paled at the sound. A sound he had heard one time before and it nearly led him into cardiac arrest.

Dismissing the meeting with a wave of his hand, he shot from his chair and sprinted down to the lower levels. The elevator took too long, so he shot for the staircase, nearly falling on several occasions in his rush.

“What the hell is going on?” He watched as lab coats scrambled across the floor, in between different lab spaces.

“There’s been a contamination leak, sir.” One stopped beside him, taking the time to lead him to the second floor that overlooked most of the labs. Its where conferences were held as well as the control room overseeing this half of the facility.

In the control room, he could speak to her.

“Everyone okay?”

“We’re good.” His shoulders sagged in relief at her voice over the radio. “I’ll be out shortly and a full report on your desk tomorrow.”

Damn the report.

He didn’t say it, no matter how much he wanted to. Despite her reassurance, he remained in the control room where he could watch their progress. Those involved in the spill were the first ones dealt with, the room easily sealable until the cleaning could progress.

“Are you okay?” She had just sent the others on their way, stopping the lab’s lockdown and sending them all back to work.

He wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Yep.” She lifted his hand from where it lay on her stomach, to kiss his knuckles. “I will see you tonight.”

“Okay.” He kissed her cheek chastely, before finally returning to his own work.

The labcoats worked liked bust, little bees around him. Someone always rushing about. Sticky notes and phone alarms reminding them of what they intended to do next. In and out of the lab spaces, individual rooms with plenty of windows to see in as well as cameras.

No hiding down here.

The only real rooms with any privacy were the bathrooms, his office, and her office.

He watched the lab doors shut, sealing to prevent unwanted guests from entering during prime work hours. A sort of pride filled him at the sight of those vault-like doors. And the one they reminded him of.