Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Asked for an Open Marriage, I Walked Away: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

For seven days, they forgot the world. Nathan switched off his phone, deleted every message and disabled his email. Ashley did the same. No calls, no appointments, no meetings, no obligations. Just them, away from everything.They slept in late in the mornings, ate lunch together in the afternoons and spent evenings wrapped around each other. They talked sometimes about nothing in particular. their favorite foods or a memory, or a random, stupid dream. Sometimes they didn't talk at all and simply lay close, listening to each other breathe.There was no urgency to their time together. Ashley laughed more easily and her eyes were softer than they used to be. Nathan was also a different person in her presence. Usually so quiet and reserved, with her he was open and unguarded, laughing easily. If she teased him, he chased her around the room until he caught her and pulled her back to him.They didn't just make love, though there was that, plenty of that.

Jamie sighed. "It's the same wearable metabolic patch. They didn't tell us what it was going to do completely, but they said that the launch was going to be next week."Ashley's tone was even. "Call Erick for me. Tell him to come to the lab as soon as possible."Jamie bobbed her head. "Yes, Ash."Several hours later Erick entered, a folder bulging with reports in hand. "Ash, I already looked it all over. Someone on our old team got picked up by an international company—SynBioFit. And I am quite positive it was him who sold our idea to them."Ashley didn't look up. "I know."Erick scowled. "Are we still going to continue this one then? Or are we going to start over before it's too late?"Ashley sat back in her chair. "No. We've invested too much already. I'm about to complete the final analysis and it's just a couple more tests to finish it. It's too late f

Nathan scanned the area. Men and women were slumped on stretchers, baking under the hot sun. Some of them were soldiers, others civilians. Most were villagers who had come in search of aid. The disease didn't discriminate who it infected. It took everyone the same way.One of the nurses walked up to him with a small box in hand. It had the Dawson Pharma logo on the side. "Sir, these just came from the supply drop. New medication. Called Virobactin."Nathan paused when he read the name. His chest tightened. Ashley.He took the box from her and slowly opened it. There were small vials and a couple of packets inside. "Are the instructions in here?""Oral and intravenous. The report states it enhances immune response to viral and bacterial infection. It's said to help the body remain in stasis as the immune system fights."The doctor at Nathan's side nodded solemnly.

"As you all know, Ashley has withdrawn her attendance at any further board meetings," he stated, his voice even and composed. "She informed me personally that the final five percent of her stocks will remain in her name solely as a matter of legacy. She no longer wishes to be involved in the hospital's management or decision-making."The room made small sounds. Some members nodded in agreement, others chatted quietly."She also mentioned," Raymond said, "that she will be available to us should we need her assistance. And should Dawson Pharma release any further medical advancements, we will be given priority access."A woman seated at the opposite end of the table, Ashley's Aunt Lydia, folded her arms. "So she wants to sit back and reap the dividends of her investments without lifting a finger?"Raymond studied her evenly. "I believe it is for the best. We have had board members in the past w

The early morning sunlight was seeping through the trees and students were buzzing around the campus as Ashley stepped out of her car. Under her arm she had a folder and took a deep breath as she looked around. It had been a while since she'd visited her old college campus as an undergraduate student. She could still remember walking by those halls every morning listening to the undergrads whisper and buzz about their classes. She was one of them years ago, at least, she thought she was. It was strange to think of this.Students were huddling by the entrance to her lecture hall, some of them had their notebooks out and were all patiently waiting for her. She walked up to the podium and adjusted the projector before speaking."Good morning. I'm Ashley Dawson. I was one of you, in this very same seat, and I used to wonder if I'd be able to complete a project in time. Today I'll be speaking about something that took