Chapter Text
“You're not Markham.” Violet had met Markham. He was short, and round. Basically the opposite of the man in front of her. He was tall - and she figured his eyeballs must be round, but everything else on him was angular and hard. In a way that made her want to reach out, and touch his bicep through his gray Henley. Could he be flexing...but he was just standing there? He looked like he'd been sculpted precisely for her viewing pleasure.
“Who are you?” Oh that voice was sinful. Smooth and sultry. Like a rich caramel. It could be dangerous working with this guy.
She gave her best smile. “Violet Sorrengail. PhD candidate. I just transferred from Harvard to finish up my work on Type 1 diabetes. I met with Markham last year but was told this is the endocrine lab?”
His eyebrows shot up at her name. She was used to people in the industry recognizing her, but it left her feeling off balance with the dark, handsome mystery man. “And you are?” She asked before he could react.
“Dr Xaden Riorson. I'm taking over most of Markham's lab. I didn't realize you were the transfer.”
Fuck . Fuck fuck fuck. He was her new supervisor? And what was with the tone?
“Is that a problem?” Violet asked defensively, even though it absolutely was a problem. She had to see him every day. He determined her academic success. The success of her research. And she'd just been fantasizing about climbing him like a tree.
“No problem at all,” he looked her up and down. She felt nervous even though she knew she shouldn’t, like when she went through the airport scanner. What was he looking for? Did she pass muster? “Why did you transfer?” he finally asked.
The man was unrelenting. Violet forced herself not to wither under his stare. She had been hoping she would be able to integrate into the lab relatively unnoticed, they should be happy to have a fourth year PhD candidate. From Harvard. Sure, there'd be questions, but right out of the gates? From her new supervisor? And what happened to Markham? An email would have been nice.
She'd heard of Riorson. Of course she had. He was a top researcher in the industry; he’d been granted tenure at 30 years old, and was the youngest associate professor the university had. He brought in big government grants, and he had notoriously turned down a grant from her mother's company - SMA Pharma. It was a scandal in the academic world.
It was also a scandal in her personal world, and part of the reason Violet had decided to transfer. She had no idea why exactly Dr. Riorson had turned down a grant, but she hoped his reasons maybe aligned with hers.
“I...needed to get out from under my mother's company, SMA,” she hedged. She hoped their motives aligned. That didn’t mean she was going to show her hand before she knew for sure. “I have research aspirations that aren't necessarily in line with the company's goals, and I need the freedom to pursue them. Markham had assured me Basgiath would support me?” She wanted to sound confident, but that last sentence came out more as a question, despite her best efforts.
Dr. Riorson gave a small smile, and studied her even more closely, her skin prickling under his gaze. “I'm familiar with your paper on Type 1 Diabetes and IgM, but you were working with the Harvard stem cell institute, weren't you? We are what you might call a small, humble lab compared to that.”
He stepped closer to her. “Don't get wrong, if you want less SMA, and more freedom, you will find that in my lab.” He was all but crowding her now, she could smell him, mint and sandalwood and something earthy. She could see the definition of his pecs under the soft Henley. “So tell me, who has diabetes? Someone you care about?”
Her breath caught. “What?” She searched his face, trying to determine whether he was testing her. “I figured you knew?”
His eyes narrowed. “Knew what? I'm trying to figure out your motivation. No one pursues a PhD the way you do for shits and giggles. I figured someone you knew was sick.”
Of course he didn't know. Aetos, the “A” in SMA, never wanted it out there. Bad PR. She figured that it was just one of those things people simply didn’t talk about. She knew most of the higher-ups at SMA were well aware of her condition.
“I do,” she whispered. She worried her lip. People reacted in all sorts of ways to her diagnosis. Most didn't understand it and had little to say. She preferred it that way. Dr. Riorson knew as much, if not more, than even she did.
His scrutiny felt different though. He didn't hide his surprise. “You do?” Violet nodded. She watched as his jaw clenched. His eyes hardened - beautiful, deep eyes that were almost black, save for flecks of gold swirling in them . Was he angry about her revelation?
“You're telling me, the daughter of the CEO of SMA Pharma, has type 1 diabetes? The company that refuses to even talk about capping insulin costs?” He was angry . But, on her behalf? Sexy, smart, and righteous. And her boss. She was so fucked.
“Well, as you can imagine, we had great insurance growing up, but yes. The irony is not lost on me,” Violet sighed. God he smelled good. She needed to step away from him, but her feet refused.
He put her out of her misery by turning away from her. “Come. I'll show you to your station, and desk. You'll be across from my own. Tavis is in the next room over continuing the antibody research.”
“Dr. Garrick Tavis?” His research with Riorson three years ago had been groundbreaking.
“He should make associate professor next year,” Dr. Riorson confirmed. He stopped in front of her lab station. “I don't have time to help you settle in right now. Liam Mairi is there.” He pointed across the lab bench. “I'll make sure he knows to show you the ropes, get whatever you need ordered, what our expense limits are, where the autoclave is, all that stuff.”
“Ummm, thank you.” Violet watched him head through a door and close it. Presumably his office. She took a deep breath and sat down at the lab bench, took out her laptop, and fiddled around with the paraphernalia around her. So, she was working under Dr. Xaden Riorson. This was going to be an interesting year.
Less than five minutes later a walking Ken doll entered the lab. Violet blinked in surprise, but he seemed comfortable, removing his shoulder bag to sit down at the bench Dr. Riorson had said belonged to a Liam something.
“Hi,” Violet said cautiously when he smiled at her. “I’m Violet, new transfer. You must be Liam?”
His grin widened, showing off the most perfect white teeth. He was like a ray of sexy sunshine, and Violet was here for it. Harvard had nothing on Basgiath so far.
“Hey Violet,” his warm voice matched his smile . “Oh my God, Imogen will be so glad to have another chick in the lab. PhD candidate?”
Violet nodded as he unpacked his bag, and sat down. “I’m doing pancreatic cancer stuff,” he continued. “My grandpa died of pancreatic cancer, one day he was fine, three weeks later, boom, at his funeral. What the fuck, right?”
She’d never really thought too much about people’s motivations to pursue research. It had always just felt like a given to her, but Dr. Riorson’s comment about her why made a lot of sense now. She was suddenly curious about Dr. Riorson’s why.
“Do you want to grab coffee? Or tea? Or whatever floats your boat. Don’t go to the caf, there’s a great kiosk in virology, I’ll show you,” Liam assumed the role of guide seamlessly.
“Thank you. Yes - coffee, definitely. Dr. Riorson said you might be able to show me the ropes too?” she asked as Liam fell into step next to her. He was as tall as Dr. Riorson - almost a foot taller than her, but he wasn’t overwhelming in quite the same way. Her heart didn’t race with the instant attraction. It was more a dull hum of appreciation, and she took her time admiring the hard lines of his body. She could tell he was as well built as Dr. Riorson even through his zip-up hoodie.
“Dr. Riorson? Bet he loved you calling him that,” Liam winked. “And of course I’ll show you. What are you working on?”
Violet filled him in on her research, and found herself enjoying Liam’s company, his easy banter - he made her feel welcome. Not that Dr. Riorson had made her feel un welcome, but there was an intensity to him that made her feel a bit off balance. Liam, on the other hand, was a shameless flirt, and she gave as good as she got.
They were back at the lab when Liam asked how she was settling in. “So you just up and left Boston, eh? Did you...leave anyone there?” he wiggled his eyebrows.
Violet rolled her eyes. “No! Well...not really. I’m single if that’s what you’re asking,” she said teasingly, looking over at him from under her lashes.
That puppy dog grin came back, it was a bit lopsided, that’s what made it so adorable. “You know me so well already, Vi. I think I’m going to like having you here even more than Imogen is.”
Violet had yet to meet this Imogen, the only other female in the lab from the sounds of it.
“Are you living near campus? The transit sucks here, I always ride my bike. Are you into sports at all?” Liam looked over eagerly at her.
“Pretty close? I got an apartment with some randoms over on King. I walked here in less than fifteen minutes. So far I’ve met one roommate, Sawyer. He seems nice. And it was cheap.” Before Violet could answer about sports (big resounding no to that one) Dr. Riorson stepped out.
“Why do you need a cheap rental?” No hi, are you getting settled in? No good morning Liam, and yet she could feel her body responding to him instantly. She hoped the flush wasn’t obvious. If Liam was a ray of sexy sunshine that made her feel warm and hazy, Dr. Riorson was a thunderstorm rolling in. Intense, powerful, and guaranteed to make her wet.
Liam responded before she could. “Ha! Xay, seriously? Do you not remember being a PhD candidate? We get paid a fraction of what you hot shot profs get.”
Violet bit back a smile. Xay was holding her gaze. “I just figured baby Sorrengail would be set up with some swanky digs.” He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Whoa. Sorrengail?” Violet realized she’d never given Liam her last name as his head swiveled to face her. “Like the S in SMA Sorrengail? Wait, what?”
Poor Liam, she felt like she’d betrayed him somehow. “Trust me,” she said, flicking her eyes between Liam and Dr. Riorson. “I need a cheap place, okay? Mama Sorrengail is not funding my lifestyle...anymore.” She added the last part begrudgingly. Her mom said she wanted the best for her. And she wanted to believe it, unfortunately, their ideas of best differed.
Dr. Riorson contemplated her for a moment before nodding. “Fascinating,” was all he said.
“No kidding!” exclaimed Liam. “Holy shit Vi, way to bury the lead. Don’t worry we won’t make you air your family drama, right Xay?” Liam gave him a pointed look before turning back to Violet “unless of course you want to. We love some good lab drama.”
Violet smiled, “it’s not a secret or anything. Besides, I know you guys have your own drama with SMA.” She might as well ask, since these men weren’t holding back. “Why did you turn down the grant.... Xay?”
Fuck, had she just asked her advisor that? And called him Xay? Liam made her feel brave, Maybe too brave for her own good. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, it was a rush.
Liam cackled, while Dr. Riorson smiled . “Because fuck SMA and their blood money is why.”
Violet let out the breath she’d been holding. Fine, he could have his secrets. This much she could agree with. “Fuck SMA,” she echoed.