“If Victoria gets desperate, she will try to destroy the physical evidence.”

The original, untampered batch of the formula was still sitting in the high-tech refrigerator in Lab 4.

It was the only physical proof we had that the formula was safe before Julian’s team altered it.

“I will go with you,” Koko said, clutching her tablet to her chest.

“No, stay here with Andrew,” I said, looking back at him as he spoke to the board members.

“He needs you to keep the digital data secure.”

“Be careful, Elila,” Koko said, her eyes filled with worry.

I slipped out of the ballroom through the service door, leaving the noise of the crowd behind.

The hallway was quiet, the thick carpet muffling the sound of my heels.

I walked quickly toward the elevators, my hand resting on the wall to steady myself.

I pressed the button for the laboratory floor.

My heart hammered against my ribs as the silver elevator doors slid shut.

The elevator climbed silently, the digital display ticking up the floors.

The silence in the elevator was deafening after the noise of the ballroom.