Athena inhaled deeply, striving to calm the rage simmering beneath the surface as she observed Valentine, who was expertly maintaining his stoic facade.
Yes, she needed protection. That was a fact. But she didn't want—or need—the government's protection. Hadn't she once worked for them? She was all too familiar with their operations, and now, she wanted nothing to do with them.
How could she disentangle herself from this entanglement? Was it even possible?
"What else did he ask you to do? Surely, the order isn't just to look after me like a nanny?" She finally asked, stepping back.
Valentine pursed his lips, a fleeting frown passing across his face, but Athena noticed his budding annoyance. "He also ordered that you hand over the research material…"
"It's not happening, Valentine. Get that message back to him. It is absolutely not happening. My research, my lab, everything stays with me."
