TEMPTED BY FIRES

CHAPTER 1: The Rebirth

Courtney rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at the glowing culture samples and said,

"I swear I've been in this lab twelve hours and I'm not tired."

Walking in with two cups of coffee, Alec replied, "You need a break."

With a twisted grin, he gave her one.

"You'll burn yourself out."

With a soft laugh, Courtney grabbed the cup and said, "I'll rest once I break this sequence."

"Alec, we are close. Thousands of children might be saved if this is successful." She turned back toward the microscope.

Her lab coat's sleeves were rolled up, stained somewhat with marker ink; a pen was behind her ear; her bun was open. Her gaze, however, was clear. decided.

Alec teased, leaning against the desk,

"Sometimes I forget how gorgeous you look when you're obsessed with bacteria. "She chuckled.

"Stop trying to divert my attention. You are aware I am nearly finished."

He threw his hands in surrender. "Alright, Doctor Genius."

She smiled to herself. Alec was supportive, humorous, always shortening the long hours. Three years they had been together, developing side by side in the same laboratory. She believed at least they were becoming close. Whispers sounded behind the glass dividing.

"That Hart girl is squandering the budget of the lab once again. . ."

Courtney stopped cold. Her fingers gripped her pen.

"You'd think Alec would stop babysitting her. She is gifted but has no backbone."

She nibbled her cheek from the inside. Though her stomach churned, she stayed stooped.

Alec overheard them as well but said nothing. Just cleared his throat and glanced at his phone.

That afternoon, the intercom broke over the structure.

"All departments, head to Conference Room 1; ten-minute mandatory announcement."

Courtney raised her desk and asked,

"You think it's serious?"

"No clue," Alec said, standing.

"Let's see."

Whispers filled the conference room as dozens of interns, team leaders, and researchers packed the area. At the front, Mr. Prescott, the director, carried a clipboard.

He started, "We are starting an in-house competition to create the best effective vaccine against pediatric polio. The winner will be given exclusive rights to publish, a promotion, and all research funds."

Excitement gasps spread among the audience. Courtney's heart thumped.

"We've examined previous results as well as current studies. We've selected 12 participants which include; Dr. Alec Raymond, Dr. Courtney Hart..."

Her lips dropped slightly. She turned to Alec. He grinned.

"We're in."

She smiled. "This is what it is. At last, we have an opportunity."

Three Weeks Later

Heart pounding, Courtney leaned over her workstation and triple-checked the last report. The sample was stable. The results were spotless. She examined the first page:

Author: Dr. Courtney Hart

She exhaled. Pride pulled her throat. She muttered, "It's over."

The laboratory door creaked open. Alec entered, hands tucked into his lab coat pocket.

"Hey... got a minute?"

Courtney turned, beaming.

"I did it. Everything's done." Alec strolled up slowly, his smile faint.

"That's what I wanted to discuss." She raised an eyebrow.

"Court... I understand how much this means to you. For our part. You know the board, though. They will rip your results to show a point only." Her grin wavered.

"What are you claiming?"

"I'm saying. . . let me submit it. Under my name"

He added quickly: "Just on paper but in reality, it's still yours, still ours. But this way it receives the respect it merits."

Courtney flashed. "You want credit for my effort?"

"No. I want us to win together, Alec replied. "If I lead, they'll listen. Then I will guarantee your recognition. I swear."

Her chest tightened. She examined the paperwork she was holding. Her hands shook.

Alec advanced and rested a hand on hers.

"Trust me. For a brief instant," she said nothing.

Her brain shouted at her. Her heart was, nevertheless, softer. Fastened to him.

Finally she nodded. "Alright... I'll do it for us. "

AWARD NIGHT

The company's best brains filled the seats as reporters stood along the red carpet. Her nerves throb, Courtney stood quietly next to the side wall in a navy gown.

Alec was on stage left with other finalists waiting for the announcement.

The director declared, "This year's winner is Dr. Alec Raymond for his incredible advancement in pediatric polio prevention!" The applause erupted.

Flashbulbs went up like fireworks. With a subdued grin, Courtney applauded gently. Pride filled her chest.

We achieved it. Alec came up to the microphone. "I want to thank someone very unique," he said with conviction.

"The one who drove me every day. I would not be here without her."

Courtney leaned forward a little bit, her heart jumping to her throat.

"He's about to call me up on stage, right?" She smiled nervously.

"Abby Knight!"

Then the sound of heel clicks followed. Walking up the stage, Abby, shimmering in a tight red dress, threw her arms around Alec.

Courtney's fingers became unresponsive. Her breathing stopped.

Alec continued talking, his voice calm. "Abby has been my biggest backer. She motivated me to give everything I had to help save lives of the future generation"

Cortney's chest was torn apart by searing pain. Her lips opened, but no voice emerged.

Cameras flashed as Abby leaned in and kissed Alec's cheek. Courtney's legs fluttered. Her hands were shaking. The dance floor around her was spinning. Her throat tightening, she had trouble breathing.

She turned about; nobody even peered toward her. She staggered back one stride, then another until she crashed onto the wall. Her universe collapsed. What just happened?

Abby turned toward her abruptly. Smile. Smug. Deliberate. Arranged.

Courtney's heart broke open. Her mouth remained closed, but her jaw clamped. Her entire body was shutting down.

By the second, the ground under her shoes felt lighter. Her heart thumped in her ears like a siren. She turned and raced for the exit, her heels tapping quicker than her ideas. Her hands searched for the doorknob.

Though it did little, the cold night air struck her lungs as she finally exited the hall. Her eyes burned; her chest remained tense. She had faith in him.

She loved him. And he buried her while she was still breathing. It was then she realized: She'd just given everything-twice-to the man who stabbed her in the back.