I’d never even thought there could be this kind of… olfactory bliss.
I slow, savoring each bite. This meal is on track to ruin me for all other food. I would regret the waste of ordering so much, but hunger seems to have rendered my stomach bottomless.
Christine has returned to her chair, and she reads from her phone as she sips a pink smoothie.
Without looking up, she says, “My doctor friend is sending a nurse to take blood for tests.”
I finish chewing a bite of an art sculpture whose ingredients resemble those of eggs Benedict. “It’s fine now. Tell them not to bother.”
There’s a light rap at the door.
“Oops, too late,” she says lightly. “You wouldn’t want them to have wasted their time, going out of their way to come here, would you?”
I glower at the alpha as she stands, sauntering to the door. I tug my robe tighter around myself as she welcomes the nurse, a middle-aged man with short, dark hair and kind monolid eyes.
His name tag identifies him as Akio Sato and an employee ofArtemis Pharmaceutcials.
“G’day, I’m Aki,” he says with a light Kiwi accent, striding over to offer his hand.
I stand and return the gesture. “Mylo.”
Christine returns to her chair as Aki walks me through a series of paperwork on a tablet, collecting my medical history and walking me through various consent forms.
I fill everything out on autopilot, just trying to get this over with.
Once it’s all confirmed, Aki sets the tablet aside. “This won’t take long. How do you do with needles?”
“No problem.”
Aki pulls out empty vials and a sheet of blank labels, then writes my information.
“Please confirm your name and date of birth.”
I do, and he gives me a professional nod of thanks.
I push up the loose sleeve of my robe. Aki ties off the tourniquet and sanitizes my inner arm. Within a minute, the needle is in and out, and the vials are filled. A bandage holds a wad of cotton against my skin, stemming the bleeding. If I asked, he’d probably tell me to avoid vigorous activity for the rest of the day. So, I don’t ask.
“Should have your results within seventy-two hours,” Aki says.
I nod, not really caring what the tests are for.
“You’ll get a message to the phone number you provided with instructions for the online portal.”
Aki hands me a card with his name, extension, and a ‘patient services’ number circled in red pen. There’s that logo again:ARTEMIS PHARMAin crisp, minimal font circumscribed by a crescent moon.
“You can also call us for the results, or with any questions.”
“Thanks.”
“No worries, mate.”
After parting pleasantries, Aki takes his leave with a friendly “G’day.”
I spin the business card between my fingers and head over to Christine, perching on the chair across from her.
She looks up at me innocently. “Hm?”
I flip the card around to face her and tap the back. “You an investor or something?”
