Chapter 369
Marcus Lawrence had taken a leave of absence for family matters and hadn't been to the lab for several days.
The moment the clock struck five, Hannah Morse slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Sophia, I've got plans. Heading out!"
"Okay," Sophia Sullivan replied, turning to see Hannah clutching a soda cracker.
It was a low-calorie snack, probably just to curb a craving.
"Be safe," Sophia reminded her before returning to her data analysis.
After Hannah left, the lab fell into complete silence.
Sophia became utterly absorbed in the data, losing all track of time.
When she finally looked up, darkness had fallen outside the window.
She powered down the instruments, tidied the common area, and grabbed the trash on her way out.
Sophia slid into the driver's seat and started the car with practiced ease.
The vehicle merged smoothly into the traffic.
At an intersection, she checked the navigation and made a right turn.
The roadside trees were bare, their skeletal branches swaying under the streetlights, making the area seem desolate.
Sophia signaled and merged into the right lane.
Once cruising steadily, she turned on some music.
Soft melodies filled the car, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Suddenly, Sebastian Evans called.
"Busy?"
His voice was deep, laced with amusement.
The familiar tone and casual opener effortlessly bridged the distance between them.
"Just left the lab. On my way home."
Sebastian glanced out his window, his brow furrowing slightly.
"The weather's turning nasty tonight. Might snow. Drive carefully."
"Got it," Sophia acknowledged.
Sebastian got to the point. "The equipment you ordered arrived. Will anyone be at the lab tomorrow? I'll schedule the delivery."
His company, Helios Technologies, had extensive procurement channels.
Sophia's imported instruments were almost always ordered through him.
He'd once joked, "Thanks for the business, boss. More orders mean more commission for me!"
Sophia knew he was teasing.
Commission?
She'd checked the prices. Sebastian gave her the lowest rates possible.
So low there was no room for any commission.
At least he wasn't losing money on the deals.
Otherwise, Sophia would have stopped ordering from him.
Sebastian knew the difference between a one-time feast and a steady meal.
This equipment had been ordered back in November.
After such a long wait, its arrival made Sophia's spirits soar.
"Tomorrow works! I'll be at the lab all day. What time approximately?"
"Around ten in the morning. Is that okay?"
"Perfect. Thanks again for your help. I owe you a meal." The thought of using the new equipment tomorrow made her voice light and cheerful.
It was the latest microbial observation instrument from fn GmbH in Germany.
Released less than two months ago, it was in high demand by labs worldwide.
Without connections, it was nearly impossible to acquire.
Thanks to Sebastian's contacts, Sophia had gotten hers early.
Sebastian was infected by her cheerfulness, a smile touching the corners of his eyes.
"Rare for you to offer a meal. How about next weekend? I'll book it now, so you can't back out later."
Just as Sophia was about to reply, blinding high beams suddenly pierced the darkness ahead.
The intense light temporarily blinded her.
By the time her vision cleared, a loud CRASH echoed.