Chapter 9

Elena was curious and anxious at the same time. She glanced at the television with her focused eyes. She couldn't understand why the boss wanted her to take the credit for the task that she was about to be ordered to do. What's more, what was the task? There was actually new feeling within Elena – fear. She was afraid that it was the task that she wouldn't be able to handle. What if the boss would ask her to kill someone? She was a scientist not a murder.

"I am aware of you finding out about our organization's true goal from Vermouth," the boss' voice sounded calm, though it didn't calm Elena.

She wasn't surprise that the boss knew how Elena found out the truth. Vermouth told her that she was close to the boss, though she never gave her the details of their relationship.

However, the beginning of this conversation made Elena expect the worst. Atsushi often told her that she was pessimistic and that she could be more joyful, but she knew that better be safe than sorry. She didn't want to end up like Masato and his wife or worse having her husband and daughter being killed.

Atsushi once told that even if they failed the boss, at least, they wouldn't hurt Akemi. After all, the boss decided to keep Ichirou alive. However, Elena knew that the boss did only spare his life, because the boss thought that Ichirou could be useful asset for the organization in the future. It definitely wasn't the act of mercy.

"Vermouth also told me that she revealed her tragic past to you." Elena noticed sarcasm on the word 'tragic'. Of course, the boss probably thought of it as tragic, at first, but he changed his mind, realizing what he could gain from it.

"This organization has been working on the project for over twenty years and we are not even close to realize its goal," there was anger in the boss voice.

"I wanted to avoid making this step that I am about to do, but I do not see any other choice." The boss paused for a minute.

Elena hoped that the boss wouldn't order her what she thought the boss would. Unfortunately, she was wrong.

"Vermouth has something what this organization wants so much and if you, Atsushi-san and others scientists would do necessary examinations on Vermouth, then we may be closer to gain what we want."

"By examination, you mean simple tests like blood sampling, right?" Elena tried to keep her voice calm, thought she could feel, how her body was shaking inside.

"I am afraid that it would not be enough. What I expect from you and other scientists is to do the proper examinations and by proper, I mean to do everything in order to help you to create the drug and remember Vermouth will be fine whatever you will do to her, so don't hold back."

Elena blinked few times, hoping that she misunderstood. She was aware that Vermouth was special and that she could be examined on without her end up in the hospital or worse, but Elena didn't want her to put in such pain, especially that Vermouth already had went through it.

"I'm afraid, I must refuse. Vermouth already went through a lot and as her friend; I won't let that happen again, even if it would help to create the drug." Elena hoped her voice sounded calm, though she could feel the anger inside of her.

How could the boss think of using Vermouth? Didn't the boss care about her? Did the boss only cared about making the drug and was ready to do whatever it takes to complete the drug, even if it would mean to put his members in such unimaginable pain.

"And I am afraid you have no other choice." Elena sensed irritation in the boss' voice. After few seconds, the boss continued.

"I know it will be hard for you to make all these examinations on Vermouth, not mentioning how much pain it will bring to her. However, I want to remind you that Vermouth will be safe in the end and we may be able to create the drug, which we have been trying to create for over twenty years," the boss voice sound calm and Elena hated to admit, but the boss was right. Vermouth would be fine in the end and they might finally make this drug.

However, it didn't feel right. Vermouth already went through it and she told her that it was the worst thing that had happened to her and now the boss asked her to do the same thing.

"Let's say, I will forget about the idea of using Vermouth and you may back to your usual way of working on the drug. However, the way, I see it, if you continue to work on the drug so far, you will not reach anywhere. I saw the reports of yours and Atsushi's and even though I can see how much talented you are, I cannot see that we are any closer to complete the drug and Atsushi already have been working here for six years," the boss said.

The boss had the point. They weren't any closer to complete the drug. The all experiments that she and Atsushi had been doing for last years, didn't bring them anywhere and Vermouth already had what the organization had been worked on it for so long.

However, it was weird that the boss wanted to do the same thing to Vermouth that he had killed those scientist for in the past.

It seemed that the boss had to be very desperate.

"If I would agree how long we would need to use Vermouth," Elena asked. She hated to use Vermouth, but hopefully it would take only short time.

"I doubt that it would take short time. The scientist that... I knew were experimented on her for over six months and they didn't accomplish anything, despite having all needed notes. It just seemed that they couldn't do the same thing twice. I guess it should take for you two years or more, considering that you don't have those notes written by those scientists. Unfortunately, those notes were burned. I'm sure they would be very helpful."

Elena's eyes widened. Did the boss say two years? It was no way that she would examine Vermouth for such long time. If these would be just normal examinations but Vermouth would be put into so much pain.

"No, I won't do that. Two years is too much and even if Vermouth will all right, it's not right to put her through it," Elena sounded firmly. She wanted the boss to know that she didn't approve his decision.

"Like I said before you don't have other choice. It's the order and your order is to make all examinations on Vermouth, which would help you in finishing the drug and you need to tell her and other scientists that it was your idea and you came to ask me for my permission to use Vermouth for your work on the drug. I firstly, refused, because I didn't want to put Vermouth into a pain." Elena could hear the mockery in the boss' voice. "However, you convinced me that it would help to create the drug."

The boss' voice wasn't soft anymore. The boss sounded harsh and it seemed that there was nothing that Elena could do.

However, there was one thing that Elena couldn't understand.

"Why do you want me to tell everyone that it was my idea?" Elena asked quietly.

"Vermouth trusts me immensely and if she would find out that it was my idea of using her for the experiment, then I would lose her trust and I cannot let that happen. Of course, she would still be mad at me for agreeing on what you asked me for, but I will convince her that you were very nagging."

Elena couldn't believe her ears. The boss was the most cruel and selfish person that was walking on this planet. The boss cared only about what they wanted and they didn't hold back from anything. Even if it would mean hurt people close to them.

"If you would refuse me or you will agree, but tell Vermouth that it was my idea, then I will punish you and Atsushi, and I may not be as merciful to Akemi as I was to Ichirou," the boss sounded ruthless.

Elena felt how her skin was boiling. Threatening her was fine, but threatening her husband and daughter was too much. She was about to explode, but the boss spoke again.

"I also don't like using Vermouth, but she may be our only hope to gain what this organization have been working on for such long time, but if you refuse, then I promise you will regret your decision."

The boss' ruthless voice send shiver shivers down her spine. She knew that the boss was ready to kill her and her family along, if she didn't agree. They would end up just like Masato and Haruki.

However, if she was going to agree on betraying her friend, then she should also gain something from it, something that she wouldn't get in normal situation.

"All right, I will do what you ordered me to do. However, I want something in return." The boss didn't say anything and she continued, "I want your word of promise that no matter what happen, you will not hurt Akemi. Even, if you will need to punish me and Atsushi, you will not lay your finger on Akemi and that she will be take care of, the same like Ichirou is," Elena sounded serious.

"Do you want to suggest that you planning to act against the organization, so that why you ask me for my word that I won't hurt Akemi," the boss sounded suspiciously.

"Please don't take this way. I still follow your order about Vermouth and if I fail in it, then you can do whatever you want. I just want the guarantee that my daughter will live, even if I or Atsushi would make you angry somehow and I think it's reasonable for mother to have this kind of guarantee, where she knows that her daughter will be fine." Elena waited impatiently for the boss' respond.

"All right, Elena-san, I promise you that Akemi will be safe no matter what. However, this doesn't include the order about Vermouth. You still need to follow it and if you won't, then your daughter would be the first one to die, do you understand?" the boss asked. Elena could say that he wasn't going to accept no for the answer.

"Yes I understand," Elena answered.

She hated the fact of what she and other scientists would do to Vermouth. However, she was happy that the boss promised her not hurt Akemi. She also knew that the boss always kept his word. He may only break it if he felt that the organization would be exposed, but Elena was going to make sure that it wouldn't happen and thus her daughter would be safe.