Shrugging out of his labcoat, Wesker placed it neatly along the chair facing the door. He had arrived a bit early before Ms. Gibbons would hopefully show up. How many times had she tagged along behind him to find her way to the main laboratories on this level? Not that she did anymore; Birkin had neatly relieved him of his second shadow.

He was not used to being idle. It was time wasted when he could be working and directing Birkin through his work in an organized fashion. Anything would be better than sitting in a stiff-backed chair, waiting on a woman that might have a chance at assisting their goals. She could very well be another hindrance just like their current stalemate.

Patience had not always been his greatest virtue. It had taken hard work over the years to weed out as many bad habits as possible. Not that he had many to begin with. It was one less thing that others could use and he was not about to give that advantage to anyone. Despite all his hard work, he still found himself prone to tapping his fingers out of reflex.

Still a work in progress. He reflected.

Wesker leaned back into the chair, wincing slightly as he removed his dark glasses. He removed a soft black cloth from his left pants pocket, carefully cleaning the lenses meticulously. It is quite ironic that it is necessary to wear these most of the time as they have the added bonus of unnerving most people.

There was a light knock on the door.

"Come in." Wesker answered as he tucked the soft cloth away.

The door whooshed open and closed so quickly that he paused for a moment. As Annette turned around, their eyes met, blue on blue, which made her pause for a long second. Wesker used that second to slide his glasses back on with practiced ease. "I apologize if I was late..."

Wesker gestured with his right hand to the opposite chair, the amusement in his eyes hidden behind his dark glasses. "Shall we get down to business?"

Annette stammered for a moment, closing her eyes for a second to get herself into check. "I apologize. This isn't exactly who.. erm, what I was expecting."

Wesker arched an questioning eyebrow. "Just who were you expecting? Perhaps Birkin?"

Her surprised glance gave away her answer and Wesker knew he was correct. So predictable.

"I see. Please have a seat, Ms. Gibbons." Again, Wesker gestured graciously to the chair opposite of him.

Annette quickly took to the seat, rigidly folding her hands on the table. "Please call me Annette."

"Ms. Gibbons, why do you think you are here?"

"Quite honestly, I'm not entirely sure." She paused, adding. "The only two things I can think of is that either I've done something wrong or you might need my assistance."

Good. That saves some time. Intuitive even under pressure. Wesker noted.

Wesker slid his hands over the file they previously rested upon. "Very good, Ms. Gibbons. It has come to my attention that you have just finished your last project. Before you start into another, I ask: Are you bored?"

Annette tilted her head, curious. "Bored?" Her eyes roamed from left to right slowly in thought before focusing on Wesker once again. "Since I'm still new, my last few assignments have been for simpler compounds such as perfume and plant growth formula. There was challenge, but nothing that couldn't be overcome. After finding the right path, the challenge is gone and I suppose it does become boring."

Wesker nodded, holding the file loosely in one hand. The only thing on the front cover was CONFIDENTIAL in bold red letters. Annette focused her attentions as it was brought into focus.

"Before I can tell you of what this file contains, please sign this non-disclosure agreement for this meeting. This is a simple opportunity, Ms. Gibbons. It is up to you on what to decide." He slid a small packet of papers from the file, handing them over to Annette.

"How can I make a decision when I have no idea what I'm signing away on?" Annette asked skeptically.

Typical. Wesker motioned to the NDA in her hands. "This is only for the meeting. There will be several other forms once we get further to the matter at hand. If you wish to not go further, the door is behind you."

Annette's nostrils flared ever-so-slightly. "I'm well of that, Albert."

"Wesker." He corrected her instantly, his mouth forming a tight line. "Choose."

As a few minutes passed, she continued to read the paperwork handed to her. Wesker waited patiently, hands folded in front of him on the file once again. She will accept. No true scientist could resist exploring the unknown. Her hand slid up to her front pocket, clicking her pen into action as she signed her name along the designated line.

Wesker slid the paperwork into the back of the folder. "Now then - how would you like to assist both Birkin and I in our current experiments?"

"Why me when there are many better qualified researchers here?"

"It is a matter of different projects and ideals. This meeting is to determine where you stand. Will you continue doing the busy work for fertilizer for your superiors or participate in a much greater goal?"

"Not to be rude, but what question do I need to ask to get some kind of inkling of what that 'greater goal' is?" Annette observed. "Please get to the point."

Wesker straightened in his chair, quite pleased that she had steeled herself. "Careful, Ms. Gibbons. I understand the need to have answers. I will decide if you are ready. Is that clear?"

Annette nodded once, her expression pensive. "Yes, Albert."

"Wesker." Wesker corrected again. No one calls me by my first name. Not even Birkin. I'll deal with this later.

"Since you seems determined, Ms. Gibbons, please enlighten me on your thoughts of bio-genetics."

Annette slipped her hands into her lap, staring at Wesker. "It's still a controversial subject to study. Like any science, there are both merits and drawbacks. It's a highly debated subject. I'll assume that your studies are along this line, it's hard to give a definitive answer when I know very little to base my opinion."

"Very well. It would be better to ask. What fields of study are you against working within?" Wesker tapped his fingers on the file once.

"There aren't any fields that I'm against working in. If I can find a way to create and if possible, reverse-engineer, would there be any reason to say 'no'? So long as the proper precautions are taken, I can agree to strive into unknown elements. Both you and William have been hard at work at this from what I've seen." She chewed on her lower lip, continuing. "If William approved of my work and you're in agreement, I would like to sign the necessary papers so I can assist you both as soon as possible."

Wesker drawled. "Are you sure, Ms. Gibbons? Once the rest of this legality is signed, you can not back out."

She looked down into the hands in her lap, conflicted. "It's a bold step, I know. This might be my chance of a lifetime, just as becoming a researcher here was more than I could ask for. Sometimes you have to know when to take a leap of faith." Her eyes returned to Wesker's face with a resolute grin on her pale features. "That time is now."

Flawless. I did not even have to lift a finger to persuade her. Leap of faith? Silly girl. Wesker returned a shadow of a smile.

Without another word, he placed the rest of the waivers and forms for Annette to sign. Still, she was thorough in assessing what each page detailed.

I will keep an eye on her. Though her scientific interest might be flexible, her morals might catch up to her. Birkin might be a good anchor as she likely sees him as a mentor. Still, it is good to be prepared...

Wesker slipped from his thoughts as Annette returned all the paperwork signed and initialed. He took his time making sure everything was signed as dealing with the legal department was simply one more headache he did not want to deal with. "Everything is in order. Questions, Ms. Gibbons?"

Annette crossed her arms loosely, letting out a soft sigh. "Questions? Was that a joke, Albert?"

His eyebrow ticked for a second upon hearing his name again. "Please refrain from using my first name, Ms. Gibbons. Last names are best suited for our professional dealings."

Her shoulders shrugged. "I thought that it would be a nice change of pace. I've never heard anyone call you Albert, yet everyone else is on a first name basis in these labs."

"I hate to inform you, Ms. Gibbons. I am not like everyone else here. I have no need for false comradery."

"I've never heard William call you by your first name..." Wesker let a visible frown appear and she quieted. He shook his head as he turned the confidential file in front of Annette. He did not utter another word as he expected her to become more interested in the elusive data at her fingertips.

Annette slid her delicate fingers along the bold red letters. "I think I prefer to call you Albert. It suits you more than Wesker does."

Suits me more? How childish. Perhaps if I play along, she will be more at ease in my presence. Easier to coerce. Easier to manipulate.

"Fine, but do keep it to a minimum. For you and only you alone have this privilege." Wesker stated flatly. He couldn't believe he said such pathetic line. The sacrifices I have to make...

Annette raised her eyebrows in surprise while a smile crept onto her face. "See? Not so hard. Don't worry; your secret is safe with me."

Wesker questioned, his brow furrowing. "Secret?"

She tapped at the side of her eyes, indicating his glasses. "You're photophobic, are you not?"

Wesker regarded her with a deepening frown as he rose from his chair, his mood souring almost instantly. "Please read into the file I have provided. It will detail everything in an overview of what we have been working on." He crossed over to her side of the table, holding out one hand. "Also I will need your badge and keycard. Your clearance will need to be updated while I file these documents."

After she removed her badge from her labcoat, Annette slid the plastic keycard from her front pocket. Together, she slid both of these into Wesker's awaiting palm. She stared at her hand as she lingered a few seconds too long.

Wesker pulled his hand back slowly as the brief contact was broken, pocketing the items as he stepped towards the door. "I will lock the door behind me. I am sure it will take you some time to become familiar with the data within, Ms. Gibbons."

"Albert?"

Wesker didn't answer immediately, almost halfway out the door. His jaw clenched briefly. "Yes?"

"Please call me Annette. I don't like collegues calling me by such a formal name."

Wesker leaned against the doorframe, his foot propping the door open as he paused. "Fine, Anne."

Annette stampered. "I don't like Anne..." Without a second look, Wesker closed the door behind him with an audible click as the lock set into place.

Annette ran a hand over her face, groaning softly. "Trying to get him to lighten up might be the end of me." As she opened her eyes, they refocused on the real purpose for all that trouble was. She clenched her hands tightly for a few seconds before opening the file past the first few filler pages.

Her eyes stopped as she reached the cover page, her heart skipping a beat in both excitement and cautious hesitation.

CONFIDENTIAL: T-Virus Early Experimental Data