For a building designed to house some of the country's brightest scientific minds, the layout was confusing as hell fumed Adriana to herself as she backtracked yet again. Why would the second floor be split into two separate wings, with room numbers leaping inexplicably from 275 to 311? After another wrong turn and one overly confident passerby who sent her in the complete opposite direction, Adriana finally spotted Will's office. She took a second and paused a few feet away to smooth her flyaways and, in doing so, noticed just how much of a sweat she had worked up. She reached behind herself, running her hand over her lower back. Perfect. She also managed to sweat through her shirt. Cool.
With a sigh of defeat, she took a deep breath and took the last few steps to his office, clutching the strap of her bag in a tight, clammy grip. She raised her hand to knock, but paused as she looked through the narrow window of the door, taking in the limited view silently. A man sat at his desk, focused on his monitor. His posture effortlessly straight, the kind of relaxed alignment that suggested confidence, only emphasized by his wide shoulders. Adriana felt a twinge in her own back just looking at him. She could practically feel her spine shifting out of alignment with each passing minute. It was a cruel reminder of how much she struggled to sit properly without something aching. She could not help but feel like she was already coming up short to the impossible standards he set.
She lingered a beat too long, stuck in a moment of indecision. Should she wait for him to finish the likely groundbreaking research he was working on, or just knock? Adriana began to nervously bite her bottom lip. The window made things complicated. She was pretty certain this should be a simple decision, yet here she was, internally debating proper etiquette for knocking on doors with built-in windows, leaving her standing awkwardly in the hallway, frozen in place with her hand still hanging limp in the air.
And then, Will Lockwood looked up.
His gaze caught hers through the glass, and for a split second, she forgot to breathe. Had he noticed her standing there, just watching him? Maybe he thought he just happened to look up at the exact moment she approached? Her stomach was doing somersaults as seconds felt like minutes.
With a small, almost imperceptible smile, he rose from his chair and crossed the room towards the door. Towards her.
Adriana's heart beat loudly in her chest as he opened the door for her. Thankfully she had the presence of mind to lower her hand—Holy shit. Will Lockwood looked like he belonged in a GQ ad for an expensive watch. Without a door between them, he stood before her in a white button down and dark jeans, and she had to remind herself not to let her gaze linger where the shirt was stretched by his biceps. Up close, his jawline alone was enough to convince her that there were gods, and they did indeed play favourites. His hair looked perfectly imperfect, an understated mix of soft brown and golden blond hues, slightly tousled in a way that somehow felt intentional. His faint dimples softened the intensity of his features, adding a subtle playfulness to his overwhelming masculine appearance.
There was something unhurried about the way he moved, a confidence that made him seem utterly in control without even trying. He extended his large hand as he smiled down at her and his brown eyes held a warmth that felt… steady. Like he had seen her hesitation and chose to make it easier for her.
"Hi, Adriana?" his voice was deep but friendly. She managed to extend her own hand and gave him a reasonably firm handshake, surprising herself as she nodded. He stepped back and motioned for her to take a seat in the nearest chair. "Come on in," he offered warmly. She was able to give him a tense smile in response.
She swallowed hard, willing her legs to move. She stepped into his office and he closed the office door, muffling the hallway noise. Adriana tried to not look at his broad back as she followed behind him, almost tripping on the leg of the nearby chair. She sank into the surprisingly plush seat and removed her bag to rest by her feet. Dammit, why was she still so sweaty? She didn't have a moment more to think about it, however, before Will was sitting down directly across from her.
Will was composed and at ease as he pushed his notes to the side, like he hadn't just caught her watching him through a window like some sort of peeping tom. His smile lingered, and it only made her more aware of her own nerves.
"Did you have trouble finding the office?" he asked casually as he rested his hands on the arms of his office chair.
Despite her strained smile, her voice didn't quiver as she attempted to play it cool. "Nothing out of the ordinary for me."
Painful. This was painful.
For a second, his lips parted, like he was about to follow up on her response. But then his expression shifted, amusement flickering before he tucked it away behind his usual composure. A quiet chuckle escaped him. "The layout tends to confuse most newcomers," he said, his tone smooth and reassuring.
She exhaled, releasing some of the tension in her shoulders, grateful for the way he made the moment less awkward. Maybe, just maybe, this meeting wouldn't be a total disaster. Her smile relaxed and became more genuine as she was able to focus more on reason why she was here.
Will shifted slightly in his seat to lean closer, the movement fluid and graceful. "Thanks for coming, Adriana." She couldn't help how much she liked hearing him say her name. "I'm Will Lockwood, I'm a researcher and professor in the Department of Neuroscience here at MIT." His introduction carried that natural confidence that came with experience. Clearly he was used to speaking to an audience.
Adriana, still recovering mentally from her entrance, found herself nearly interrupting him with her response. "I actually recognized your name when you emailed—I am very familiar with your work. A huge fan." Huge fan? Good god. If her FBI agent was listening in on the conversation, he'd be slamming his head on his desk by now.
She pressed her lips together to stop herself from continuing to gush about him, her eyes wide with disbelief at how poorly she was coming across. This, she was fairly certain, was what Cara meant when she'd said that Adriana had no rizz. And right now, she couldn't agree more. Her clammy hands pressed harder against her thighs.
Will didn't seem fazed by her nerves. Instead, his smile grew, his dimples deepening "Thank you. I haven't seen any of your work yet, but the way your colleagues have spoken about you, I am sure I will be equally impressed."
Adriana's embarrassment at such a high compliment was forgotten in her confusion at his statement. Her face asked the question before she even had a chance to voice it. Will filled in the blanks quickly. "I had mentioned I needed a consultant for my upcoming work at a conference a few weeks ago. Dr. Hough, whom I believe you know, overheard and couldn't stop herself from recommending you. After everything she shared, I knew I had to scoop you up before someone else did." He paused. "Provided you accept the job, of course."
The unexpected compliments and praise from her old professor was enough to refocus her. Adriana folded her hands in her lap as she smiled to herself, memories of the engaging, uplifting meetings with her mentor during her undergrad helping to ground her.
"That definitely sets expectations high," she joked lightly. "So, tell me more—what's this project about?"
Will sat up a little straighter, ready to talk business. "My team is proposing an intervention that combines a few cutting-edge approaches: virtual reality therapy for exposure, microdosing psilocybin, and a dopaminergic stimulant to increase motivation and facilitate new learning in the prefrontal cortex," he explained. His voice was calm but hinted at genuine enthusiasm for his work, catching Adriana's attention.
Her eyebrows lifted as curiosity further pushed her nerves aside. Without realizing it, she had leaned in, focusing intently on what he had just described.
"We're aiming to reopen and rewrite the mind," Will continued. "The goal is to reduce trauma responses, specifically in cases of heartbreak, grief, and obsessive ruminating. We're exploring how we can shift those deep-seated patterns of longing and pain by combining these therapies in a way that targets both the emotional and cognitive aspects of the brain."
Adriana's mind buzzed with excitement, connecting dots and visualizing the potential impact. "So…" she paused only for a moment, as she pieced it all together, "using VR for controlled exposure therapy, the microdosing to promote neuroplasticity, and the stimulant to keep the prefrontal cortex engaged while also reducing the depression-like symptoms?"
Will's professionalism slipped slightly as he broke out in a smile, his dimples more prominent than before, and a flicker of approval lighting up his eyes as he studied the way she was absorbing the information. "Exactly. We're working with individuals who've struggled with prolonged heartbreak and obsessive thoughts. So, people who feel stuck in those cycles, unable to move on, even years later. This is about rewiring their brains, helping them create new pathways, and giving them the tools to finally let go and move forward."
Adriana nodded, deep in thought, her anxiety forgotten as she focused on the science. "The combination of therapies makes a lot of sense. The timing of the exposure paired with the microdosing… wow, this could really be a game-changer!" She couldn't help but be in awe of how his mind worked, unaware of how clearly her face revealed her thoughts to Will.
Leaning back slightly and crossing his arms, Will's pleased gaze never left hers. "I was hoping you would get it. I really think your expertise is exactly what this project needs."
There was something about the way he said it that made Adriana's pulse quicken, but this time it wasn't from nerves. His words carried a weight, a trust in her abilities she hadn't expected. She tried to keep her expression neutral, professional, but an equally sincere grin broke out on her face.
"I'm really excited for this," she replied, her tone more eager than she'd intended. Guess she was showing all of her cards, then. "What sort of timeline do you have in mind?"
"The science is solid," Will replied, his eyes thoughtful. "But as you know, getting people on board with a project that involves hallucinogens, VR, and stimulants isn't easy. We need to find a way to translate that into something people can grasp and get behind. We pitch to the stakeholders in two months and we need them to see the full scope. To really understand the potential impact beyond just the data."
He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his desk, his eyes serious as they locked onto hers. "And that's where you come in. You, Adriana, will have your work cut out for you."
There was a spark of something in his look, like a kind of shared purpose that made her heart feel warm and alive in her chest. He was trusting her to be able to carry this forward, to shape the narrative in a way that would bring his research to life.
Adriana nodded, the weight of the responsibility both thrilling and terrifying. "I think we should try to show the emotional impact while still respecting the science," she mused out loud. "Find that perfect balance between data and relatable human experience for the board members."
"That's exactly what I was hoping for."
Adriana couldn't help the wave of pride that followed his approval. Coming from someone like Will, it felt like more than just a polite acknowledgment. It felt like he genuinely valued her input.
A muffled phone alarm went off, startling Adriana and prompting Will to slide his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the screen as he silenced it, then stood up as he pocketed the device once more. Adriana instinctively followed suit, surprised as she looked at the clock on the wall. The meeting had passed quicker than expected, and she felt an unexpected twinge of disappointment.
"So you're interested, then?" he asked, although they both already knew her answer. He extended his hand to formalize the partnership.
"Definitely." She confirmed as she happily grasped his hand, this time her handshake confident and energized.
As he moved to come around the desk and escort her to the door, he outlined the next steps and suggested schedule, "I'll email you tomorrow with more of an outline for the project-give you something to start working with," he said as they reached the door. "I have a class to teach in ten minutes, so I have to run, but I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with."
His gaze held hers for a moment longer before opening the door for Adriana.
"Send me your thoughts whenever you're ready, and we'll get this moving," he said as she moved past him on her way out of the door.
Adriana turned to face him and answered with sincerity. "Will do."
As she headed down the hall, she couldn't shake the feeling of both relief and disappointment that the meeting was over. There was something about Will. Maybe it was his competence, his focus, his kindness—whatever it was, it made her wish she could have lingered just a little longer.
But of course, she didn't linger at all because that would be creepy. Instead, she hustled her ass out of the building as if she, too, had somewhere urgent to be (she did not. Unless Cara's talent show this evening counted).
As she stood by the parking lot, waiting for the Uber she'd ordered, Adriana replayed moments from the meeting in her mind. She felt a little high, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering as if rewarding her for this experience, urging her to relive it.
Focus on the work, she reminded herself. That's what mattered. This was a job, plain and simple.
Was Will brilliant and ridiculously handsome?
Absolutely. But he was also way out of her league.
Besides, she had learned her lesson with love during grad school, and that lesson had been etched painfully into her mind and woven into every cell of her being. It had left deep scars, reshaping her in ways she was sure went deep into her DNA.
No, never again. She wasn't walking back down that path. Adriana was supposed to be focusing on self-love, self-reliance, independence. Love wasn't part of her story, not when she was still so obviously broken. Not when there were so many pieces of herself she hadn't figured out how to fix.