From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 191: In the Waiting Room

They were waiting in the lounge at La Riviere Pharmaceutical.

The room was quiet. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and something floral, maybe the air freshener in the corner. The modern furniture looked expensive but felt stiff when Micah shifted uncomfortably in his seat. A large digital screen on the far wall played a looping promotional video of the company’s latest breakthrough in drug development.

Micah glanced around with a stiff neck, as if every movement required extra effort. The lounge was mostly empty, except for a few people in white coats walking past now and then. Even that made Micah twitch slightly. His eyes darted to every person that passed, his thoughts in complete disarray.

Clyde...What was his position at La Riviere?

He tried to piece it together, chewing nervously on the inside of his cheek. Everyone had treated him and Darcy with so much respect, the kind that wasn’t just polite, it was deferential. He knew it wasn’t because he was a Ramsy. The Ramsy family in the face of the Du Pont family and La Riviere was nothing special.

Had Clyde ordered them to treat him and Darcy this way?

Micah’s brows furrowed deeply.

Yesterday, wasn’t Clyde at the textile factory as a higher up...so he was from headquarters? But where was the HQ?

He had tried hard to locate it but he got no clue until now.

His heel bounced on the floor.

No, wait. Clyde had said his company was near campus, hadn’t he? That’s what Clyde told him when they had first started talking. Micah leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped as he stared at the floor. Did he miss the La Riviere sign around the university? How could he?!

Why didn’t he ever ask Clyde about his work? What had they even been talking about all this time?

Stupid, stupid. He felt like slamming his head against the wall.

He had let the conversation drift into anything but personal. And when Clyde had tried to tell him things, he had shrugged them off or changed the subject.

Why had he been so stubborn about not knowing anything about him? Even Clyde’s family name was brought up when he was disguised as a girl. Utterly pathetic. If he knew, if he just asked... then maybe he wouldn’t be sitting here now, restless and on the edge, scared out of his mind at the thought of running into the guy.

Was Clyde here? Should he show up because of this appointment?

Would he come... for me? Micah was caught off guard by his own thought.

He sat up straight and fiddled with his fingers.

His gaze flickered to Darcy. Deep down, he didn’t want Darcy and Clyde to meet each other. There was this warning in the back of his head that if they did, something bad might happen.

That seemed funny. Why would he think like that?

The only concern Micah had was how to introduce Clyde to Darcy if they crossed paths. What would he even say? ’Hey, this is Mr Clyde...’ not able to say he knew Clyde’s surname. And no idea of his position. Totally smooth!

Darcy would see through it right away, that he didn’t know anything about Clyde. What family friend when you didn’t know what his position was in La Riviere or his family name?

And how was he supposed to face Clyde after their fight yesterday? Micah clenched his fists on his knees. His worries were growing with each passing second.

Next to him, Darcy noticed the stiffness in Micah’s shoulder, the way he kept looking around like he expected a ghost to pop out from behind a plant. Micah’s lips were tight, his jaw flexing on and off. Darcy didn’t know the reason why he was on edge but he could at least distract him.

Darcy leaned forward slightly and tilted his head. "Hey," he said softly, not wanting to startle him. "Do you want to eat something while we are waiting?"

Micah blinked and looked at him, scratching his cheek he said, "Sure."

Darcy stood up and walked over to the corner of the lounge where a small refreshment area was set up.

He picked out a few snacks he knew Micah liked, plain turkey sandwiches with no spicy sauce, puddings, buns, and some mild crackers that wouldn’t upset his stomach. Carefully, he carried the tray back and set it in front of him.

"Eat," Darcy said gently.

Micah gave him a brief nod and picked up a small sandwich. He peeled the wrapper and slowly took a bite. He began chewing absentmindedly.

"Do you have a headache? Hangover? You don’t look so good." Darcy asked, noticing his lack of enthusiasm for food.

Micah paused and turned to him, eyes slightly wide. He swallowed the sandwich quickly.

He must have made it obvious. Darcy had picked up on his weird behaviour. Crap.

This wouldn’t do. Today it was not about Clyde. This was important for Darcy. For Fiona. Pull it together Micah. He said in his mind.

He shook his head and forced a small smile. "No, I’m just a bit sleepy."

Darcy reached into his backpack and pulled out a small silver flask.

"Here. I made you some herbal tea this morning. Drink it. It’s good for your stomach."

Micah blinked again. He stared at the flask, then slowly reached for it. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. He held the flask dramatically and sniffled, faking a tear. "Oh, this big brother is so proud. My little brother cares about me so much."

He reached out with one hand to pat Darcy’s head like he was bestowing a blessing.

Darcy leaned back instantly, dodging the hand effortlessly. "Oh, I see. Not even that you’re fine, your skin’s gotten thicker, huh?"

Micah huffed and dropped his hand with a playful scowl. "Tsk. Your reflexes are no joke! I just wanted to get back at you."

"What? Just for a pat on the head?" Darcy said, raising a brow.

"Yeah. This head belongs to a young master. Not just anyone gets to touch it, you know."

Darcy gave him a look, unimpressed. "Now you are showing your true colours. Young master this, young master that."

Micah’s ears turned red almost instantly. He looked away, realising what he had just said. Those were the kinds of things he used to say all the time, but saying them now, in front of Darcy, the real young master, made him feel ashamed. His mouth twitched in a forced grin, then fell.

Darcy chuckled, clearly amused. Then he reached out and pinched Micah’s cheek.

"Ow ow... what are you doing?" Micah flinched and rubbed his cheek, glaring at him.

Darcy shrugged, a smirk on his lips. "Yup. Soft and plump. Totally someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth."

"You..," Micah lunged forward to retaliate, hand outstretched to grab him, but...

A sudden cough cut through the air like a slap.

Micah jolted and sat up straight so fast he nearly knocked the snack tray off the table.

A woman in a white lab coat stood just a few feet away, watching them with a faint smile of amusement.

"Hello," she said, her voice clear and professional. "I presume you are here for our new immune suppressant drug?"

"Yes," Micah said quickly, standing up. He smoothed down his shirt and nodded politely, trying to recover from being caught mid-chaos.

"What can I help you with?" the woman continued, stepping forward and extending a hand. "Apologies for the late introduction. I’m Doctor Hansley, the person responsible for this research."

Micah was taken aback. He froze for a second before taking her hand. "Nice to meet you. I’m Micah Ramsy. This is my friend Darcy Edwood."

He threw a glance at Darcy and immediately saw it, a faint flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

Damn it, Clyde! Why did he contact the lead researcher? A regular researcher had been sufficient. Well, he said ’Director,’ but Micah never thought that it would be really this high-ranking. If Darcy asked, how was he supposed to downplay it?!

Micah groaned inwardly.

He couldn’t deal with this right now. He would figure it out when the time came.

Dr. Hansley watched Micah in silence, studying him. So, this was the person the big boss had ordered them to treat like royalty. He seemed immature and childish. What was his relationship with the big boss?

Micah turned toward Darcy. "My friend’s mother is hospitalised with MS. and she was selected for the new treatment. Could you please tell us the pros and cons of taking it?"

Dr. Hansley nodded and began to explain the mechanism of the new drug in detail. How it worked, what to expect, the risks and possible side effects. Her voice was calm, practised, but not cold. She spoke like someone who believed in what she was doing.

Micah listened carefully, pushing all his worries aside for the time being.

As the doctor continued, something changed in his face. The new drug seemed really promising. Micah for the first time felt a small flicker of hope. Maybe... maybe it wouldn’t come to him stepping in and donating stem cells. Maybe Fiona had a real chance without him risking his life.

His expression brightened slowly. His lips curved into a smile, the first real one of the day.

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