Miles Finch's question still hung in the air. The entire R&D team had gathered around, eyes wide with disbelief, waiting for my confirmation.
I smiled softly. "Yes, I am Dr. Emma Bella."
The silence lasted for exactly three seconds before chaos erupted.
"Oh my God!"
"I knew it!"
"Are you serious?"
"I've been working with THE Dr. Bella this whole time?!"
Miles looked like he might faint. His face had gone completely white, and he kept opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.
"But you're so young!" he finally managed to sputter. "And you've been here, working as an intern, when you could have—"
"When I could have demanded a director position?" I finished for him. "That was never my intention. I wanted to observe the team dynamics without any preconceptions. To see how the department truly functioned."
