Dustin Vance. In the research world, that name was practically a god's.
Barely past thirty, already academy-level, running a National Key Research Lab, leading multiple state-level major projects, publishing in the highest-tier international journals. Everyone knew him as young, low-key, and impossibly brilliant.
He was the idol of every young scholar in the country, someone you could admire from a distance but never expect to get close to.
I hadn't imagined he'd be personally overseeing this round of selection.
"Professor Vance almost never gets involved in the selection himself. This time, for whatever reason, he asked to see a few specific candidates' materials—and you're one of them." Professor Hale's voice tightened with barely contained excitement. "Madge, prepare well. This is the best chance you'll ever get."
I nodded hard, my heart hammering.
To be noticed by Dustin Vance was an honor I wouldn't have dared to dream of.
I stepped out of the office, took a deep breath, and deleted the last photo of Les from my phone.
Three years. Done.
From now on, I live for research and for myself. No one else.
Les vanished completely for two weeks.