Chapter 2

Today at Washington, many scientists, boffin, and professors are collected in New York to attend once in a year seminar conducted by one and only genius researcher, a physicist, robotics and IT expert, professor, and an esoteric scientist, Maria.

Every year she is called to this event where she shares her research, invention, and ideas with the world. Over the last five years, she has come up with something new and incredible innovations in her different field of expertise that shakes up the whole world.

Maria has never disappointed people with her hard work in advancing technology to support human society. Her intelligent brain and charitable nature have awarded her significant respect among the research committee and the public of different countries.

Apart from her genius brain at such young age, she is also known for being a mysterious identity to the world's eyes. She never shows up in general, except for her special lectures or board meetings for a discussion about other works.

No one has ever seen her face, and she hides it behind a white mask with a golden border. This iconic mask designed by herself covers up her forehead, followed by both sparking pitch black eyes, and curved down to hover on the left side of her cheek.

Many people believe she is an undercover agent, while many say she is afraid to show her ugly face. Such rumors and sometimes even hatred never actually affected her. Maria, the second personality developed by Madeline Bennett to appear in front of the world, is to focus on work and produce better results without being prejudged and connected to her personal life.

Madeline is a professional and workaholic when it comes to her job. Though she doesn’t work for someone or under anyone, she is uncompromisingly sincere toward her quality of efforts. She is a free figure that works for the public welfare within her privacy.

Today while everyone was sitting silently, focused, listening to this one female voice, presenting her thesis in front of hundreds of faces.

"And soon we will give this world a new hope of development and a step toward future technology!" everyone stood up and clapped for the young female professor and scientist standing on the stage alone.

"Bravo Prof. Maria!!" a fellow cheered from the audience, followed by others. 

"Incredible."

"She is a genius."

The complete hall flooded with compliments and cheers for this young woman.

Standing on the podium, she was dressed in a yellow high neck, paired with black jeans and 3-inch black sandal heels. An unbuttoned, white lab coat covered her till the knees, and a dangling id card, accompanied by a thin golden chain on her neck. Her silky black locks were tied in a ponytail giving the best vibe of an anime scientist, not to forget her iconic mask to complete her look.

Her orbs were pitch black, matching her baby strands tugged behind the ears. Her voice is sweet but resonant enough to give extra weightage to her words.

When she first stepped into this outer world, she was tagged with a lot of questions by everyone, though soon her hard work proved her importance. She is not cold or arrogant, just an introvert who speaks way too less, except about work. 

Maria thanked everybody who clapped hands for her in the hall, as always a great impression on listeners. Finally, this hectic day came to an end, after she greeted everyone before leaving the venue.

Maria walked to the first basement parking lot. The first basement was empty as organizers reserved the whole floor for her. Humming her favorite music entangling with the echo of the clicks of her heels, she reaches her car. It was not a fancy, luxurious four-wheeler for some celebrity but a shining black Toyota RAV 4 with slight black tinted opaque glasses.

She took out the key from her with a jingling sound of a smiley keychain attached to the car key. She presses a button on the key and the only vehicle standing on that floor flashes light from both front and behind.

She took a step closer and lifted her hand about to open the door when someone called her from behind.

"Madeline" a male voice reaches her ears.

Her hands froze so was the humming from her melodious voice box.

"Who are you planning to leave me alone to take the bus huh?! at this age!! very cruel." She recognized the familiar taunting rhythm.

"What's with the sulking?" she chuckled and turned around to face a man in his late 50's.

"And we are still in the building, SIR." She finished her sentence with frowned eyes.

The man threw a sigh with a pout though it didn't suit his age but still adorable in her eyes. Both of them headed inside the car. She starts the engine and leaves the parking lot. The man sitting beside her gulps some water and relaxes on the seat. He closed his eyes for a moment and again opened them to face the younger with a smile.

"Today was a great day. We got a lot of good responses from the committee and other scientists also praised you wholeheartedly," he says in his calm tone.

"Hmm, I heard one of your colleagues talking to you, "OH Prof. Bennett, you got a treasured gem in your party!", didn't he?" she mimicked that person, and both laughed together.

They passed a highway and parked under quite a bridge. Both get out of the car and the man she addressed as Mr. Bennett hopped on the driving seat while Maria walked to the back trunk. She slowly took out her mask and coat before placing them in a bag. She kept them under a black plie in the back of the car and hopped in the passenger seat.

She fastens her belt as the car starts moving. She releases a sigh of relief and relaxes as he did a few minutes ago. Her bare face reflex on the front mirror as Mr. Bennett admires with aww.

The young lady beside him was an eternal beauty in terms of her perfect facial features. Her big black eyes were hovered by thick long lashes, a small cute nose, and pink cherry lips decorated on her smooth skin of perfect oval symmetry.

"How long are you planning to hide your face with that mask? Oh god, how will you get married at this rate." He started the conversation, and her eyes rolled to get closed, pretending to sleep.

Mr. Bennet took a glance at her and sighed. "Madeline, our little Maddy, I know I let you be in this field only on the condition to keep your real identity confidential, but I never hoped you to vanish up your whole youth working beneath curtains."

Madeline remained silent and clapped her mouth, smuggling on her seat for a better position to endure his nagging.

"This niece of mine is so pretty and still has to conceal it. I should have changed your family records and given you a new surname than creating a fake mask of Maria. At least you would have freely able to hang out with colleagues open-face instead of sneaking under bypasses and hiding from them." Her Uncle expressed remorse.

Madeline opened her eyes and released a long breath to accompany him in his conversation. "Who said I m lonely? I have you." She smiled at the elder, and he replied with a goofy eye roll.

"I wanted you to live a normal life. At first, I thought it was a good idea because we couldn't let the world know about your family background, but things have changed now." He jolts his shoulder, expressing his point.

"Nothing changed and everything is alright." She shrugged her shoulder just like his worries.

"I have grown older and I don't know how long I can accompany you and--"

"Again! again that creepy cheesy movie lines." She shot a glare at him. He dropped his hope to convince her like always and sat back quietly for a while with a gulp.

"I just want a good and safe future for you. What's wrong with worrying about my niece?" He mumbled like a kid with a cute voice that melts down her offense.

"Uncle, soon I’m going to complete my promise to dad by launching our new self-energy generating device, ARCER. If we succeed, more and more people can get excesses to technology and machines without depending on electricity or fuels.“ She opens her eyes and gazes at the outside.

"All these years, I’m working on it secretly underneath this mask. I need to maintain confidentiality. It will be a disaster if someone got its smell, especially when so many crimes and pressure from profiters are given to solo researchers and scientists to make money. Once we launch this project with the government or the right investor under our conditions, I will reveal myself and then we can go back to our hometown." She said, focused on the road as silence covered them.

"It used to be your father's dream and his last project before he passed away, but you also know he went through a lot because of this. I wanted to give you a normal life away from these brain-wreaking things, but your stubborn ass like your father never listens to me." He scolded her but in a wacky way that cracked her.

"Father was stubborn, that's why he never gave up on his hard work so am I. I m living at my full potential and self-earned respect that makes me happy and contented. What else matters." Madeline pats her shoulder in satisfaction.

"Your future matters. But the thing about your potential, I won't deny. I’m proud of you, dear. Like father, like daughter, your genius genes got you to become a successful professor at just 24. You did a lot of research and inventions to help the world with your talent and uplift the quality and perspective of our scientific knowledge, after your father. Wow, our DNA is full of intelligence," he claims with pride.

"yeah yeah." She laughed as he puffed his chest in overjoy.

" Well, I remember from ARCER, I talked with the head of the Science and technology department Board to arrange a conference for you. The launch will be scheduled for three months. I told him to keep it highly confidential till the release from your mouth." Mr. Bennet pulled his sober tone.

"Alright. We get enough time to give it the finishing touch and have final trials." The older nodded at her words.

"Yeah, but in return, he asked you to attend a special gathering for him. I looked into it, there will be other guests from the business profession." Madeline shot a crazy look at her Uncle.

"Why on earth did he ask such nonsense when he is aware I never show up in entertaining gatherings." She asked in astonishment.

"Moreover, it is strange how he pressured me to make you attend it or he will cut off our research center. Something looks fishy, but for now, you have to attend the party for the sake of your last project as Maria. Don't worry, we can use it as a chance to look for a backup investor. I will accompany you and keep the suspicious people away." He smiled, showing his support for the little one.

"Okay, let's do this and see what happens. I want things to go smoothly, as we are now at the peak of this play." She suspires with pressed lips accepting the situation.

"But right now, I’m hungry. I wanna go and celebrate at McD!!!" her mood shifted to a cheerful one as her stomach growling announced her pity-hungry state.

"I wish you stay happily alive till the end, angel."