Intermission 1: The company

Brad sits at a conference table in a windowless room, surrounded by faceless men in suits.

"How did it go?" one asks, his gaze hidden behind black sunglasses despite the copious light in the room.

"Just as expected. Dom took the pills as we planned. He doesn't seem to have realized there is a larger play, yet."

The man nods, then turns to another. "Any signs yet?"

"Our sensors detected an unexpectedly large increase of the pheromone throughout his home. We've also been monitoring his online presence and are accelerating his endeavors, as we previously agreed. Based on all evidence so far, the experiment is progressing just as intended despite the accelerated pheromone release. Our analysts predict that he will continue to exude the pheromone in increasing quantities as his body adapts to the drug. We're paying close attention to see if any other side effects arise, with a particular eye on psychopathy streaks after the last trial."

"Good," the other man says. A smile, cold and devoid of any emotion, paints his face. "Very good."

He turns to Brad, who sits in silence amongst the other man, a single bead of sweat running down his forehead.