creen at Apex Innovations. She kept her head down, her brown hair falling to hide the

engineer, said, not quietly enough. "Still

Maybe he likes a project? Or h

his was normal. The whispers, the stares at her scar. Sh

y just then. His smile was bright, a flash of

ing good

, but today it fel

" she said, h

ed at Mark and Lisa. "Team, let's k

Ethan winked at Sarah and walked towards his glass-walle

called Sarah and a few oth

an with bright blonde hair and a dazzling smile. She looked fresh out of college. "Bri

ght, airy sound. "Oh,

a knot in h

y lead engineer, the best I have. I want you to mentor Brittany. Show

ah managed, forc

cited to learn from you, Sarah. I'

s felt off,

hey were rarely about the deep architecture of Nightshade. She' d nod, smile,

cation," Brittany wou

grasp very little. When performance review time came for interns, Sarah was honest. She noted Brittany' s enthusiasm but hi

an called an all-hands meeting for the engine

ng Project Nightshade," Ethan began, his voice

ittany by his side, looki

ller will no longer be the lead

room. Sarah felt her blood run cold

role on legacy systems," Ethan continued, not

w. Humiliation burned Sarah' s cheeks

any, "I am thrilled to announce that Brittany Evans will be t

of her incredible talent and fresh insights, Britt

one she' d earned after three years of relentless work, groundbreaking pate

ah, his expression a mixtur

a project needs." He paused, then added, his voice carrying clearly, "And frankly, some of the recent feedback I'v

r review of Brittany. H

d to clap, hesitantly at first, then louder a

plause like nails on a chalkboard. Betr