re from nothing. Alex and I had been partners in every sense, pouring our youth and every cent we had into our startup. My desk,

was to fe

extra hot," a junior employee called

ersonally chosen for the office pantry. Emily, Alex' s new fiancée, was a recent

team, his arm wrapped possessively around Emily' s waist, and announced their engagement

to help Emily, the new "Project Director," settle in. That included moving my personal belongings out of

based on my core designs, was being presented to the board. I wasn't invited to the m

a bit... amateurish. He wanted to show the board how much the project has evolved under my directio

this company had evaporated. That evening, I typed a one-sentence resignation letter. I packed my personal laptop, and with i

ning. He didn' t call. He just scoffed to his new right-hand man, "Le

h mogul, Mr. Chen. He had been trying to poach me for years. 'The new identity is rea

ffair filled with forced smiles and veiled corporate warfare. I was there

fury. "Where are the AI chip blueprints, Sarah?" he demanded, h

oice steady. "The company I took out crippling loans to fund whi

st. Everyone here thinks you're a genius. They don't

. "Darling, don't upset yourself." She turned to me, offering a gl

stment, a night of endless toasts that ended with a severe allergic reaction and a m

a passing tray. Her smile was triumphant. She knew about my allergy.

quid was strong, burning.

ed, her hands flying to her skin as the allergic reaction took hold. She ha

hing through the crowd towards the exit, shouting for a doctor.

ity guards from a rival corporation stormed the hall, shouting about industrial

and sway violently. It was directly above me. I looked across the room and saw Alex. He had t

eeing the ballroom. He never once looked back. I barely managed to throw myself aside as the c