social circle. People who had known me, Chloe, and Liam for years. It was supposed to

eryone with stories of her travels. She wore a dress that was a little too low-c

her glass. I was sitting on the opposite couch, trying to merge with the cushions. "I have to practically

n old friends, but it was a carefully aimed shot. It painte

ed at me. "Is that true, Ava? Yo

"I just focus on maki

s. "All about the code. Someone has to be the heart, the soul.

in the room, a mix of pity and amusement. I was losing them. She

notice my rigid posture

eaks for itself. Harmo

ng her, he was just trying to keep the peace. His body language was all wrong. He was leaning towards Chloe, his posture open and rece

portunity, pressed her advantage. She stoo

tement. She picked up the user interface tablet. "Harmony is all abou

ing on the scree

sharper than I intended. "The gue

missive hand. "Liam, what' s the admin passwor

od ran

ou can' t. That' s the core code

"Ava, I' m just trying to help. You' re always so hesitan

de and pleading. "Liam, tell her it

oked from me to Chloe, a tra

," he said, his voice low and

al property. It was the security of my entire project.

gers finding my phone. I navigated to the terminal app that conne

LUENCE_ALGORI

t en

t appeared on my

G PREREQU

TIONAL TRAUM

TIAL BACKGROUND PROCESS. ESTIMATED

heart hammered against my r

d give Chloe the password, a smal

loor is

ing room, jumping from a rug

the blue carpet! It

nted a dramatic finger at Chloe, who was standin

lava! You' re mel

She looked down at the rug, then bac

ts are talking," she

Leo continued, undeterred. He mad

htly awkward amusement. Chloe' s performance was ruined. She was no longer the charismatic

offee table with a sharp click,

breath, just loud enough for me to h

amusing. He stood up and walked

enough. Apolo

ts flared up. "Liam,

apped. "This is an important night

was blaming my son for disrup

aid, his lower lip trembling as he lo

room went dead silent. Chloe' s face went from flushed

hing else. He pointed at Chloe' s design

He scrambled off the couch, ran to the bag, and pulled out a small, familia

at morning, containing the full Harmony

," Leo announced, holding it up f

s hand to Chloe' s face. Her mask of charm shattered completely, revealing t