Chapter 3

I have barely checked into my hotel in San Francisco when my mentor sends me a livestream from the Moretti Foundation.

The first image on the giant screen is my apartment.

My apartment.

The one I lived in for three years.

My daily routine, the route I take to work, and even my monthly spending have all been edited into an inspirational video.

A warm voice narrates over the footage.

“Three years ago, nine young donors began a private support initiative for a promising scholarship student.”

Numbers appear across the screen.

[Birthday Support: $270]

[Medical Support: $63]

[Daily Meals: $27]

Nine donor names follow every expense.

Adrian Moretti is first.

Vanessa Romano Moretti is second.

The same numbers were game expenses in the surveillance apartment.

Now, on a public stage, they are charity records.

The host smiles at Vanessa. “Mrs. Moretti, were you the one coordinating all this support?”

Before she can answer, Adrian takes the microphone.

“Vanessa put a lot of work into it. Without her, the program wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

I stare at the screen.

He told me Vanessa only wanted the Moretti name.

But the three years they spent watching me, laughing at me, and splitting the cost of my life have now become proof of her “charity work.”

The moment Adrian steps offstage, I call him.

“Why are you using footage from the surveillance apartment in a foundation campaign?”

“Vanessa only used ordinary daily-life material. Nothing private.”

“That material was recorded without my permission.”

His voice stays calm. “It already exists, Claire. Deleting it now would be pointless. Vanessa needs a real accomplishment she can point to.”

For a second, I say nothing.

Then he adds, “She’s presenting your project too.”

My grip tightens around the phone.

“That is my project.”

His patience finally slips.

“Can you be reasonable for once?”

I almost laugh.

He continues, “Vanessa has never had an easy position in the Moretti family. She needs one real accomplishment people can respect.”

“So you decided to give her mine.”

“You’ll have more opportunities. She won’t.”

A message arrives while he is still talking.

It is a rendering of a private lab.

“Moretti Biotech kept the lab plan we discussed,” Adrian says. “You’ll have your own floor, your own team, and the equipment you asked for. Let Vanessa have this presentation. I’ll give you something better.”

I look at the rendering.

The layout is almost identical to the sketch I made two years ago.

He remembers exactly what I wanted.

He simply thinks remembering gives him the right to take something else away.

I end the call.

When I return to the livestream, the project presentation has already started.

Vanessa stands onstage with my slides behind her and my talking points in her hand.

In the lower corner of the screen is one line.

[Presented by Vanessa Moretti]

The camera cuts to the front row.

Adrian is applauding.

Months ago, Adrian promised he would sit in the front row the day I finally presented the project.

He kept that promise.

He is just clapping for his wife instead.

A reporter hands him a microphone.

“Ms. Bennett isn’t here today. Can the partnership still move forward?”

“She’s under the weather,” Adrian says. “The agreement will be signed as planned.”

“And if she doesn’t agree?”

He does not hesitate.

“She will.”

The reporter smiles. “You sound very sure.”

Adrian leans back in his chair. “Claire received support from the Moretti Foundation for years. She understands what loyalty means.”

Applause fills the room.

I open the project group chat.

My last message is still there from last night.

[I am withdrawing from the Moretti Biotech deal. I will not sign the licensing agreement.]

Adrian’s reply sits underneath it.

[Stop being dramatic.]

Even now, he thinks I am coming back.

I save the livestream, send a copy to my attorney, and leave the Moretti Biotech project group.

A few minutes later, my mentor forwards me another message.

[Nexora Labs invites Claire Bennett to attend the San Francisco Tech Summit as a featured research guest.]

I read it once.

Then I type my answer.

[Yes. I’ll be there.]