Chapter 2

The next morning, Chris had his personal assistant deliver a necklace.

The assistant placed the Tiffany velvet box on the table with a smile. "Boss says it's your anniversary gift. He hopes you'll cool down and attend the launch rehearsal this afternoon on time."

The pendant was a silver snowflake.

Identical to the one I'd received for my birthday three years ago.

I flipped the box over and found the receipt.

Place of purchase: Iceland airport duty-free.

Quantity: two.

I pushed the box back.

"Tell him to save it for someone more appropriate. I don't accept things that aren't meant for me."

The assistant looked uncomfortable.

"Annie, Chris asked me to relay this: the Polaris project is at a critical stage. You'd best not bring personal feelings into the workplace."

I raised my eyes.

"Then relay this back to him for me: don't take someone else's life's work and use it to court your first love."

That afternoon, I went to Howard Tech—Chris's company.

Outside the launch hall, a massive poster was displayed. Chris's name sat at the top. Susan stood beside him, labeled as the "creative originator" of the Polaris system.

My name was gone.

Becky was directing staff on the seating placards. When she spotted me, she immediately pulled me aside.

"Why are you here early?"

"If I don't come early, how would I know my position and my work have been stolen?"

She lowered her voice. "It's just a marketing strategy. Susan is an avalanche survivor—using her story gets media attention."

I laughed in disbelief.

"And that's your justification for erasing me?"

"Chris always says truly talented people don't need to fight over credits."

I looked at this friend I'd known for twelve years.

Back when she'd been maliciously terminated from her old company and was facing an industry blacklist, I was the one who brought her into Chris's firm. I'd personally asked Chris to give her the PR director position.

The first time she received a six-figure year-end bonus, she cried and swore she would never betray me in this lifetime.

Now she was using the crisis management skills I'd taught her—on me.

The big screen suddenly lit up.

Chris's face appeared in a video conference.

He wore a black windbreaker. Behind him was a snow-covered cabin. Susan sat by the fireplace, wrapped in his cashmere scarf.

"Let's begin the rehearsal."

I stepped in front of the main camera.

"Who approved that poster?"

Chris saw me. His brow furrowed slightly.

"Susan's story has more commercial appeal. After the launch, I'll send an internal memo crediting your contributions."

"I don't want an internal memo."

Susan rose from the sofa.

"Annie, don't blame Chris. I just really loved the name 'Polaris,' so I agreed to help promote it."

She raised her hand to adjust the scarf, and a yellow crystal bracelet slipped into view on her wrist.

It was a protective charm I'd braided for Chris with my own hands.

Woven into the knots was an old chip—the processor that had burned out the first time the Polaris system successfully ran.

Chris had called it our shared medal of honor.

I asked, "Who gave you that?"

Susan instinctively glanced at Chris.

Chris said flatly, "It's just an old piece of string. She liked it, so I let her have it."

"It's mine."

"Annie." He sharpened his tone. "Don't be so graceless. Don't make everyone watch me get embarrassed."

Employees below the stage were already whispering.

Lori had appeared at some point and stood in the front row, waving me down.

"Annie, come down. Susan was just trying it on. You don't have to be so petty."

I didn't move.

"The core modules of the Polaris system belong to me. Effective today, I'm revoking authorization."

The room went deathly silent.

Chris's gaze darkened.

"All your R&D was completed in company facilities. The intellectual property belongs to the company."

"The original version was written before I was ever hired. The source code and copyright registration are both under my personal name."

Becky's face changed.

Lori rushed onto the stage and grabbed my arm.

"Annie, have you lost your mind? The company invested hundreds of millions into this project. Are you pulling authorization just to force Chris to fly back and beg?"

I pulled my arm free.

"I'm simply taking back what's mine."

Chris stared at me for a long moment, then let out a sudden laugh.

"You won't go through with it."

"What?"

"You poured four years into this. Polaris is like your own child—you'd never actually destroy it."

He was so certain.

Certain I couldn't let go of the project. Certain I couldn't let go of him.

"Resume rehearsal." Chris instructed his assistant. "Suspend Annie's backend access temporarily. Restore it once she's calmed down."

The screen went dark.

Security approached me and politely asked me to leave.

Before the elevator doors closed, I saw two staffers emerge from the R&D department carrying cardboard boxes.

Inside the boxes were my original handwritten manuscripts.

On top was a FedEx international shipping label.

Delivery address: the Iceland cabin where Chris and Susan were staying.

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