Chapter 1

The USB drive hit the table with a sharp crack that echoed through the conference room. No one moved.

My name is Lina Hartwell, and I was the company's second-in-command. Everyone knew it. My methods were sharp, and my results sharper. I had led most of the company's core projects from the ground up.

In every way that mattered, I was the backbone of this place. Only Sophia Becker had the nerve to reach out and take the USB drive.

She held it like a trophy, satisfaction written across her face. "Lina, I'm doing this for the good of the company. This algorithm is the result of everyone's hard work. If the other employees found out you'd been taking sole credit for it, who knows? We might have a full-on revolt on our hands."

I shifted my gaze across the table to Vincent Stark, my boyfriend and the company's CEO.

"Vincent, tell me. Did this company build that algorithm?" I asked.

I already knew what he would say. Years ago, when the company struggled to survive its early days, he had come to me. He had begged for my help.

I had given in. I did more than loan him the algorithm. I left my own work and joined him. We built this company side by side until it became what it is today.

Now Vincent looked away and cleared his throat. "This algorithm was built by the company's employees. Since most of the company's products rely on it, it naturally belongs to the company."

I laughed. People changed. That much was obvious.

Years of trust and loyalty had collapsed under the weight of greed.

Sophia saw Vincent take her side and grew bolder. "Mr. Stark, just changing the name back isn't really enough, is it? By the rules, misappropriating company assets is grounds for a lawsuit.

"But Lina is the VP, so maybe we don't need to go that far. How about a one-week suspension? That would give everyone a fair answer."

"A one-week suspension?" I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? Do you have any idea that I have a nine-figure partnership deal in its most critical phase right now?"

Sophia waved it off. "Everything you've accomplished, you did because of the company's algorithm. With the algorithm in hand, anyone could have done what you did. The company will run just fine without you."

I studied her. She was breezy, utterly certain of herself.

The corner of my mouth lifted. The algorithm was mine. I had built it from scratch. The program was complex, and only I understood its core logic. Anyone else who tried to use the source code without proper guidance would run straight into system errors.

"Fine," I said. "Since you make it sound so simple, every project on my plate is yours now. When things go sideways, don't come crying to me to clean up the mess."

Sophia lifted her chin, her expression pure arrogance. "At least I act with integrity. I don't steal from the collective and call it my own achievement."

At last, Vincent cut in sharply, his brow furrowed. "Enough. No one-month suspension. One week off, and her performance bonus for this month is forfeited. Consider it a formal warning. During the suspension, Sophia will take over Lina's current projects."

I did not argue. I only looked at Vincent. The man across from me felt both familiar and strange.

When we first got together, he had been straightforward and genuine. His eyes had been only for me. Back then, I believed I could build a life with him.

Now he showed no gratitude. He was trying to take what was mine.

I had poured years of work into his company. I had even arranged for my family to invest quietly, so he would not feel indebted.

Now it all felt like a joke.

Sophia held up the USB drive as if she had just claimed something priceless. "Lina, relax and enjoy your week off. And when you're back, try not to let jealousy get to you if I've done a better job than you."

I met her gaze and said flatly, "Go ahead. Take it."

Whether she had the skill to handle such a complex algorithm was one issue. The law was another. Using patented technology required authorization, and authorization came with licensing fees.

Every time they ran that algorithm, it would cost them. I intended to see exactly how they planned to pay me back.