Chapter 2

“Didn't you say the original research behind that system was the last thing your mother left you, and that you'd never sell it?”

"I'm only selling the rights to use it, not the ownership."

After a brief pause, I added, "But I need the money immediately."

The line went quiet for a moment.

"What happened?"

"My mom needs surgery," I said.

Rowan Langley, a professor at the research institute, did not press me for details.

He said, "I'll contact the finance department now. We can make the initial licensing payment within two hours."

I closed my eyes and thanked him.

Two hours later, I had the money in hand and rushed to the hospital. I sat outside the operating room. My palms were slick with cold sweat.

Just then, my phone rang with a call from Preston, but I did not answer.

Moments later, a text appeared on my screen.

[Are you done making a scene?]

Another text followed almost immediately.

[Come home tonight. I can pretend none of this ever happened.]

I stared at the two texts before slowly deleting everything.

Then, I opened my email and sent a formal notice to Preston's company.

[Due to a material breach by the licensee of the core technology, we have decided to terminate the license for the healthcare risk management system. The license will officially terminate in seventy-two hours.]

The hospital hallway was bathed in pale light, yet for the first time, I felt the tightness in my chest begin to ease.

Preston called me soon after. I answered but did not speak first.

Barely restraining his anger, he asked, "What does the notice you sent to the company mean?"

"It's exactly as it states."

"Tara, the company has been licensed to use that system for three years. Do you have any idea how much we will lose if you suddenly terminate the license?"

"I do," I said.

"Yet you're still going through with it?"

I stared at the closed doors of the operating room.

"Didn't you say that a businessperson should care about value and return on investment? When you gave Mallory three million dollars to gain some experience, you must've calculated the potential loss as well."

After a brief silence, he said, "That's different."

"How so?"

"You can't use company business to act out of spite."

"So, you can use company money to bankroll Mallory's gamble, but when I reclaim my own technology, I'm suddenly acting out of spite?"

Preston's voice turned cold.

"Tara, don't bring your personal feelings into this."

"Personal feelings?"

I looked at my hands.

"I gave you three million dollars from my savings while we were engaged and brought in the company's first clients. Also, I developed the core system myself.

"You turned everything I contributed into company assets and reduced me to an unemployed fiancee who did nothing but spend money. Now, you dare tell me not to bring my personal feelings into this?"

He paused, then said, "That three million was an investment you made willingly."

"Of course."

When Preston first started his company, he had less than a hundred thousand dollars in his account. He slept at the office every night and said, "Tara, once the company survives, I'll give you the most spectacular wedding ever."

I transferred three million dollars from my savings to him.

Later, I brought in the company's first clients and handed over the system I had developed through countless sleepless nights. The company finally got off the ground.

But whenever Preston introduced me to others, he only ever called me his fiancee.

When people asked about the company's original funding and technology, he laughed and said, "She just helped out with a few small things."

I always let it go, but by then, every detail he had so casually dismissed felt like a thorn driven deep in my heart.

"Don't push me, Tara," Preston said in a low voice.

"I'm not pushing you. You're the one who taught me this."

"Taught you what?"

"Not to place my hopes in someone else."

With that, I hung up.

Mom's surgery lasted three hours. When the doctor finally came out, he told me that the surgery was a success, but she would need to remain in the ICU for observation.

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Before I could fully collect myself, Rowan's assistant approached me at the hospital entrance and handed me a document.

"This is the licensing agreement. The initial payment has already been deposited."

I took the document and turned to the final page, where I found an additional clause.

If Preston's company continued using the system, it would have to pay subsequent licensing fees at market rates and could not sublicense it to any third party without authorization.

I took out my phone and sent the clause to my lawyer, Darryl Corderman.

"Find out whether they have sublicensed it to anyone."