Chapter 3

Logan showed up alone the next day and returned my laptop, setting it on the bedside table. "Thanks for lending me this. I used it to update some information for my visa."

I gave a noncommittal "Mm-hmm" without asking him to elaborate, but my lack of interest didn't make him leave.

"There's nothing between Clara and me, Darren. I mean... there isn't going to be unless you've really decided to... well, let go."

I raised my head. "That's a new one. Since when do you get to decide whether I should or shouldn't let go?"

Logan looked embarrassed.

"That's not what I meant, man. Clara didn't sleep a wink last night. She was debugging the software, and she kept checking her phone because she was worried about you," he protested. "Your sudden departure for Seabeck made her think she was the one who indirectly forced you to leave."

"So?"

He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. "So, can you please stop acting like you want us to be together while also making her feel uneasy and anxious about you leaving?

"Everyone's worried about you because you just lost your parents. That doesn't mean you should treat Clara like your service animal. She's got a life she wants to lead, too."

I'd heard this kind of talk far too many times in my last life after Logan left. Everyone had been eager to remind me that Clara had given up her true love for my sake, that taking care of me was an act of duty and kindness, and that I owed her for all of it.

"Don't worry. I'm not a fan of service animals. I'm not going to rob her of her life this time."

Logan grimaced. "God, can you be any cattier? I just want a chance to pursue a possible relationship with her.

"You two have known each other for two decades! When did I ever have an opening? And now, when it finally seems like I have a chance, you—"

"Then seize your opening or whatever," I cut in. "You're so wrapped up in this narrative that you've convinced yourself this is some kind of competition. You want to win her while expecting me to thank you for being so respectful and noble about it?"

The door opened, and Clara appeared with my medication.

She immediately noticed Logan's grimace. "What happened?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I spoke out of line, I guess."

She immediately stepped toward him. "Darren, come on. Logan came here to apologize. Why do you have to be so hostile toward him?"

"Nah. He's responsible for his own mood. What's that got to do with me?"

"You didn't use to act like this," she said.

I laughed. "That's because I used to be stupid."

I took two things from my drawer: a key to the office that served as the base for their startup and an employee ID card identifying me as part of the backend team.

"I'm glad you showed up... because I quit. I'm no longer part of your team."

Clara stared at me in disbelief. "What? Do you know how long we've been working on our UI? Six months! If you quit now, all of that will go up in smoke!"

"I see it as cutting my losses," I stated calmly.

"Losses? What losses? Why are you mixing your personal affairs with professional work?"

"Why not? Should I keep taking losses because of you?" I argued.

Clara's expression darkened. She was about to retort when her phone rang.

It was her mentor. Someone had leaked confidential information, including the core model and investor list, to a rival group. The leak had originated from my laptop, and the account used had been mine. The files had been sent at 1:17 a.m.

Her mentor immediately summoned us to the institution for an investigation.

The room fell silent.

I stared at Logan. "My computer was with you at that time."

His face went pale. "B-But how? I was only using it to submit changes to my visa! I have no idea what happened!"

Clara stepped forward. "Due process, Darren! Don't start throwing accusations around before we even know what actually happened!"

I didn't respond.

She tightened her grip on her phone, then added quietly, "Don't speak before me when they start asking questions, okay?"