"Is something wrong with her phone?"
Then, without warning, thunderous applause broke out below the stage.
The presentation was over. Lorraine hadn't just walked through the new product's features. She'd slipped in her own agenda, painting herself as the sole person behind the R&D, erasing me completely.
Inside, I gave a cold laugh. I didn't call her out in front of everyone.
But plenty of the company's longtime employees wore expressions of open indignation.
Lorraine bowed to the crowd, then came over to where we stood.
"Ms. Coleman, thank you for giving me this chance to present."
Before I could say a word, Quinn had already smiled. "Lorraine, when there's no one else around, you don't have to be so formal."
As he spoke, he reached over and smoothed the slightly crooked hem of her dress.
The gesture was practiced and easy, like a husband and wife of many years.
Lorraine looked at me, a smile on her face.
There wasn't a trace of respect or gratitude in her eyes. Only a hidden contempt, and the smugness of someone who'd won.
I didn't rise to it. I simply smiled, unbothered.
The presentation was a success. The moment the new product dropped, it shot straight to the top of the trending charts.
At the reception that followed, Quinn and Lorraine were the center of everything.
They were as close as a couple, sharing drinks and easy laughter with all the big names in the room.
And I stood alone in a quiet corner, as solitary as a bystander.
No one knew I was there, and I didn't want anyone to know.
I quietly finished a single glass and left.
Back at the office, I was packing up my personal things when a few photos landed on my phone.
They were from Lorraine.
Every one of them showed her and Quinn tangled together at a hotel.
Suggestive and explicit.
The old me would have exploded. Would have been beside herself with rage.
But now, it stirred nothing in me at all.
I didn't even care to check whether the photos were real.
Ten minutes later, I posted online, announcing that I was leaving Swanson Group for good.
One stone, a thousand ripples. The post caught fire fast, its heat climbing even higher than the launch itself.
Everyone in the industry knew I was the true developer and lead behind the new product.
Lorraine was nothing but a spokeswoman. No matter how glamorous she looked, she was just a pretty face.
Without my technical backing, anyone could imagine how dismal the product's sales would be from here.
Swanson Group's stock, which had been soaring nonstop, plunged straight to its daily limit down.
The Swanson family panicked. So did Quinn.
He rushed away from the reception to find me.
He came in and saw the empty desk in my office, and froze for a moment. Then he brushed past it and went straight to the accusation. "Miriam, why did you make that post?"
"Do you have any idea how badly the company suffered because of one selfish whim of yours?"
I answered evenly. "Assistant Galloway made it plenty clear at the launch. She's the one who developed the product and led it."
"With her here, that's more than enough."
Quinn's brows shot up, rage twisting his face. He was about to speak when a female employee suddenly ran in, flustered and breathless.
"Mr. Swanson, it's bad! Assistant Galloway's going to jump!"
"She says she's failed you, Mr. Swanson, and failed the company."
"And that she's wronged Ms. Coleman most of all!"
The color drained from Quinn's face, and he bolted out at once.
I paid it no mind. I finished packing the last of my things and left the office.
Out in the corridor, I came upon Lorraine, sitting on the windowsill.
Quinn was weeping, begging her not to do anything foolish, a large crowd of employees gathered around them.
When I saw how tightly Lorraine gripped the window frame, I thought I understood.
I was about to walk away when Quinn suddenly rushed over and seized my hand.
"Miriam, you're just in time!"
