The bills were crumpled into a tight ball and hurled to the floor.


    McNeil pulled out his phone and dialed his executive assistant.


    "Take this agreement to the Turner family. Tell her to pick up the divorce papers from City Hall herself. I don''t have time for this."


    The assistant nced at the paperwork, an inexplicable chill crawling over her skin as she epted it.


    Victoria left the McNeil estate and called a cab to Quantum Core Technologies.


    As the car passed Central Square, her gaze drifted to a massive new billboard stered across one of the skyscrapers—a bold announcement for next week''s rally race.


    A gigantic photo dominated the disy: a racer with a helmet, but beneath it, a cascade of long, dark hair-strikingly feminine, yet fierce and self-assured.


    A scrolling ticker ran beneath.


    The legendary female driver makes her grand return: Vivian, top mechanical engineer in the country, back on the racetrack.


    Victoria looked away, a faint smile tugging at her lips.


    The sponsors were a powerhouse coalition: The Langford Group, Golden Era Enterprises, and three other major Starfall City firms, all backing the event with serious muscle.


    Sitting in the back seat, Victoria scrolled through her phone. Nearly every headline was about the uing F1 rally-her news feed flooded with stories and spection.


    She made a call.


    Yasmine picked up.


    "Our ad campaign canunch now," Victoria said.


    "Understood, boss," Yasmine replied.


    Victoria slipped her phone away, her gaze lingering on the three bold letters from the billboard: VIVIAN.


    She allowed herself a cool, understated smile as the cab pulled up to Quantum Core Technologies.


    Inside, thepany was abuzz with activity.


    Every desk was adorned with little snacks, and as Victoria walked in, someone greeted her with cheerful enthusiasm.


    "Ms. Turner! Head to your desk-Ms. Marchand''s treating everyone to coffee and cupcakes."


    Victoria nodded lightly. "Thanks."


    No sooner had she passed than a cluster of coworkers began whispering behind her back.


    "Did you hear? That game project tanked, and Mr. Garcia got burned-lost millions. Even The Langford Group and Golden Era Enterprises lost a fortune."


    "Yeah, but then the game rights got sold off, and for some reason, Mr. Garcia gave Ms. Turner a $500,000 bonus. What''s up with that?"


    Another piped in: "Isn''t it obvious? Haven''t you heard? Apparently Ms. Turner is married and has a kid. Now she''s getting a divorce. Poor thing-single mom, nowhere to go, the usual sob story. Must''ve tugged at Mr. Garcia''s heartstrings."


    "Right? Look at Ms. Marchand-gorgeous, hardworking, her boyfriend''s a rockstar, and she still puts in overtime without a singleint. Then there''s Ms. Turner, coasting on her looks, with a sick dad, paralyzed mom, and a brother drowning in debt. These divorced women know how to y the victim, and men always fall for it."


    "A $500,000 payout for doing nothing? If it were me, I''d stick by Mr. Garcia too."


    Ailie overheard, her expression thunderous. "Don''t you all have work to do? Or did you eat so much cake that gossiping is the only way you can digest it? Say another word, and you can collect yourst paycheck from ounting." The group scattered in a hurry.


    Ailie pressed her fingers to her brow, then made her way to Victoria''s office. When she walked in, Victoria was deep in her work, the untouched coffee and cupcake from Violet sitting off to the side.


    Ailie marched over and tossed them straight into the trash.


    Victoria nced up, unfazed. "What''s with the fire this morning?"


    Ailie huffed. "Didn''t you hear what they''re saying about you? Thepany''s annual party is the day after tomorrow-use the chance to have Mr. Garcia set the record straight in front of everyone, make it clear you''re the real developer behind the game."


    Victoria, focused on her work, finally spared Ailie a little attention.