Chapter 9: Code and Compromises

At 2 AM, the only sound in the lab was the clacking of keyboards and the occasional sip of coffee.

Evelyn focused on debugging a key integration point, but her mind kept drifting—to Ji-Ah.

She didn't understand her.

Most people in their industry were either ruthless or weak-willed. But Ji-Ah was neither. She was sharp, methodical, and annoyingly unreadable.

And, worst of all?

She never lost her cool.

Not even when Evelyn deliberately pushed her buttons.

Evelyn sighed, leaning back in her chair. "You know, most people find me impossible to work with."

Ji-Ah didn't even look up from her screen. "Most people aren't as arrogant as you."

Evelyn let out a sharp laugh. "Wow. No hesitation."

Ji-Ah finally glanced at her. "Why pretend? You and I both know you walk into every room assuming you're the smartest person there."

Evelyn smirked. "Because I usually am."

Ji-Ah hummed, unimpressed. "A dangerous mindset."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "And what about you, Miss Park? You act like nothing affects you. Like you're above it all."

Ji-Ah tapped a few keys, running a simulation. "Not above it. I just don't waste energy on things that don't matter."

Evelyn scoffed. "And you think this—our rivalry—doesn't matter?"

Ji-Ah gave her a slow, measured look. "Not in the way you think."

Evelyn's breath caught for half a second before she looked away.

What the hell did that mean?