Chapter Ten

The next morning, Sarah arrived at the office early, armed with coffee and determination. She had spent half the night reviewing what other competitors had that made their platforms much better, incorporating Tony's suggestions while adding her own improvements. The system now learned from user behavior, adjusting notification timing based on individual compliance patterns.

She was so absorbed in her final checks that she didn't notice the figure at her door until it was too late.

"Hello, Sarah."

Sarah's blood ran cold at the familiar voice. She looked up to see Rebecca leaning against her doorframe, impeccably dressed in a designer suit.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked, her voice tight.

Rebecca smiled, the same warm smile that had once meant friendship and understanding. Now it just looked predatory.

"MediTech just brought on Zhang Pharmaceuticals as a partner for the medication verification API. I'm the project liaison." Her expression turned sympathetic. "No one told you?"

Of course, no one had told her.

"I think we can be professional about this," Rebecca continued, stepping into the office uninvited. "It's been months, Sarah. Marcus and I—"

"Don't," Sarah cut her off. "We're not doing this. Not here."

Rebecca sighed. "We have to work together, Sarah. The pharmaceutical integration is crucial for the platform's success."

"Then we'll work together. In meetings. With other people present." Sarah turned back to her computer. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a conference call to prepare for."

Rebecca lingered, her perfect composure slipping for just a moment. "He wasn't happy, you know. Even before us."

Sarah kept her eyes fixed on her screen, refusing to give Rebecca the satisfaction of a reaction. After a long moment, the click of heels signaled her retreat.

Only when she was alone did Sarah allow herself to breathe, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for her coffee. Of all the pharmaceutical companies in the world, MediTech had to partner with Zhang. The universe had a cruel sense of humor.

Her phone buzzed. Mother again. Sarah switched it to silent and slipped it into her drawer. She couldn't deal with the Chen family drama right now, not with Rebecca's unexpected appearance and the looming conference call.

When she arrived at the meeting room, Tony was already there, setting up the video conference. He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable.

"Morning," he said simply.

Throughout the call, Sarah kept her focus on the medical advisors, deliberately avoiding both Rebecca's gaze and Tony's. She presented her new marketing campaign for the brand. This was her domain, her expertise. Here, she wasn't Sarah Chen, jilted wife and family disappointment.

Sarah gathered her things, unsettled by the complex emotions swirling within her. She didn't need Tony Kane fighting her battles. She didn't need anyone.

Back in her office, she found three more missed calls from her parents and a text from her father: "The family needs to discuss your situation. Dinner tonight. Non-negotiable."

Sarah closed her eyes, feeling the walls closing in. The Chen family machine was in motion, undoubtedly orchestrating some face-saving arrangements for her failed marriage. Perhaps another suitable match, another prison disguised as salvation.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the knock on her door.

"Bad news?" Tony asked, nodding toward her phone.

Sarah quickly locked her screen. "Nothing I can't handle."

Tony studied her for a moment, then closed the door behind him. "I've reassigned Rebecca to work primarily with the data integrity team. You'll only need to interact with her during general project meetings."

"You didn't have to do that," Sarah said, though relief flooded through her.

"I need my marketing lead focused, not distracted by personal conflicts." His tone was professional, but something in his eyes suggested there was more to it. Sarah nodded, unsure how to respond to his unexpected consideration.

"I've also scheduled a working dinner with the development team tonight," Tony continued. "Your attendance is required."

She blinked. "Tonight?"

"7 PM. Unless you have other commitments?" He held her gaze.

Sarah understood immediately what he was offering: a professional excuse to avoid her family dinner. An escape hatch, packaged as a work obligation.

"No," she said carefully. "No other commitments."

Something like satisfaction flickered across Tony's face. "Good. I'll send you the details." He turned to leave.

"And what exactly are we building here, Mr. Kane?" she asked, the question loaded with more meaning than she intended.

Tony's expression softened slightly. "Something that matters. Something that will help people manage their chronic conditions without feeling like their lives have been reduced to a series of symptoms and medications." He hesitated, then added, "Something I think you need as much as I do."

The honesty in his voice caught her off guard. Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again on her desk. Father. Tony's eyes flicked to the screen, then back to her face.

"I should let you get that," he said.

"That's why this project matters so much to me," he concluded. "The medication tracking isn't just about compliance. It's about giving people control over their health narrative."

For the first time in months, Sarah felt something other than anger or numbness. Something dangerous and exhilarating. Something that made her want to build more than just software.

"7 PM, then," she said. "For the working dinner."

Tony stood, his smile shifting to something more professional but no less warm. "I'll see you there."

As he left, Sarah sent a brief text to her father: "Can't make dinner. Working late on critical project. Will call tomorrow."

Then she turned back to her computer, diving into the code with renewed purpose. The MediTech health management platform wasn't just a job or an escape anymore. It was becoming something more, a chance to create something meaningful, something that was entirely hers.

And perhaps, she thought as Tony's words echoed in her mind, a chance to build something that mattered with someone who understood her in ways Marcus and Rebecca never had.

Her phone buzzed again, but this time, Sarah didn't even look. Whatever storm was brewing in the Chen family would have to wait. She had code to write, lives to improve, and a working dinner to attend with a man who saw her as more than just a Chen, who saw her as Sarah, brilliant and broken and building something new from the ruins of what came before.