CODE OF THE HEART

ngers danced over the keyboard. The clock on the wall chimed incessantly, showing 2:37 A

m of servers and Sophia's quick typing broke the calm. She enjoyed it this way: just her an

cent separation from Ethan flashed across

his voice a combination of exasperation and hopelessnes

through her carefully formed shields. "That's ludicrous, Ethan. Y

time we had supper together? Or spend a weekend away? I

sm. But staring into Ethan's usually warm green eyes, she ha

macing at its unpleasant taste. Focus. The past was the past. Her future was NeuroLink

uisite reasoning of her task, l

her code trance. "Soph? D

r lips. Maya's ever-present clunky headphones dangled around her neck, and she looked like she had just rol

is for the weak." She smiled. "Besides, I think I've final

lit up. "No

agerly examining the possibilities of the breakthrough. Maya's inventiveness beautifull

"But you know what else is huge? The fact that you're speaking at

e. Sophia's tummy did a flip of joy and anxiety. "Oh god," she muttered, hiding her face in her hand

r, and put on something that says 'I'm a kickass tech CEO.' I'll fi

buddy gratefully. "What

o a coding zombie," Maya said. "Now

es, feeling self-conscious. What does a tech CEO under fire wear? She decided on a neat white shirt, cut black jeans, and a s

ght-eyed girl who'd fallen in love with an ambitious law student project. In her place stood someone stronger, more focused, with a

existential problems. She had investors to

cab drove up to the packed conference site, Sophia grasped her presentation papers with slightly shaky hands. This was

g herself for what lied ahead. She

together in a smart pantsuit. "There she is!" She hung up her p

grin. "As ready

room. The venue was crowded with the greatest stars of the IT business, all jostli

in your head spinning," Maya murmured, push

port. They made their way backstage, where a harried-

coordinator murmured, scarcel

r eyes, took a deep breath, and went over the im

phi

ed slowly. There was Ethan, looking as gorgeous and polished as ever in a wonderfully cut suit. His

voice barely above a whispe

riginally won her heart years ago. "I couldn't miss y

wrath, perplexity, and a twinge of desire. Before she could fra

You'r

ge. He offered her a positive nod. "Knock 'e

ckly blinded her, but as her eyesight cleared, she saw hundreds of eager faces looking back at her. Among them, in the first row, she recognize

started, her voice stronger than she felt. "I'm here to talk to you about

anything distract her now. Little did she know, the presence of her ex-husband and the attention of the enigmatic guy in the front row would put

e hanging in the balance, Sophia dived int