The Day I Left My Own Wedding

lan Vance's flawed deployment pl

ch's Senior Software E

t firm, "it's going to create a race condition. If we push this live, we're

agram. "The read/write lock

through the ot

nd reeking of his father's inves

ller," Dylan stammered, fumbling

t an edge case. This is a fundamental flaw. It could expose sensitive user data. We're

Hayes, CEO of Innovatech and, for t

of the table, her ex

ht... I was trying to be innovative. Maybe I'm not cut

internally.

sleek, minimalist off

ast to her usual composed demeanor. "He's young, his ego is fragile. And his fathe

icky, it wasn't about his ego. It was about a critical flaw that could t

is internship," Victoria said, pacing. "Do you know

grity for an intern's bruised feelings and

han. I'm making Dylan the lead on the new 'Synergy' project module. It's

You want me to advise the person who almost deploy

is, if you support him and help him succeed, we can finally go public with our relati

lightly. "Isn't that

g. His professional integrity, his expertise, all d

The quiet understanding they once shared, th

playing on her lips. "I knew you wouldn't pass up the chance fo

Ethan's voice cut through t

option t

d. "Option two?

thing," Ethan clarified. "And I

f ice in his tone, "Good luck wi

so composed, shouted. Her voice echoed in the o

for his ergonomic keyboard, a fami

plugg

, a resilient little plan

nd, their smiles wide and genuine, a lifetime ago. He stare

s just a handful of them crammed into a noisy co-wo

as he logged into his workstation one last time and typed out a br

n. Head of Engineering here wasn't easy to achieve. You think you can just walk out?

o takeaway coffee cups. He approached Victoria'

g with unshed tears. "Is he... is he trying to force me out by quitting? Oh, please don't let him go be

ed to Dylan, her expression softening almost impercepti

Her voice was laced with contempt. "Did you really think this co

led her signature across the bottom with a flourish, and p

tions. Get your things and leave. Security will

and unexpect

, computer science majors. She, ambitiou

dden financial crisis, her unwavering support

into Innovatech, dreaming of a future, of marri

h deep pockets, had invested a significant sum, and Dyl

Dylan's glaring incompetence, his

y not to "bully the new guy"

s, to mentor Dylan (who resisted any form of actual work), were consist

ce down, seem

ersonal items. The keyboard, th

it, past the silent, wat

fice, the automatic doors hissed shut

mer storms, had just begun. The sky was a bruised pur

ill tucked away in his desk drawer. A small

his phone to c

icient

of his salary into it for years, for "their future,"

culously questioning even small w

d a brand-new Tesla Model S for Dylan, justifying it as

nfairness, hit him with the

no ridesha

ring his hair to his forehead, his cloth

, a trendy loft in a converted warehouse dis

th the key, h

nside, water pooling around his f

he open-plan ki

n, looking smug, was boasting about some n

t and carefree, a stark contrast t

an standing there, dr

expression of mild ann

ismissive, not even looking directly at Ethan. "Someone with such h

ed your mistake. Wiser heads prevailed, I see. Go apologize to Dylan for your outburst in the

as now smirking openly. He headed towards the bedroom

bowl of pasta, deliberate

" bumped into Ethan, hard. The bowl tilted, and hot pasta,

ve to do that?" Dylan yelped, clutching his chest dramatically

y, the immediate playing of the victim. Ethan had seen variations of it

d of it. So in

rated mess. He looked at Vicky, whose face was contorting i

he kitchen island – a vibrant mix of greens, cherry tomatoes

Ethan picked u

still dabbing at his shirt with a

ipped the entire bowl of salad d

mount of vinaigrette dripped down Dylan's shocked, s

there was st

with you? Why are you always targeting Dylan! He's done nothin

of heat, just a profound weariness. "Th

towards the b

o a now genuinely wailing Dylan – who was dramatically gagg

deal with... him." She shot Ethan a look of pure venom before s

uiet, Ethan felt a strange sens

rade wa

ers surprisingly steady despite t

ading tech firm, a major competitor to Innovatech. They had tried to recruit

iting his loyalty to Vicky and t

lty felt like

ics was hi

essed

ang

Human Resources,

, it's Eth

a surprise! To what do we owe the plea

a breath. "The one we discussed about three mo

se! Is there

acc

s Principal Architect, with a salary nearly t

s and stock options in a company that was al

ding something from the ground up with Vicky was mo

d, and Apex's offer felt like

antastic news! You've made our day! Our CTO will be ecstatic. Can you come in t

irmed, a sense of calm settling ov

ranged

p and beg

s apartment, the one he'd shared wit

versized, brightly colored hoodies (Dylan seemed to be colonizing e

as it had appeared on the date of their first annivers

ing that it was the most thoughtful gift she'd

gathering du

me in was now filled with something else: a c

ftop bar, a popular food truck park, even a concert Ethan had

hey were beaming,

ouldn't have

tar chart, once a symbol of

e corner of the room and, without a second thought, drop

rely filled one large s

laptop, and the ergonomic keyboard and s

o he'd bought before Innovatech had even been a registered company.

ed spaces – was a stark contrast to the flamboyant, an_d ofte

t. Like coming

packing, his

as V

, almost conciliatory, a compl

s a good kid, really. He's sensitive, but he won't hold a grudge about

ned silent,

d tomorrow, you can come into the office and start as Dylan's senior

the wedding. How does three months from now sou

longed for, now felt like a crude, manipulati

ky, I don't think Ethan really wants to work with me... he's so experience

, don't you worry your handsome little head about it. I

qualified to turn on a computer without step-by-step instructions? If he's as br

rriage, Ethan! Our future! Don't you dare throw this back in my face! You'll re

with a vic

is phone buzzed with a

as D

er office, looking ridiculously pleased with himself. He

me use her office to catch up on some work. Said I needed a quiet space to focus.

all your old projects. Synergy, Phoenix, even that legacy system upgrade you were so worr

ot to bankrupt her company in a week. Thoug

lan's string of

offices were impressive, modern, and buzzing wi

ghly respected figure in the industry, welcomed him warmly and

ood. It f

Austin evening, and the annual food truck festival was in full swing. The

b a brisket sandwic

and

ll, participating in a cheesy "

ilar, a silly local festival, years ago. Vicky ha

hed, as Dylan, with much bravado, do

ze was a giant, o

head, and she playfully adjusted it,

till laughing, Vi

mile

tively, stepped away from Dylan

ed when he saw Ethan, his

eting you here. Following us

or vanishing. "Ethan, what are you doing here?

gesturing vaguely towards the food

possible business could you have here? Stop lying, Ethan. This is an invasio

y cozy over there with that giant sombrero. Given the pu

hether from anger or embarr

shoulders. "Ethan, don't be like that. I just really wanted that sombrero, and

m but quiet. "What you do, and with whom you d

there, Vicky looking stunned and Dylan, for once, looking slightly

m a different truck and ate it slo

his phone started b

messages

ly moved out? All

on long enough! Are you

ust throw aw

. All their old photos together, the ones she'd cura

in his phone and, without

ics. The work was challenging, the team was brilliant, and he felt a se

Her social media feed was a constant stream o

n at trendy ne

a weekend trip to

Dylan looking awkward in a rented

voke a reaction from him, that Ethan almost fou

beled "ETHAN MILLER – PERSONAL EFFECTS" ar

pene

packed, were all th

eir college days, full of youthful

nal Park – a smooth river stone, a pressed

first concert they

y gifts, little trinkets that

l balcony of his condo. He had a s

, he began to feed the m

then the souvenir

curled and blackened,

uction. It was a calm

cularly sentimental photo of them laughing on a beach

n, her eyes wi

re pit, saw wh

ng?!" she shrieked, lung

ng the half-burnt photograph, crying

you?" She stared at the charred remains in her hand

ostalgic, hoping to make him apologize, to come crawling back. It was

calmly, his voice even. "They're just things, Vicky. Reminders o

etachment, his lack of emotional display. This

ting, about Dylan. I know you were just thinking of the company's best interests. I only defende

k as Head of Engineering. We need you. I need you. You and Dylan... y

ilent, his expre

g back in, "you need to apologize to Dylan. For the salad incident. He was very

You think I want to come back to that circus? And apologize to *him*? Dylan Vanc

ration evident. But then, her expressi

rse and pulled out a cr

the Da

Miller & Victoria Hayes –

Three week

the venue. The Driskill. The caterers are confirmed. The guest list is drafted. We

d into his hand. It

ave, every inch the CEO in control.

ing him standing there with the

e on th

is first major project presentation at Apex Dy

e received a text mes

ortable, old man. This wedding won't happen if I have anything to say abou

rrogance, the taunt, the

his head and de

tuation was b