Shadows of luna's ambition

glass towers like a fever dream. But in a small, overcrowded co-working space on

g as if her life depend

ut excitement. After four years of struggle, setbacks, and self-doubt, she and Tariq Wells, her childhood friend and b

dragging the final database hook into place. T

balancing two cups of espresso and wearing that sm

in?" he asked, settin

ike I have t

laughed, then looked at her screen

n Siri, friendlier than Alexa, and ten times faster

. "Then let's c

Years

big to survive. They were two misfits-she, the quiet girl with a knack for algorithms; he,

inners. But she never stopped working. Tariq joined her a year later, bringing charisma and busin

ana handling the code, they made the perfec

to Pr

stine rooftop conference center with a view of Valemont'

them with charisma, storytelling, and the promise of "revolut

with nerves crackling in her chest-but as soon as s

a bakery and spent half her time managing orders and schedules. If we can giv

their a

ani Drake, a poised and sharp-dressed woman

've been following your work since t

ne of the city's top venture capita

a said. "We'd lo

t tech. I trust you. But be

she meant. Imani handed her a

haking hands with other VCs, la

Months

ind grew fast. They hired developers-Jayden F

ons, offered suggestions. He never tried to take

eople she hadn't interviewed. Her instincts whispered, but she silenc

oment that shat

Betr

s article titled, "MiraMind's Sole Founder

art st

ed and developed the revolutionary AI engine now used by

ialed

red. "He

this?" she snapp

lk to you. You were too busy

ushed me out of

re," he said coldly. "You si

paperwork for in

uld've r

hun

er name. Her work. Her vision. Stole

Afte

d in her sister Miriam's apartment, cu

d. "You were born in fire. Y

nything left,"

ind. You have your name. And

bli

n you," Miriam

Sp

ani again, she expect

mani asked. "Then bui

r eyes. "Wher

company. No Tariq. No baggage. You're not the sha

lit ins

He'd left MiraMind the day Tariq's nam

rilliance is," he said