Seven Years Wasted: I Took the Core Tech and Walked Away

After our company's IPO approval is granted, my boyfriend, Derek Calloway, finally agrees to publicize our relationship at the celebratory banquet.

Derek and I have been in a relationship for seven years. For so long, he refuses to make our relationship official. He always cites the fact that office romance is forbidden in the company, and that he, as the CEO, should follow through as a prime example.

On the night of the banquet, I wait for the news to be broken with bated breath and unadulterated delight.

But when Derek stands on the stage, he chooses to utter the name of the new recruit who has just joined the company for two months—Jocelyn Grant.

"It's all thanks to Jocelyn's contributions to the project that our company gets to go public. She's the MVP of our company."

I just stand beneath the stage, completely stunned. For a moment, I don't know how to react.

I'm the main person in charge of that project, and I'm the one who's contributed the most to that project. Not only have I stayed up countless nights working hard on it, but I also got hospitalized a few times because of it.

Soon, I receive Derek's text message.

"Jocelyn has just joined this line of work. She needs a project to help spruce her resume up. Just let her receive the credits this once.

"We'll discuss more on publicizing our relationship in the future."

I can only grip my phone so tightly that my fingertips go white. Finally, I key in one word.

"Okay."

Jocelyn can have the project. She can also have my position as the director. Heck, she's free to have Derek, my now ex-boyfriend.

I'd like to see how these assholes can pass the subsequent trials without me.

Applause thundered through the room.

Onstage, Jocelyn Grant looped her arm through Derek Calloway's, smiling sweetly.

"Thank you, Mr. Calloway, and thank you, everyone, for your support. I wouldn't be where I am today, and neither would the company, without all of you."

Her words sounded modest, but the smug satisfaction in her eyes was impossible to hide. She repeatedly glanced at me on purpose. Her gaze was provocative.

One of my colleagues, who was standing beside me, nudged my arm and lowered her voice. "Kathy, weren't you the one in charge of this project? Why is Mr. Calloway giving her all the credit?"

I smiled a bitter smile as I shook my head. "If she wants it, she can have it."

My colleague looked stunned. "But you spent two whole years on this! I remember you nearly collapsing in the lab more than once. How can you just let it go like that?"

Indeed, it had been two years.

I hadn't slept properly in all that time. I practically lived in the lab, constantly worrying over formulas and experimental data.

I used to think I was doing all of this for a future Derek and I would share. No matter how hard it