That afternoon in the lab, Danielle’s fingers flew across the keyboard. The stream of data scrolling on her screen was like a silver river, perfectly synchronized with Lorie’s work at the adjacent station. They were working together to complete the core data calculations for the drone’s navigation system—the most critical step before the project's implementation.
Lorie’s professional skills far exceeded Danielle’s expectations. Her long fingers glided over the trackpad, quickly pulling up the algorithm’s source code. Her sensitivity to parameters and her logical structuring of the data increased the efficiency of their calculations by nearly thirty percent.
"The error threshold here can be lowered by another 0.02%. Factoring in last week's wind tunnel test data, it will improve stability," Lorie said without looking up, her tone conveying a focus on the technology that showed none of the entitlement of an heiress.
Danielle adjusted the parameters according to her suggestion, and the simulation curve on the screen immediately smoothed out. Their collaboration was so seamless it felt as if they had been partners for years.
Thick technical documents were piled on the console, and next to a folder marked 'Confidential,' sat the two cups of coffee they had just made. Danielle took a sip, momentarily warding off the fatigue from continuous work.
Suddenly, Lorie stopped what she was doing. Her gaze fell on the static data set on her display as she spoke softly, "I know about you and Alex. That you were married, have Niki, and then divorced."
At her words, a faint smile touched Danielle’s lips. It held no envy or bitterness, only the tranquility of someone who had been through it all. She looked up, meeting Lorie's gaze, her tone sincere yet crisp. "That's wonderful. I wish you both happiness."
It wasn't a perfunctory courtesy. It was a genuine acceptance she had reached after countless internal struggles. Whatever Alexander's reasons, his choice was a reality. There was no need for her to obsess over what he had given up for whom, and certainly no need to compare their past relationship to the current situation. That was all water under the bridge. Her life was now centered on Niki and her career in aerospace.
Lorie seemed surprised by her directness. A flicker of astonishment crossed her eyes before she regained her composure. Clasping her hands in her lap, she leaned forward slightly and posed the question she had been building up to: "When we have our engagement party, will you come?"

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