Part 3First Class to Her? Access Revoked!

Victor's eyes flickered. Then he raised his voice to hide his guilt.

"We're husband and wife. What's yours is mine. Now take out your computer and copy the files for Sophie."

I stepped back and held my laptop bag against my chest.

"No."

Victor sneered and waved at the lobby security guard.

"Security. This person isn't a hotel guest, and she's harassing us. Please remove her."

The guard came over and looked me up and down. My clothes were soaked from the rain, and suspicion filled his eyes.

"Ma'am, please leave."

Sophie tried to intervene. "Mr. Palmerston, it's still pouring outside. Lydia will get sick."

Victor snorted.

"Let her get soaked. Maybe once enough water gets into her head, she'll finally wake up. Lydia, if you don't hand over the materials today, don't even think about coming through this door."

The guard pushed me toward the revolving doors. I did not resist. I let the force move me outside.

Cold rain drenched me instantly.

Through the glass doors, I watched Victor take Sophie toward the elevator.

Sophie turned back and gave me a look of undisguised mockery.

I stood in the rain for a long time, until my fingers were numb from the cold. Then I took out my phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Attorney Bennett? Draft a divorce agreement for me."

The voice on the other end sounded startled.

"Mrs. Palmerston, are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Also prepare a notice revoking technical authorization. Send it to Victor's company legal department at exactly nine tomorrow morning."

After I hung up, I sat overnight in the twenty-four-hour convenience store across from the hotel.

At three in the morning, my phone lit up. Sophie had sent me a photo.

In the photo, Victor was asleep on the couch, Sophie's jacket draped over him.

The caption read, "Lydia, thanks for the clothes. They're very warm. I'll take good care of Mr. Palmerston."

I looked at the picture and blocked her immediately.

At eight the next morning, the entrance to the bidding venue was packed.

I had changed into dry clothes and walked to the entrance with my work badge.

Victor and Sophie were standing at the check-in desk. Sophie was wearing a custom designer business suit, the one Victor had flown to Paris to order for her last month.

Back then, he said it was backup attire for an important occasion. So this was what he had meant.

When Victor saw me, his expression shifted. He strode over.

"You finally remembered to show up?"

He lowered his voice, every word a warning.

"Are the materials ready? We're about to go in. Don't mess this up for me."

I looked at him calmly.

"The materials are ready, but I'm not giving them to Sophie."

Victor's face went pale with anger. Before he could erupt, Sophie hurried over.

"Mr. Palmerston, something's wrong. The organizers changed the technical review rules this year. They need a live code-combat test, not just a PowerPoint presentation."

Victor froze. "Why didn't anyone notify us in advance?"

Sweat broke out on Sophie's forehead. She looked at me.

"Lydia, what do we do? I don't know how to write low-level logic code."

Victor grabbed my arm so hard his nails dug into my skin.

"Lydia Webb, you heard her. Write the underlying logic for Sophie. Hurry!"

I shook him off and looked at his anxious face.

"The underlying logic is the core of this project. Without months of familiarity, it's impossible to operate. Do you really think she can learn it on the spot?"