Chapter 9 Stifled Genius
Veronica's POV:
Theo sat quietly beside me, his hand wrapped around mine. He didn’t interrupt or judge me. He just listened... really listened... like every word I said mattered.
“I just wanted to feel alive,” I said. “That’s why I went to that party. I thought maybe if I did something reckless, I’d forget everything for a while... Chase, my father, all of it.”
The tears had dried, leaving only the ache. “I know I sound stupid right now... I’m such a mess,” I whispered, brushing at my cheeks. “I just don’t understand why it keeps happening to me. Everywhere I go, someone sees me and thinks, ‘what a nice prey... let’s take advantage of her."
Theo’s brows furrowed slightly, but he stayed silent, letting me go on.
“This is excatly what Chase did to me,” I continued, my voice trembling. “He drugged me, manipulated me.. I had no idea about it for years. And now… again a stranger does something similar... It’s like I can’t escape it this loop. Maybe no matter where I go, people will always try to do this.”
“Hey… hey, look at me,” Theo said softly. “Take a deep breath. Come on, do it with me.” The way he said that was too grounding, and soothing... to hear.
I didn’t even think to argue. I followed as he instructed, inhaling deeply through my nose, holding the breath for a count of five, then exhaling. Again. And again.
By the fifth breath, something inside me unclenched... giving me intense relaxation... which I didn't know was possible to feel.
“I learned this in yoga class,” he said with a small, reassuring smile. “Helps when the world gets too loud.”
I couldn’t help but smile back, faint but real. “Thank you… really.”
He looked at me for a long moment, his green eyes beaming with kindness. “You know what, Veronica? You’re not a mess. You’re just a very intelligent, capable woman who got sidetracked — who forgot who she used to be.”
I blinked, his words echoing in my head.
Who was I before all this? Before Chase. Before my father’s expectations crushed me!
“I was in college,” I began quietly, staring at the waves outside the window. “Graduating in computer science. I used
to be a techie — coding, designing, creating things that made sense. I even ran workshops on graphic design, built prototypes, little projects…”
A small, wistful smile touched my lips. “After I graduated, I started dating Chase… and somewhere along the way, everything just spiraled. I forgot who I was, what I loved. It was like... I just traded my laptop for his laundry, my dreams for his approval.”
Theo smiled faintly. “You know,” he said, his tone almost teasing, “I remember you from one of those workshops. You presented a 3D rendering project — the whole class was stunned.”
I blinked. “You… did?”
He nodded, amused at my surprise. “Of course. I knew back then you had serious potential.”
I couldn’t believe it! Theo and I had once been in the same room, breathing the same air, yet we both never met. If only we’d met back then… if only I’d chosen differently. Maybe I would’ve fallen for Theo instead of Chase.
And I would’ve been spared all this pain of dating Chase.
Theo went on. “And that’s why I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
He leaned back in his chair, running a hair through his blonde hair, and his green eyes now too bright with a spark I hadn’t seen before. “I’ve been developing a new app — something similar to Canva, but more advanced. A creative platform where users can design, edit, and collaborate in real time. I was looking for a partner with both design instinct and coding knowledge. Fifty-fifty partnership. What do you say?”
For a moment, I just stared at him, speechless. “You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
Excitement fluttered through me. “I’d love to, but… I’m a little rusty. It’s been a while since I touched code.”
“That’s fine,” he said easily. “You’ll pick it back up in no time. And don’t worry about funding — you can invest later, once you’ve got control over your life again. For now, I just want you as a partner.”
I hesitated, then narrowed my eyes slightly. “Are you sure you’re not doing this out of charity? Because you know you can partner with anybody for this?”
Theo chuckled, a low, warm sound. “Charity? Come on, you are like a stifled genius to my eyes..."
I was marveled at how he believed me more than I did... myself.
"I’ve already built three apps that crossed the million-download mark. Made my father proud, earned his validation, and all that jazz.” He grinned. “Now he’s only disappointed in Max — cause you know he is such a 'party-boy womenizer'.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, imagining Max lounging somewhere with a drink and a grin with girls all over him.
“This new app,” Theo continued, “isn’t about money. It’s about creativity—fulfillment. It’s both for the art and the artist. And if it succeeds, maybe your father will finally see what you’re capable of.”
Something in me clicked. I sat up straighter, heart racing just a little.
He was right.
I could already picture it... showing my father the app’s success, the analytics, the growth charts. Proving, once and for all, that I wasn’t his disappointment... that despite being a girl, I can build stuff, just like a man would.
It wasn’t just an offer. It was a chance.
And as I looked at Theo... I realized I wasn’t just finding a business partner.
I was finding myself again. The person I should have actually become. I should have enhanced my tech skills and probably started a startup. But I took a very wrong route.
At least now I’m seeing the right path. Perhaps God has finally aligned all my stars in a neat line.
“So shall we start, partner,” he smiled at me, warmly. Making me feel like sunshines and rainbows.