The Master Programmer-Chapter 85: Come to The Office 2
Jason softened his tone but kept it firm, layering it with embedded commands to provoke action. "Check the contract yourself. Right now. Look for anything unusual. Then call me back. I’m coming over to help you sort this out. If I’m wrong then I will apologise with everything on the line… But if I’m right… we’re going to need to take action."
Veronica muttered a shaky, "Alright," before the line went dead. Jason sighed and leaned back, already dreading what he might find.
Tim… you fat fuck… I told you to fuck off, but you didn’t. Oh well. Maybe I should use you to gain a foothold back into Cross Capital. As Jason thought this far, his eyes went cold staring out of the window.
— Meanwhile, Back at Reno Ventures —
In a sleek office overlooking the city skyline, Samantha Ellis sat back in her chair, her gaze lingering on the spot where Jason had kissed her. She traced her lips absentmindedly, her mind replaying the electric moment.
The kiss had been unexpected, bold... It was a move that left her unsteady in a way she hadn’t felt in years. Normally, she was the one who commanded attention, the one who dictated the terms. But Jason had flipped the script. He’d kissed her not out of passion, but as a challenge, a statement.
And it had worked. She was thoroughly ashamed to admit it, but it had. If it hadn’t, would she have been there for the past five minutes thinking back to that one moment again and again?
Her lips curled into a faint smile. "Let’s play, Jason," she whispered, her voice tinged with anticipation.
— Back at Hall Industries —
Jason stepped out of the taxi, the imposing building looming before him. Most of the offices were dark, save for one glowing window on the second floor. That had to be Veronica. He could not waste time.
As he approached the entrance, a burly security guard blocked his way. "Can’t let you in after hours. Sorry buddy. Unless you show me a key card you won’t be getting in here anytime soon."
Jason heard this and got annoyed. Looking at the big burly guard, he figured he had to use some of his magic to lower his guard, but before he could open his mouth to argue when a sultry voice cut through the tension. "Wait, I know him. Let him in. Please, Hiro~?"
Jason turned to see Sarah, his old university friend, strutting toward him. Her perfectly styled hair and form-fitting dress accentuated her curves, her glossy lips parting into a sly smile.
Damn it… Just what he needed at that time. So annoying.
She, him and his three other friends had been very good friends, the best of cliques, envied by so many other people. And yet now, when Jason turned to her, he couldn’t help but see that look of ridicule in her eyes. He figured that was exactly what she was going to do now. And he was right.
"Jason Cross," she purred, looking him up and down. "I barely recognized you. You’ve cleaned up well since... you know, everything. How’s life in that dingy building by the way? And why do you look so… professional? Are you here to apply for a position or something? It’s unfortunate though… we’re not hiring any security guards right now. Not that you would even make the cut."
Jason forced a polite smile, his sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Good to see you too, Sarah. But I’m here on business."
Before she could say anything, Jason did not even let her do that. He pulled out his ID from Reno Ventures and flashed it. Sarah’s smirk faltered as she registered the name. She stepped aside, her expression hardening. "Business, huh? Interesting. What happened to working at the supermarket?"
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Jason stared at this woman, understanding that she was the reason the other "friends" of his had found out, and come to visit him every few weeks just to see how he suffered and toiled away in the backrooms.
It was because she was an intern in Hall Industries, that she was able to get his information. And using that she and the rest had made Jason’s life a living hell.
Jason didn’t waste another second, brushing past her and heading for the stairs. As he ascended, Sarah’s gaze followed him, her expression twisting with envy and intrigue. How could she let him just leave? After all, he was not allowed to rise again.
She could not let him just go like that. She had to tell the others. Taking out her phone, She began typing something as Jason disappeared up the stairs.
The door to Veronica’s office was slightly ajar. Jason pushed it open to find her pacing, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her normally poised demeanour was unravelling, her voice shaking as she barked into the receiver.
"I don’t care what the contract says! This is robbery!" she shouted, only to be met with a click as the other party hung up.
Veronica froze, staring at the phone in disbelief. When her eyes met Jason’s, they brimmed with tears.
"Jason... I’m ruined."
Jason crossed the room in two strides and pulled her into his arms. She trembled against him, her usual confidence shattered. Jason let her sink into his chest, almost too naturally and as she did, he shushed her as she breathed heavily in a panic into his chest.
"Shh," he murmured, his voice calm and anchoring, a pacing technique to match her emotional state before leading her, guiding her to a calmer one. "Breathe, Veronica. We’ll fix this. Together."
After saying this, Jason continued holding her, rubbing her back and then quieting her like that and when she became calmer and quieter, he smiled. She was strong. As expected of a CEO of a business with so many years of experience.
Her breathing slowed, and she pulled back slightly, her cheeks wet with tears that she had been crying silently. Jason gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Please tell me, Veronica. What happened?" he asked, his tone low and deliberate, urging her to focus. But She looked into his eyes, saying nothing for a long time, and the atmosphere was quiet for a long time.
Veronica sniffled and gestured to her desk, where the contract lay open. "It’s all there. I thought it was perfect, too perfect, maybe. But I didn’t see... Jason, I didn’t see the clauses. They’re taking almost everything if I don’t meet their impossible terms. And those terms are going to apply in three months. Can you imagine? Three months!"
Jason’s jaw tightened as he scanned the document. It was worse than he’d feared… hidden penalties, exorbitant fees, clauses designed to trap her in perpetual debt. It was the perfect recipe for someone like Tim to stay in her life and extort her for whatever he wanted to extort her.
And it was pretty clear that Tim was pretty interested in her too. After all, he was pretty interested in Jason. He wanted to destroy Jaosn and to do that, he was willing to do it through the people around Jason.
"This isn’t a contract," he muttered, his voice laced with anger. "It’s a death sentence."
Veronica collapsed into her chair, burying her face in her hands. "I’ve worked so hard for this, Jason. How could I be so blind?" Jason knelt before her, his hands resting gently on her knees, an act that she allowed to happen even without noticing.
For Jason, this was not only a crisis. It was an opportunity to show just how reliable he was, and how great he was at solving her problems. And to do this, he had to shift her perspective, ever so slightly.
"You trusted the wrong people. But that’s not the end of the story. You’re smart, Veronica. And you have me. We’re going to turn this around. Just trust me, okay?" Like that, he had positioned himself to be pivotal to her success.
Veronica lifted her head, her tear-streaked face softening at his confidence. "You think we can?"
Jason’s lips curved into a reassuring smile, his voice firm. "I don’t think. I know."
Hearing those words, Veronica didn’t know why, but she felt herself get steadier. And She looked into Jason’s eyes and Jason looked into hers, the moment turned just a bit sweeter. But Jason would never allow himself to take advantage of her. She was vulnerable right now, and if he escalated physically, she would look back on it and know what Jason did.
He had to slow down here. He had to leave a mental image, not a traumatic one that would impede him. And to do this, he needed to come through for her. Jason stood up, grabbed a chair and then sat beside her. "Let’s look through the contact, and see if we can come up with any loopholes."
Veronica nodded. Although she was sure there might not be anything, she was just glad that she had someone to help her through this situation.
Jason already knew who was behind this. All he needed to find out was how they were doing it and what ways they were trying to get it done. Thereafter, things would be much simpler. "Let’s see who’s pulling the strings," he murmured, his voice filled with quiet resolve.
