Chapter 2

I understood.

I finally saw everything clearly.

The “executive training” Richard had talked about for the past three years was nothing more than an excuse to make me develop the extremely complex Cloud Intelligence System alone and without pay.

Now the entire system had finished testing and was about to launch.

They planned to kick me out and claim all my development work under Kevin’s name.

Tomorrow was the city’s biggest technology bidding event.

If they won the contract, the project leader would receive several million dollars in bonuses.

They didn’t even want to leave me a single bite.

I looked at Richard and suppressed the anger burning in my chest. “So that’s how it is. Once the horse has done the work, you butcher it?”

Richard leaned back in his leather chair and pulled a cigar from its case before lighting it.

“Watch your language, kid. What do you mean, ‘butcher the horse after it does the work’?”

“The company gave you a platform and a computer. What’s wrong with making a contribution to the company?”

“Kevin graduated from a top overseas university with a master’s degree. The investors and clients will only take the project seriously if it carries his name.”

“You’re just some poor kid from an ordinary college. What do you have to compete with him in terms of education or connections?”

Kevin impatiently tapped the desk. “Enough nonsense. What’s the password?”

“Unlock all the core data on your computer.”

“Otherwise, you won’t be walking out of this office on your own two feet today.”

I stood where I was and stared at him without backing down.

“You want the data? Fine. Pay me $897,500 in overtime and buy it.”

Megan let out a sharp, mocking laugh from the side.

She pulled out her phone and pointed the camera at me.

“Everyone, listen to this! This is extortion! I can call the police and have you arrested whenever I want!”

“Ethan Carter, if you fail to complete the handover, the company will immediately sue you for stealing trade secrets.”

“Not only will we destroy your reputation, we’ll send you to prison!”

Kevin stood up.

Relying on his height, he reached out to snatch the phone recording from my hand.

“You still dare to record us? I’ll show you what happens when you record me!”

I quickly stepped aside.

Kevin missed and slammed his waist into the corner of the desk.

He grimaced in pain and clutched his lower back as he shouted, “Security! Are you all dead? Get security up here!”

Four burly security guards in uniform rushed in through the door.

They moved quickly and surrounded me at my workstation.

Richard exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

“You refuse a polite offer and choose force instead.”

“Smash his phone. Get someone from the technology department to crack the computer data.”

One of the guards reached out to grab my shoulder.

I swung around, seized the keyboard from the desk, and smashed it against the tabletop.

The keys shattered and flew in every direction.

The enormous crash brought everyone to a halt.

Without the slightest panic, I picked up the mouse and lit up the computer screen.

“You can take my phone. You can smash my equipment.”

“But let me remind you. I implanted a foundational self-destruct program in the Cloud Intelligence System.”

Kevin froze.

Richard shot up from his chair and strode to the screen. “What did you say?”

I expressionlessly pressed the Enter key.

A red countdown appeared on the screen.

“There are fourteen hours left until tomorrow’s bidding meeting.”

“Without my personal dynamic passcode, all the core code and databases will automatically be erased at eight tomorrow morning.”

“Even the backup drives will be completely destroyed.”

“Go ahead and take a pile of gibberish to show your clients at the bidding meeting.”

Kevin’s eyes turned red with panic.

He grabbed me by the collar, spraying saliva across my face.

“You dare set us up? You’re destroying company property!”

I raised my hand and pried his fingers loose one by one.

“You were the ones who crossed the line first.”

Richard’s expression shifted unpredictably.

He suddenly waved for the guards to leave and forced a smile onto his face.

“Ethan, let’s talk this out. Why destroy both sides?”

“$897,500 really is too much. The finance department would never approve that payment.”

“How about this? I’ll pay you $100,000 out of my own pocket. Disable the self-destruct program.”

“I’ll personally sign your employment certificate and give you the highest possible evaluation. How does that sound?”