Chapter 7

The timestamp on the footage is last Friday night.

That night, Leo texted me saying there was an urgent PR matter,

that he had to pull an all-nighter, and told me not to wait up for him.

Now I realize it.

His "all-nighter" was all about bringing that bitch into my office, plotting to steal my life's work!

I’ve always preferred to keep a low profile.

Throughout my four years at college, basic hoodies and ordinary backpacks were my everyday outfit.

I also kept a complete secret about my dad.

That he is the VC tycoon, Julian Sterling.

Leo always believed I was just some clueless nerd with a knack for coding,

that the company’s success depended entirely on his business brilliance.

Now I see through him.

This toxic leech didn't just look down on me as a "tech geek" —

He didn't just use me as a stepping stone, he was out there hunting for a real heiress to fund his lifestyle!

The video keeps playing:

That woman suddenly spots my sketchbook sitting on Leo's desk.

"Leo, what is this childish graffiti?

You're not seeing another woman besides me, are you?" she whines.

Leo doesn't even miss a beat.

He snatches the sketchbook and shoves it straight into the shredder..

That’s countless hours of my inspiration!

"Don't even mention it. Just some intern.

She's desperate for a full-time offer, so she drew this garbage to suck up to me.

That girl reeks of poverty.

If you ask me? She’s just disgusting."

"An intern?"

That woman giggles.

"Leo, don’t play the nice guy. If it were me, I’d just fire her already."

Leo leans in, planting a hard kiss on her cheek.

"Right after our merge, she'll be gone."

Suddenly, my phone pings. A security alert.

Someone just unlocked my penthouse door.

I quickly switch over to my penthouse security feed.

It’s Leo. He thinks I'm out.

Using the spare keycard I gave him, he slips inside the apartment.

I watch through the screen as he heads straight for my study, ransacking the safe where I keep my important files.

Looks like he’s done this many times before, too.

Finally, his fingers wrap around the encrypted hard drive,

which contains the master backup of Aetheria’s entire source code.

A sick grin spreads across his face.

He actually kisses the drive.

Then he shoves it into his briefcase, rushing out the door.