The Billionaire’s Pawn

STRIKER

“Here it is.” I presented the final project for Premium. I hoped I made Dad proud. “A WellPro is a wellness program in one app. “What does it do? It’s everything in one app, from workout routine, diet, food benefits, supplements, and weight loss programs. It will detect your heart rate and blood sugar level through your sweat, to name a few. I know what you all gonna say.” I looked at them. They quickly lost interest.

“Yeah, I’ve seen that many times. Yes, probably in most apps out there, but one thing makes this app different and impressive.” I clicked the remote. The device appeared on the screen. “It’s an app and a device. What does this device do? You can bring it anywhere. Pretty handy, by the way. Attach the straps around your legs and wrists, and turn it on your phone or smart tv. Should I go on, or I’ll wrap it up.” I already saw the excitement in their eyes.

“I wanna hear it,” said the head of the research.

“The workout program will play- from dance moves, HIIT, and boxing, and you can do it even in the park, your mini gym, or your room. It will track how many calories you burned, update you on when to take your supplements, and how many pounds you lost. Take VR or Meta as an example, but without the headset. It will also suggest what food you eat or if you need to rehydrate. The best part is that the straps are only if you want to follow the exercise steps, but they will also detect if you’re in pain based on your heart rate during the workout. I know this takes time to improve, but-”

“I like it. It will change the future of wellness programs, and the name is catchy.”

Everyone murmured and nodded.

“Thank you. It will take time to develop the app, and it will have some errors along the way, but it is possible,” the man from the technical department said. “I’d love to work on this if you get the approval, sir?” He looked at my dad.

Dad nodded, and he looked impressed and proud.

“That’s all.” I sat down and gave Dad the proposal with the USB.

Once my presentation was over, everyone left except for Dad and me.

“That was a great idea. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I pulled up the envelope from my suit. “I know you already knew about this. I want to pass my resignation formally.”

“You’re gonna be great out there. Make us proud as you climb yourself to the top.” Dad smiled.

“Your approval means a lot to me, and you’re okay with this.”

“That’s what every parent wants for their children. To go out there and make names for themselves.”

“I’m nervous. Actually, I always did for every first day at school and my job. It’s also a pressure to work under your parent’s company even if I am not filling your shoes. Still, people see me here because of my parent, so I have to work harder to prove to everyone that I have something to offer.”

“You’re gonna be okay.”

***

“Follow me,” Moses said urgently. The tightness in his eyes was deep. His nose was flaring.

“What is it?” I followed suit. I just reported to Braddson Tower for the first day of work and already felt the tension.

“We found the mole.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He opened the door to the conference room. At least three people were around; a board member, CFO, and Dylan Carter.

I looked at Dad in shock. “Him?”

He nodded, but his expression remained the same. “I want you to question him.”

“I don’t think I am the right person to do that. Did you report this to the Feds? Who did the investigation?”

“Just do it, Striker.”

“I wanna be alone with him.” I watched Carter as he lowered his gaze.

“That’s not a good idea,” the board member said.

“Then I will inform the Feds and let them do their job.”

“Do it.” My father nodded.

“Can I borrow your phone?”

Moses looked confused.

“I’ll give it back. I promise.”

“You can stay here, but you will not interrupt me.” I took the file from my father and walked closer to Carter at the end corner of the table.

After they left, I sighed as I dropped the file and pulled a chair, screeching against the floor. “You’re the last person I’ll ever suspect. I even shook hands with you. You questioned my father on why he gave me access.” I sat before him. “Do you wanna say something before we file a case against you.”

“It’s all but speculations. I didn’t do it.” He turned away, avoiding me.

“I’m not exactly the right person to question you, Carter. In fact, I actually admire you.” I opened the file. “Your works are impressive. And you’ve been at the Hover for the last twenty years. You were once awarded as the Employee of the Year. You started from the bottom until you became one of the respected directors. What happened then?”

He went unnaturally silent as he touched his neck.

“If you don’t wanna answer my questions, that’s alright, but I can’t help you anymore. I wanna know how much information you shared from this company outside?”

He looked away, still silent.

“You just violated the economic espionage act. You will go to jail and pay millions of dollars. You will lose your savings and investments for twenty years for what? You will spend your remaining life in jail.” I looked at his file. “I wonder what your wife Jules and your two girls will say about you. Your face will be all over the news channel. Your life is over, Carter.”

“I want the real authority and my lawyer.”

“Okay. With the amount of evidence we have for you, you need good lawyers to save your ass. I can offer you something that won’t put you in jail.” It was a bluff because I didn’t actually know what evidence they got for him. I rose from the chair and looked down at him.

“You’re kidding, right?” He snorted as he looked at me from head to toe. “What authority do you have?”

“I’m one of the major shareholders of this company. Not many people know that-the company you leaked info from, I just took a seat as a director of R&D, and I know I can influence my father to give you another chance. So, the only friend you have right now is me. So if you change your mind, all you have to do is call my name. And you only have five minutes to decide.” I pulled out my phone, dialed Moses’s number, and put it on my chair.

I stood up as my name Striker Braddon-Cade appeared on the screen on Moses’ phone and walked out the door.

When I reached my father, the C. F. O. asked, “What did he say?”

“Nothing. I wanna talk to you all away from here.” When they followed, I asked. “Did anyone take his phone?”

They all looked confused and shook their heads.

“So you just singlehandedly accused him of selling info?” I looked at Moses.

“I’m the Chairman.” He impressed me in decision-making. “And I don’t want this issue to escalate that would affect the upcoming launch.”

“You should inform the engineering to double-check the chips and the I. T. if there was a recent hacking attempt.” I pressed the phone against my ear and listened. So far, he hadn’t called anyone, but he wouldn’t go anywhere as it would make him look guiltier.

“Done.”

“Very well.” I joined them in my father’s office.

“Who you’re talking to?” Moses asked.

I turned on the speaker and put the phone on his desk.

“We’ll wait.” I pressed a finger against my lips.

It didn’t take long. Carter already called someone. “You did this. I’m in trouble because of you. I’m gonna lose my job and go to jail because of you. You ruined my life.” He must have hung up the call.

I pressed the end call button.

“Who do you think he called?” the CFO asked me.

“May I speak?” I raised my hand.

“Of course,” the board member said.

“If he called what I think it is, he must have something against Carter. Let me find it out the extent of the damage. My suggestion is not to fire him.”

“Why?” the CFO looked offended. “He breached the contract, violated-”

“What’s your concrete evidence? Yes, he is guilty of sharing info outside of the company. But do you know how valuable he is to the other companies, rivals, or even military contractors, defenses from other countries? You have no idea, and I’m sure he can pay the fine, or someone interested will make a deal and pay for him. He’ll be out in no time. He also knows his value. That’s why he didn’t even flinch when I threatened him.”

“What do you have in mind, son?”

“Just ask him the extent of the information he gave. Give him another chance. Put him back to work under close surveillance. Just warn him that if he does again, he won’t only lose his job, that kind of thing.”

Moses waited for their ideas.

“Well, it seems agreeable,” the CFO said.

“I have an idea. Give me fifteen minutes with him.”

“Go ahead,” Moses said.

I left them and went back to Carter. His expression changed. He looked relieved to see me. I sat on the same chair and picked up the phone. “So?”

“I gamble-tight-aggressive poker player. I lost a lot of money, and I owed someone a lot of money. Seven hundred fifty thousand to a loan shark.”

Well, I didn’t see that coming. I was inwardly grinning.

“Then someone came to me and paid that total amount. In return, I will tell him about the latest Hover research. At first, it was just about the latest project, about Moses Braddson, his trips, something like that.”Trips?

“Just a single person?”

“Yes.”

“When did it start?”

“Two years ago.”

“You’ve been sharing information for two years with this person?”

“Yes, for every three months, Just if there was progress.”

“How deep is the damage, Carter?”

“Twenty to twenty-five percent of the projects.”

“How about the A. S. H. E. R.?”

“I was supposed to send him a file two days ago, but he didn’t contact me. He’s asked for something specific.”

“Who is he?”

He looked at me. “I wanna make a deal.”

“If I tell the Feds about what you just confessed right now, you can make a deal with them.”

“Then I’m not telling you.”

I scoffed. “I don’t think you know the consequences of your actions for two years, Carter. Why are you still protecting this man? Here’s how I can help you. I will make your debt go. Whoever he or she won’t come to you again. I still believe in a second chance. You will have your job back, but you will be under surveillance until you earn the trust of everyone on top. We will forget this happens-”

I stilled as he launched to me to hug me tight. “Thank you so much, Mr. Cade.” He then cried in my arms.

“Okay.” I patted his shoulder. “But you have to keep the end of the bargain. And you should stop gambling.”

“I stopped for almost a year now.” When he pulled away, he wiped his tears.

“Tell me who’s this person. And I want that file.”

“You can have everything, sir. It’s Vanderford. Linus Vanderford.”

“Son of a bitch.”