C31 Keep Your Mouth Shut

News of my involvement in solving the breach had already reached the higher management.

People were talking. Whispers followed me as I walked. Some congratulated me. Others looked at me differently now. But there was one person who said nothing. Ben.

In his office, behind closed doors, his expression was dark. His fists slammed onto the desk, scattering papers across the surface. “Brat…” he muttered through clenched teeth.

“You competed against me for a girl and I won. How many more lessons do you want?” His breathing grew heavier. “And now you want to take my father’s attention too?” His eyes burned with anger. “I will make sure he hates you.”

His assistant stood nearby, frozen in fear as he vented his frustration, Slapping her a few times. When he was finally done, he threw a card onto the table. A credit card. “Keep your mouth shut,” he said coldly. $200,000.

Meanwhile, I sat in the vehicle still trying to process everything. I couldn’t believe the team manager was actually treating us to lunch.

I quickly took out my phone and called Chris. “Brother, I’m sorry,” I said. “I won’t be eating with you today. I solved a major case and the team manager is taking us all out.”

There was a short pause. Then Chris laughed proudly. “That’s my brother! Go enjoy yourself. You deserve it. Don’t worry about me, I’m a lone wolf anyway.” We both laughed before ending the call.

For the first time in a long while, I felt something close to happiness.