Chapter 2

“I had my plans.”

After I hung up, I checked my watch. There were still twenty‑four hours left before the three years were up.

I took a cab to Sockman Enterprise and found the entire building in darkness. Everyone had already left, and Leia Jameson was the only person still at her desk. She focused on the computer screen and did not even notice that the takeaway soup beside her had turned cold.

Leia was the core technical member of Sockman Enterprise, and I remembered her because she had been the only person who produced good work during the past three years. Izzy had always put Leia down to prevent anyone from challenging her authority.

Izzy took credit for all of Leia’s hard work, and she even forced Leia to sign a non‑competition agreement. The company also held back Leia’s bonus to keep her from leaving.

The company had belonged to Izzy, and it had not been convenient for me to interfere. The only thing I could do was find different ways to compensate Leia for her work. It was different now.

“Mr. Colter? What are you doing here?” Leia looked shocked when she saw me and stood up in a panic. “I will fix the bug very soon, but please do not tell Miss Sockman or give me a pay cut. My mother is still in the hospital.”

The person who contributed the most lived life on thin ice, while the one who did nothing lived a glamorous life. Hard work should not be punished.

I pulled a chair over and sat down before placing the documents on the table. “You do not need to fix it anymore.”

Leia froze. “Why?”

“You built this system for Sockman Enterprise, and you wrote the code for its foundation. That so‑called artificial‑intelligence calculation that Izzy kept flaunting was probably your patent, am I right?”

Leia lowered her head and bit her lip. She did not dare to speak.

“How much did she pay you?” I asked.

“Fifteen thousand,” Leia whispered. “Miss Sockman promised me stock options.”

“That is an empty promise,” I said. “Izzy has already prepared your resignation letter. Once she rings that bell when the company goes public, she will fire you for revealing company secrets, and you will be left with nothing.”

Leia looked up with disbelief. “That is not true. I have worked hard for this company for ten years.”

“It is entirely possible. You are only a useful tool in her eyes. Once she is done using you, she will discard you without hesitation.” I pointed at the document on the table. “Read that.”

Leia picked up the document with trembling hands. She turned rigid after one glance. “An equity transfer agreement with my name on it?” Her eyes widened as she looked at me. “What does this mean, Mr. Colter? Why do you have shares of Sockman Enterprise?”