10x Cashback: Your Wealth Is Mine

Do you know the number one killer of plans all around the world?

Life. Or as I've come to understand it, the universe.

No matter how good of a planner you think you are, the universe just finds a way to fuck it up. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my situation right now.

There I was, the only light in the dark room coming from the screen of my laptop as I sat at the head of the massive conference table in the Imperium Holdings boardroom, my fingers tapping against it as I reviewed yet another damage control report.

The WireFrame internal leaks had spiraled into some kind of nightmare, exposing sensitive analytics and client data, and now the vultures of the business world were circling.

It was as if the universe was so eager to fuck me over that it felt like as if every minute, it was bringing one new problem or the other. If it wasn't some influencer trying to push a narrative or a journalist sniffing around for a sensational headline, it would be a client threathening to pull their contract.

Fortunately, I had a weapon against it. Elsa Klarsson the terminator. A small smile appeared on my face as I glanced at the latest message from her.

"We've isolated the compromised systems. But the damage is extensive, and the cleanup will take weeks, possibly months."

Weeks. Months. That was time we didn't have. Not with the fight against Jasmine in full swing.

I ran a hand through my hair, leaning back in the chair. I'd hoped to keep fighting till the end of the battle but this was it for me. Jasmine had found a way to remove me from the equation completely.

Without WireFrame, there was nothing else I could give. Besides, I'd already given Jenny everything she needed. Amelia Ward and of course, $8 billion.

That was when my phone chimed, pulling me away from my absentminded stare at the screen at my laptop. A message from Gray.

"Legal team suggests an immediate statement. The financial analysts project minimal long-term damage, but client retention is key."

Minimal damage? Sometimes, I wondered if the analysts dudes lived in the same world the rest of us were living in. Minamal damage when it might take months to completely repair the damage? Well, maybe I'm the pessimist here.

I sighed and stood, walking over to the window. Outside, the lights of Crownsborough shone like a lighthouse in the middle of a storm.

Home.

I hadn't really realized how much I'd missed this city till I came back.

My eyes moved to the harbor and the ocean beyond it. Somewhere out there, in New York, Jasmine was probably sipping champagne, laughing at the damage she'd caused. Fiske had been… persuaded to part with the name of the person behind all this.

I don't know how Elsa had done it but as always, she had her ways.

Anyways, we wouldn't be letting the authorities get to Jasmine. Not now. Not until Jenny won. That way, Clarisse won't use this against Jenny.

We might have to wait but Jasmine would definitely get what's coming to her.

With a sigh, I walked back into the conference room and picked up my phone from the table, dailing Jenny. She answered on the second ring. "Nico?"

"Jenny." I said, going straight to the point. "I need you to listen carefully."

"What's going on?" She asked, concern creeping into her voice.

"There's been a breach at WireFrame." I said, pacing the room. "Internal leaks. It's bad, and it's going to take a lot of time and effort to clean up."

"Is Elsa okay?" She asked quickly.

"Elsa? She's fine." I assured her. "But WireFrame's going to be out of commission for a while. And so will I."

There was a pause before Jenny spoke. "I see."

"Yeah." I sighed. "It's the burden of leadership, I guess. This, afterall, isn't something I can delegate. It requires my full attention."

She said nothing.

"This is good news, Jenny. It's your chance." I said, filling the silence. "Your chance to prove to yourself, to your mother, and to everyone at Apex that you don't need me. That you're capable of standing on your own. There won't be a better time than this."

"This isn't the time for motivational speeches, Nico." Jenny said in a tired tone of voice. "You know I need WireFrame. Or weren't you the one that lectured me on tools."

"Do you know the funny things about tools? It's that no one tool can't be replaced. So, it's not the tool that matters but the person behind the tool. So, no. You don't need WireFrame, Jenny." I said. "WireFrame needs you."

"Maybe it's because we're always the last person to see ourselves since we need a mirror to do it, so let me tell you what's already there, Jenny." I smiled. "You're already all you need to accomplish all you want. You don't need me holding your hand anymore."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Jenny sighed. "You're really serious about this, aren't you?" Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"I am." I said simply.

"Fine." She said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. My smile grew wider at that. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

"And my track record speaks for me." I bragged and she laughed.

After a few minutes of talking, we said our goodbyes. As I ended the call, I took my seat once again at the end of the table.

Leaving Jenny to face Jasmine alone wasn't always the plan but looking back, I now realized that I was misguided. I can't hold Jenny's hand every step of the way. If I can't trust her to rise to this challenge, why will Clarisse trust her to lead Apex?

If Jasmine wanted a straight fight between her and her sister, she was going to get it. Because I now have a battle of my own to face.

Charles Harrington.