The Master Programmer

Jason's expression softened, though his mind was already calculating. "How much is your company worth?" he asked. Hearing this question, Samantha leaned back in interest, now understanding that Jason wanted to play some kind of game. "About twenty million." Samantha said with a smirk, and then after running her eyes up and down Jason, she continued, "Nothing like your family that is worth hundreds of millions." My family? Jason smirked again. So she really did investigate him. The question was not if she knew, but how much. "How much do you think you know about me?" Jason said, leaning forward and crossing his legs, mirroring her stance as he leaned back in his seat. She chuckled, seeing how Jason was still so impressively going about this. "I know your name is Jason Cross. I know your parents passed away. My condolences to you. I know that your parent's business was ruthlessly stolen by your family. I know that you were left with nothing. I know that you were forced to leave your life behind and that after some struggling you found Veronica… Or maybe it was Veronica who found you." Jason kept quiet as he heard all this, keeping his eyes locked on hers. Samantha's lips raised up in a smile. "Jason Cross. You worked in a convenience store even while coming from an affluent background. And then recently you had a massive accident. And when you woke up, Veronica was right next to you to save you. She has been taking care of you all this time… Now I realise that it might be in more ways than you could ever understand." "Oh trust me, I understand," Jason said, with a smirk on his face. "She must have paid a large price to get me through the doors. You probably extorted her because of your own struggles. I'll explain it to her so that she won't resent you." Samantha chuckled. "You're extremely funny, Jason Cross. I think you're interesting. And special. And that's why I'm wondering why you asked me what my company's worth is. After all, I do not believe you still have the connections you did before. You have nobody here, so why would you even be able to help?" After Jason heard this, he smiled and nodded. "I see. Well, the answer to that is simple." After saying that, Jason leaned forward. "If I gave you the four million you needed, what percentage of your company would I own?" Samantha's lips parted in shock. "You? Have four million?" She looked at the man who was gazing at her quietly. Did he really have it? Wait.. he was a Cross. He surely had it. How could his parents leave him with nothing? But if that was the case, why was he laying low all these months? The more she thought of it, the more incomprehensible this man became to her. She thought she knew everything, but she might have been wrong. Jason leaned back, a slow, confident grin spreading across his face. "You've been investigating me. I'm sure you can figure it out." Her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized she'd been caught. She looked away, muttering, "You're clever, I'll give you that. Was the laying low so that you can build yourself up again?." Jason seized the opportunity. "You'll find that out in the future. And yes, I am clever. Clever enough to know you need me more than I need you," he said smoothly. "So let's make this simple. If I invest, I want 15% of your company." She scoffed, crossing her arms. "15%? You're dreaming. I might have offered 10% if I was in a good mood. But now that I know that you've been lying to sweet Veronica among other things—" "Among other things?" Jason laughed, shaking his head. "Saying that kind of stuff about a woman you scammed is honestly too much. But I'll let it slide. Just give it to me straight." Samantha did not seem at all annoyed about the fact that she had gotten interrupted. However, what she did feel was a bit interested in seeing the outcome. "I would give you 10%. But knowing what I know now, I'm thinking... 8%." Jason's eyes darkened, his voice dropping into a calm but commanding tone. "Are you threatening me with Veronica, Ms Samantha? Because if you are, let me assure you… it won't end well for you." Samantha stared at the handsome guy seated beneath her, and couldn't help but feel something stir within her. Yeah… This guy was dangerous with those good looks and that demeanour. But he was also impressive. She understood why he was so impressive. She leaned in closer, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Not a threat, Jason. Just... Business." "Just… Business?" Jason laughed, the sound rich and full of amusement. He stood, towering over her as he extended a hand. "Let's sign the papers, then. I'll give you the four million, but not for 8%—I want 15%. Take it or leave it." She stared at him, her mind racing. His confidence was intoxicating, his logic irrefutable. Finally, she shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "You're relentless, aren't you? Aren't you worried about Veronica? Or maybe even… your Cross family?" "What will you get out of that?" Jason asked her, gazing down at her. "Come on Samantha. You're a cold and rational woman. You and I know, the best thing you can do right now, is extort my money from me, and then if you decide to do it, use the information you have on you to make my life difficult. Stop thinking too much." Samantha's eyes went wide as she was exposed to Jason's electric grin. "Relentless is what's going to save your company. And when this deal goes through, you'll understand exactly why this is going to be the best decision ofyouru life.." Samantha stared at Jason and then seeing those eyes, she couldn't help but let out words she would never have expected from herself. "Okay." In the next few moments, Jason and Samantha finalised the terms of the agreement and when she was done, she looked at him in wonder, shaking her head. How had she come to this conclusion? They had gone from talking about things in terms of a few tens of thousands, but now they were talking about millions. And she was giving him shares of her company too? This man was way too dangerous. No wonder he was able to spur even a woman like Veronica into action. As they finalized the terms, Jason's mind was already working ahead. Samantha was brilliant, no doubt, but she had underestimated him. This was more than a business deal; it was the beginning of something far greater. Samantha watched him closely as they sealed the agreement, her eyes alight with a mix of admiration and curiosity. She couldn't shake the feeling that Jason was more than he seemed. "So then… what's next?" Jason said with a smirk, as he leaned on the table, looking at the document that he had just signed. Samantha turned to him, and in the next moment, when she felt the buzz of her phone as she received confirmation of the deposit of 4 million into her business accounts, she sighed. She was already in bed with him. Might as well keep going. "What's next is that you assume one of the offices over here. But I don't know if you'll even want that kind of thing." "Yeah, no. Ideally, I don't even want people to know I was the one who invested in your company. But you know that already, don't you?" Jason said to her, watching as a smile lit up her face. Perfect. It was better for her to feel like she had something on him. As long as she thought she had some advantage, then she would act in a more subdued manner. "I want a department. A few tech-savvy people. And then maybe an office space. Let me cook up a storm for you. And for myself." Hearing those words, she nodded. "Perfect. That can be arranged within the space of a week. Before then, I hope you can get going with the plans. Now that you're a shareholder, I'm sure you understand why it's important for you to implement those systems. After all, it will help your valuation too." Jason nodded, getting off the table, as he took his copy of the contract. "It's okay. And don't worry. I will be working my ass off for this company from now on. So you better make sure you cut off that malignant tumour," Hearing those words, Samantha smirked. "It feels funny, getting ordered around by someone over ten years younger than me. But as the CEO it's my job to take the orders of the shareholders." Saying this much, she got off the table, reaching out and then grabbing Jason's hand, shaking it. "Jason Cross. You're not just investing in me. I'm investing in you too. You understand this, right?" "Of course, Ms Samantha. Let's get along from now on," said Jason stepping back. And then after that, he left, leaving her standing there, watching him disappear towards the elevators. As he left her office, his parting words lingered in her mind. "Where did you find this one, Veronica?" she murmured to herself, a smile playing at her lips. "He's going to be trouble. I can feel it." That was the thing though… she liked trouble. Going around her desk and then opening up the cupboard folder, taking out a note with three numbers on it, she smirked. If he had more to give to her company… It might be a little fun if she played a little game with him. Jason stepped into his team's office, his lips curling into a confident smirk. The familiar aroma of coffee lingered in the air, evidence of his earlier gesture. The cheerful voices of his colleagues greeted him, each thanking him for the morning pick-me-up. "It's the least I could do," Jason replied smoothly, his tone warm but laced with subtle authority. "We're all in this together, right? A team thrives on connection." He delivered the words with calculated charm, employing subtle shifts in his vocal tone and deliberate pauses to resonate with his audience. Jason paced and led, aligning his words with the team's positive mood and then steering their perspective toward collaboration. His intentional use of "we" fostered a sense of unity. His colleagues nodded enthusiastically, their smiles widening even without truly knowing what he was doing. "You're right bro," said one guy, taking a fat sip of his mocha latte. "Yeah, you rock, brother!" "Jason you said you didn't have a girlfriend, right?" "Who's asking?" Jason said with a cheeky smile, putting his bag down and then sitting in his seat. "A friend," his team member said with a shy smirk. Everyone gazed at the two of them and began laughing. "Oh my god that was so bad!" "Pfft hahaha~~!" "Nah, it's not bad. She just needs a bit of practice that's all," Jason said, turning to the woman. "Feel free to practice on me anytime." She would have fainted if it wasn't for the fact that there was another woman there, blowing her fan on her face and using it to keep her cool. Everyone laughed when they saw this scene, and Max had an appreciative smile on his face, realising that they had been having so much fun ever since Jason arrived. They were getting bonuses, they were getting recognition, and now, the atmosphere in the office was not boring anymore. Jason was like a string that tied everyone together. He had a power in him that was pretty impressive. Max wondered if a guy like him could learn that power too. As the morning rolled on, Jason casually leaned back in his chair, observing the bustling office. He'd made sure Oliver, a junior colleague, received credit for coordinating the coffee delivery. Building goodwill wasn't just about being liked; it was about strategically placing pieces on the board. Oliver's growing popularity would soon work in his favour, especially when Oliver found out about it in the future. The more popular he was the better it would be for him.