Chapter 10 · Hidden Marriage, Stolen Dreams, Now I Checkmate the CEO

Chapter 10

"Of course." Zack raised his chin slightly. "Theo is dead set on winning. But what he doesn't realize is that all those designs he's sitting on were actually yours.

"He thinks he's still got a technical trump card, but the truth is, that card isn't on his table anymore."

I didn't respond to that. "Mr. Harrison, if I leave the Ludwig Group, Theo will sue me for leaking trade secrets."

"You have the original files, and they were created before the Ludwig Group even approved the project. Legally, that's pre-existing work. It's your own intellectual property. If this goes to court, I've got you covered. My legal team will be with you every step of the way."

He said it without a hint of hesitation, like he was stating a fact that had already been confirmed.

"Go home and think it over. No rush." Zack stood up. "But don't take too long. The federal contract bid closes on the 15th of next month."

He pulled a card out of his pocket and set it on the table. It wasn't a business card. It was a Harrison Group access card.

"It's a temporary badge, good for seven days. If you want to come by, just swipe it and walk in. No need to tell anyone," he said.

Then he left.

I sat in the private room for a long time, letting my coffee go cold without taking a sip.

From the window, I could see half the street. Across the way, an electronic billboard was playing the Ludwig Group's promo video on repeat.

The chip that flashed across the screen was the first one I designed.

My name was never mentioned in any of the Ludwig Group's promotional materials.

My phone buzzed. It was a call from Nina. "Got the info. Sunny sent a screenshot of a file transfer record to legal, saying you emailed core design files from the company database to your personal account late at night, three months ago."

I replied, "Is that record legit?"

"No idea. But Brian said the timestamp on the screenshot lines up with your badge swipe record."

"Nina."

"Yeah."

"That late night three months ago, I was in the hospital. I'd had a fever for three days, and you were the one who took me to get an IV. Remember?"

There was a pause on the other end. "I remember. I still have our chat logs and the ride records. You weren't at the office that day."

"Take screenshots of all those records and save them."

"Are you going to sue Sunny?"

"I want everyone who accused me of leaking company secrets to know she fabricated the evidence."

The access card Zack left behind was still on the table. I picked it up and slipped it into my pocket.

By the time I stepped out of the café, the sun was already sinking in the west. People flowed up and down the street, but no one knew what kind of choice I was about to make.

I wasn't planning to take too long to decide. Zack was right; I couldn't afford to wait any longer.

But before I left, there was one last thing I had to do.

*****

On Tuesday morning, I got to the office an hour early. While the tech department was still empty, I tried accessing the database with my old permissions.

Most of the folders were locked, but there was a hidden spot that had slipped through the cracks. It was a backup directory for old file versions. Sunny had missed it when she revoked my access.

And in that directory, I found something.

On Sunny's very first day at the company, she used her account to download all the files for the seven core projects I'd designed. The download log had a timestamp, her account name, and the exact path she used.

While she was accusing me of leaking company secrets, she was actually making a full copy of all the company's core data for herself.

I exported the download log, took a screenshot, and saved it to my USB drive.

Then I opened the file I'd been working on for three days: my resignation letter.

I printed out two copies and signed them. I slipped one into the envelope on my desk and snapped a photo of the other for my records.

Before I shut down my computer, I took one last look at the Ludwig Group's internal system.

On the employee bulletin board on the homepage, there was a new announcement. Sunny had officially been named the Ludwig Group's Technical Director. Effective immediately, she was now responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the core projects.

The notice was signed by Theo.

I shut down my computer, grabbed the envelope, the USB drive, and my cactus, and walked out of the storage room.

As I passed the front desk, I set the envelope down on the counter.

The receptionist looked up at me. "Sofia, what's this?"

"My resignation letter. Could you pass it to Mr. Ludwig for me?" I said.

"What?" She froze.

I walked out through the main entrance of the Ludwig Group building.

The sunlight was so bright that it made me squint.

I pulled out my phone, scrolled to Zack's number, and hit dial.

He answered after one ring.

"Mr. Harrison, I've decided," I said.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "When can you come in?"

"Tomorrow."

Chapter 10

"Of course." Zack raised his chin slightly. "Theo is dead set on winning. But what he doesn't realize is that all those designs he's sitting on were actually yours.

"He thinks he's still got a technical trump card, but the truth is, that card isn't on his table anymore."

I didn't respond to that. "Mr. Harrison, if I leave the Ludwig Group, Theo will sue me for leaking trade secrets."

He said it without a hint of hesitation, like he was stating a fact that had already been confirmed.

"Go home and think it over. No rush." Zack stood up. "But don't take too long. The federal contract bid closes on the 15th of next month."

He pulled a card out of his pocket and set it on the table. It wasn't a business card. It was a Harrison Group access card.

"It's a temporary badge, good for seven days. If you want to come by, just swipe it and walk in. No need to tell anyone," he said.

Then he left.

I sat in the private room for a long time, letting my coffee go cold without taking a sip.

From the window, I could see half the street. Across the way, an electronic billboard was playing the Ludwig Group's promo video on repeat.

The chip that flashed across the screen was the first one I designed.

My name was never mentioned in any of the Ludwig Group's promotional materials.

I replied, "Is that record legit?"

"No idea. But Brian said the timestamp on the screenshot lines up with your badge swipe record."

"Nina."

"Yeah."

"That late night three months ago, I was in the hospital. I'd had a fever for three days, and you were the one who took me to get an IV. Remember?"

There was a pause on the other end. "I remember. I still have our chat logs and the ride records. You weren't at the office that day."

"Take screenshots of all those records and save them."

"Are you going to sue Sunny?"

"I want everyone who accused me of leaking company secrets to know she fabricated the evidence."

The access card Zack left behind was still on the table. I picked it up and slipped it into my pocket.

By the time I stepped out of the café, the sun was already sinking in the west. People flowed up and down the street, but no one knew what kind of choice I was about to make.

I wasn't planning to take too long to decide. Zack was right; I couldn't afford to wait any longer.

But before I left, there was one last thing I had to do.

*****

On Tuesday morning, I got to the office an hour early. While the tech department was still empty, I tried accessing the database with my old permissions.

Most of the folders were locked, but there was a hidden spot that had slipped through the cracks. It was a backup directory for old file versions. Sunny had missed it when she revoked my access.

And in that directory, I found something.

While she was accusing me of leaking company secrets, she was actually making a full copy of all the company's core data for herself.

I exported the download log, took a screenshot, and saved it to my USB drive.

Then I opened the file I'd been working on for three days: my resignation letter.

I printed out two copies and signed them. I slipped one into the envelope on my desk and snapped a photo of the other for my records.

Before I shut down my computer, I took one last look at the Ludwig Group's internal system.

The notice was signed by Theo.

I shut down my computer, grabbed the envelope, the USB drive, and my cactus, and walked out of the storage room.

As I passed the front desk, I set the envelope down on the counter.

The receptionist looked up at me. "Sofia, what's this?"

"My resignation letter. Could you pass it to Mr. Ludwig for me?" I said.

"What?" She froze.

I walked out through the main entrance of the Ludwig Group building.

The sunlight was so bright that it made me squint.

I pulled out my phone, scrolled to Zack's number, and hit dial.

He answered after one ring.

"Mr. Harrison, I've decided," I said.

There was a brief silence on the other end. "When can you come in?"

"Tomorrow."