Chapter 8
I gripped my hands tightly, my nails almost digging into my palms. The pain reminded me to stay calm.
The hood was removed from my head. In an instant, the previously noisy auction house suddenly fell silent. Everyone's eyes looked at me - they wanted to know how the ruthless Michael would handle having bought such ugly merchandise for fifty million dollars.
I followed their gaze and looked toward Michael. He wore black casual clothes, sitting sideways on the sofa, a small dagger spinning around his index finger. His sinister eyes casually looked toward me, meeting my gaze in mid-air.
"Fifty million dollars to buy an ugly freak? Then kill her on the spot and let the auction house figure out that not everything can be sold as a mystery box." He said coldly.
"Is this auction house trying to get Michael to trash their reputation? How dare they try to pass off this junk as premium merchandise?"
"Looks like Mr. Johnson is really angry. The auction house is in trouble this time."
"How many years has it been since someone was killed on the auction stage? But fifty million dollars is really harsh - do they dare take that money?"
The murmuring below gradually grew louder.
"Mr. Johnson, congratulations on getting such premium merchandise."
That was Oscar's voice.
Michael looked at me with that wicked expression of his, his eyes burning with anger at being played. His thick eyebrows knitted together tightly: "Oscar, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
He'd finally caught on. When he bid twenty million dollars, Oscar had already made up his mind.
"It's not what you think. I want her too. If you feel like you got ripped off, I'll buy her from you for another ten million dollars. Since I made that offer, I won't back out. At least it'll save you ten million dollars in losses. What do you say?" Oscar smiled at Michael.
The gloom on Michael's face was so thick you could wring water from it. He snorted coldly: "No way. I'd rather kill her today than give her to you."
My whole body trembled involuntarily.
Fighting back my fear, I stepped forward and looked him straight in the eye: "Mr. Johnson, I know you're angry right now. My face is ruined, but my brain still works. I can guarantee you'll make back every penny of that money, and fast. Trust me."
He looked up at me, clearly skeptical of what I was saying.
"I have dual master's degrees in finance and management from Harmony College, plus I own patented software. Just give me a chance, and I can prove everything I'm saying is true." I quickly played one of my cards. As long as he took me with him, he'd see I wasn't lying.
He slowly stood up, looking down at me from his height, eyes narrowing slightly. I suddenly felt like a snake had coiled around me, and instinctively wanted to back away.
"Let's go." He quickly looked away, tossed a card to someone nearby, and strode out.
I stood there frozen, not understanding what he meant.
"Aren't you coming?" Michael said coldly from ahead.
I wobbled in the ill-fitting high heels, not bothering to ask anyone to untie my bound hands, and hurried to catch up, afraid he might change his mind the next second.
Sitting in the car, I glanced at Michael's expressionless face behind me. I was nervous but still said with conviction: "Mr. Johnson, everything I said is true."
Michael couldn't even be bothered to look at me properly: "You're saying you can make me fifty million dollars? You dare spout such nonsense?"
I nodded at him: "I'm not lying to you."
"Fine." Michael laughed coldly. "I'll give you one chance to prove it. If you're right, I'll keep you. But if I find out you're lying to me, I'll make you beg me to let you die. Understand?"
"I understand." I lowered my head to show I was being obedient.
I was taken to a standalone villa. Michael took off his casual jacket and tossed it aside carelessly, then looked up at me: "Didn't you just say you could make me fifty million bucks in no time? Come on then, let's see you work your magic."
"Can I have a computer? A laptop would work too." I made my request.
Michael lifted his chin toward someone nearby, who quickly brought over a laptop.
Opening the computer, I typed in a web address with trembling hands.
When I first developed this software, I immediately demonstrated it to my father. Maybe kids who lack love always want approval. I used the software demo to warn my dad that the company's financial system wasn't secure, but Sophia swore up and down that I was being alarmist and just wanted to get into the company.
Obviously, my dad believed her. He didn't let me into the company and rejected the software I recommended.
He never could have imagined that the presentation he once dismissed without a glance would one day deliver a fatal blow to his company.
They all abandoned me. To survive, I have no other choice.
"What? Can't do it after all?" Michael's voice rang out coldly. I looked up at him. His eyes were icy, filled with murderous intent, as if the moment I said no, the knife he was playing with between his fingers would end up in my heart.
This kind of person is the most dangerous - holding the power of life and death, operating outside the law. But right now, he's my only lifeline. If I can earn his trust, he can give me so much more.
Without further hesitation, I started typing rapidly on the keyboard, entering code line by line. Even though three years had passed, my fingers still seemed to remember. The computer screen suddenly went completely black, which meant it was breaking through the other side's program.
What I was hacking into was the Brown Group's financial system.
Yes, this first strike would be aimed directly at the Brown Group.
The Brown Group has a market value of several hundred million dollars, but that's just surface glory. Last year during the economic downturn, due to strategic mistakes, the company's cash flow nearly dried up. They only got through the crisis by raising capital and selling off some equity. What I'm about to do is completely cut off their cash flow.
Ten minutes was enough. The computer screen changed from black to blue. I operated it skillfully, and the financial system's fund status became crystal clear.
Michael had come up behind me, frowning as he watched my hands flying across the keyboard. Perhaps at this moment, he was starting to believe what I'd said.
After a year of operations, the company's liquid capital was only thirty million dollars. I could only say the company's operating methods were already outdated.
"Give me a new bank card." I didn't look up, continuing to work while speaking to Michael.
He nodded to his subordinate. By the time I'd finally cracked through all the passwords, the bank card was in my hand. After the final few operations succeeded, I closed the laptop and handed the bank card to Michael: "This card will have thirty million dollars deposited within three minutes."
Michael looked at me with scrutiny: "You better not be lying to me."
I smiled at him: "I'm not stupid enough to tell a lie that'll be exposed immediately. But you'd better transfer it to a secure account within ten minutes of receiving it. Once they catch on, this account will be traced quickly, and if the funds get frozen, that's not my problem."
As soon as I finished speaking, someone holding a phone that had just buzzed came over with eyes shining with excitement: "Mr. Johnson, it came through - thirty million dollars, really thirty million dollars."
Michael looked at me with interest: "That's still not enough to cover the fifty million I paid for you, is it?"
I boldly met his gaze: "Mr. Johnson, you can check the news tomorrow. The Brown Group's stock will drop sharply when the market opens. Use all thirty million dollars to buy in, and remember, it has to be within the first ten minutes after opening. Within half a day, I guarantee you'll have over sixty million dollars in your account."
"The Brown Group? Do you have a grudge against them?" Michael raised an eyebrow and asked casually.
I took a deep breath, looking into the distance, my eyes churning with undisguised towering hatred.
"Not just a grudge - I'm here because of them. This is what they owe me." As long as there's breath in my body, Sophia will never know a moment's peace.
"Mr. Johnson, trust me. I just need one opportunity, and I'll make you the richest person around. And the Brown Group? They're just the most insignificant stepping stone."