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8
Jared
Peter Weber cameinto my life when I was rebelling and on a path of destruction. My life collapsed a few months before my eighteenth birthday. Back then, I had thought my life over, and the only thing I had was my love for coding and the boundless opportunities the dark world web presentedtome.
My life didn’t fall apart slowly. It simply shook the very foundation of my being by taking everything I had, everything I held dear, in one blasted tragedy. My wife of five months was pronounced dead thirty minutes after giving birth. My daughter, Penny, a stillborn. In a heartbeat, they were taken away as if their lives had meant nothing. We married because of accidental pregnancy, but I loved her either way, so it mattered little to me. After a month of having her in my life, I had cemented my fate, never wanting to leave her side. But fate had bigger plans that didn’tincludethem.
Shocked and forsaken, I felt the entire world crumble upon me in one swooping fit ofmadness.
Had I been cautious and not gotten her pregnant, she’d have been alive. I murdered her. I killed them both. How could I forgive myself? How could I even fathom living knowing I destroyed their lives? I was in shambles, left with nothing, with nothing to go on. Therefore, I locked myself out of the world, drowning myself into a stupor while I spent most of my time doing what I enjoyed the most—hacking and wreaking havoc wherever possible. All the pain, all the helplessness I felt was channeled into something profound. It changed me. It altered my view of reality. Behind the screen, I felt powerful, untouchable, and very much in control of what was to take place. The pure unadulterated joy that possessed your mind, your body when you were about to key theenterbutton, knowing that a meltdown was about to take place—I reveled in that adrenaline-charged feeling by taking down companies just because I could. I enjoyed causing panic and sending people into a tailspin. It was the only sensation that made me feel alive. Weak folks sought drugs; I pursued a sophisticated remedy, one that transformed the society, one that shaped the world’s stockmarkets.
Then one day, someone knocked at my dingy apartment door in Melbourne, altering my lifeforever.
The famous computer genius Peter Weber was right on my doorstep, clearly not amused I hacked into their system less than three days ago and almost succeeded in taking itdown,too.
That happened almost ten years ago, and yet, I could recall every single detail of that life-changing meeting. I was too entrenched in my own pain to figure out my life. Had it not been for Peter proposing a job, I didn’t know what would’ve been made of me. I was eternally grateful that instead of alerting the Australian Federal Police, he offered his help. He undertook a reckless teenager who was bent on a mission—disruption.
Peter became this constant, encouraging figure, motivating me, continually trying to draw me out of my shell, and guiding me in honing my skills for the better good. He presented a path to me, a new purpose—evolving technology as we pushed for the impossible, reaching new heights, leading a new era of technology-oriented evolution. And in less than a year, I thrived under his thumb because of his unyielding faith in me. He believed even though I had no hope left. He became my mentor as well as the father Ineverhad.
I owed him my life…and it was high time I repaidthatdebt.
Setting the tumbler down, I peered at the warm father and daughter interaction. Gisele was bidding him goodnight, and together, we both watched her gracefully strut away, turning in for theevening.
“My daughter’s exactly like her mother—well, with a little bit of myself, too.” Peter chuckled, his haggard face lighting up a fraction. “You two are equally matched. Wait and see, she’s perfect foryou,son.”
If he only knew what his daughter and I agreed upon…but there was no need to enlighten the old man of our real understanding. As long as he was content and at ease, it was all I couldhopefor.
“While the world thinks you’re her guardian, you two can secretly build on the marriage until you’re both comfortable to announce it. I know you never planned on marrying again, so you have no idea how delighted it makes me that you’re ready to take care ofGisele.”
I snickered. “You knew I didn’t have the heart to decline a man’sdyingwish.”
“That, too, but I believe you two will be good for each other. It also helps that I don’t have to worry about fortune hunters. They’ll be surrounding her like vultures. She’s a smart girl, but she’s also young and very naïve when it comes to a man’s manipulation. As much as I’d like to think the world’s changing, it’s not changing fast enough for Gisele. Our industry is packed with wolves and vultures. Without your protection, she’ll get trampled on…I fear someone will marry her only to take everything I’ve worked so hard for. This marriage solveseverything.”
“I’m not one for business marriages, but I think Gisele and I will manage fine. But I also think you underestimate her. She’s a Weber. She’s your daughter, after all…She’ll learn how to swim with sharks,Peter.”
“I suppose you’re right. She’s just like her mother, and with you by her side, you two will be a forcetogether.”
Gisele…bloody. Fuck. Needing to change my thoughts, I focused on the frail man. “How are you feeling? You’ve lost moreweight.”
“I have two months left, three at most,” he informed me without remorse, without any feeling. He simply stated it like he was mouthing off thegrocerylist.
“Bloodyhell.”
“Yes, there isn’t much time left. I’m glad everything is set beforeIdie.”
I couldn’t imagine working on projects without brainstorming and arguing with Peter. He was the company’s life, and it was a demoralizing thought that I’d even try to fill hisshoes.
There was so much to be done. The lawyers were busy drawing up contracts and wills. The death of the company’s founder and leader would surely affect the company’s brand. I prayed I would be enough to navigate it into a new chapter without having investors panicking and consumers losingfaith.
“I haven’t announced my sickness yet, but I’m hearing David Burg began to spread rumors theotherday.”
David Burg. To this day, it baffled me how he was once a close friend of Peter. The man was heinous. “Are you going to make anannouncementsoon?”
“Next month. I want to enjoy having a little peace. David can be erratic. Watch out for him. He’s not really yourbiggestfan.”
“It’s time to rest, Mister Weber,” Nurse Anitaannounced.
I made a solemn nod. “Take care of the old man, will you,Anita?”
