Had lost the war without you knowing why
“Wait!” Jenica shouted when she saw the guards approaching her. She looked at the newly arrived woman and squinted at her. “Who are you?”
The corners of the woman’s lips rose and folded her arms against her chest. “I’m the real Vice President of Desmana Group, Bree Mondragon. My father, whom you’re making fun of earlier is the acting Vice President. The president should know that I did not do anything to strip me off my position so the incident of you taking over is a joke.”
Jenica took a deep breath and looked at Bryce. “I see.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “The president must have forgotten about Miss Bree. In that case, I won’t take over this position. Then President, I won’t disturb you. Please excuse me,” Jenica said and walked out of the meeting room.
“Wait, Code– Miss Jane!” Bryce said and took a big step out of the meeting room.
Bree’s face scrunched up as she watched Bryce’s regretful expression. “What the h*ll’s happening? Tell me!” she said to the board of directors.
The head of the board sighed and spoke about the company’s major data breach that had occurred in recent months. And he also told her that the President claims that Jane Lau will help the Desmana Group so he will give the professional woman a position in the company.
Bree’s eyes narrowed. “That woman is not simple.” She turned to the assistant and whispered. “Do a background check on Jane Lau. I want to know everything about her.”
“Yes,” said the assistant and immediately called someone.
On the other hand, Jenica was walking out of the company. She heard Bryce calling her from behind but she didn’t turn around or even stop. There was a small smile on her lips that immediately disappeared when a number of employees were watched the ruckus she and Bryce made in the hallway.
Bryce gritted his teeth. It’s not easy for him to tame Code X and that freaking Bree Mondragon has to ruin his plans for the company! He really does not understand why the former president gave the vice president position to that girl. That woman is a thorn in his path to become a successful company president. What’s even more annoying is that he doesn’t even have support from the board of directors to kick Bree out of the company.
One has to know that more than half of the board of directors were from the Mondragon, and the current head of the board is also a Mondragon!
Desmana Group but it’s Mondragon sitting in high positions? What a joke!
So he did everything to poach someone to his side, and Code X is the perfect person for it! He bribed a group of professional hackers to “hack” the company’s system and a huge data breach was done according to his plan. He then contacted Code X to “help” him defend his company and he was glad that Code X personally went to him to offer her service.
He thought that with Code X’s big contribution, it would be easy to put the woman in the Vice President position, but who would have thought that Bree Mondragon and her father, as well as the head of the board of directors won’t let go of the VP position?
“Miss Jane! Please wait!” he shouted and ran after Code X. His employees were looking at him but he didn’t care. He quickly stood in front of the woman to block her. “Please, listen to me. Don’t let their words affect our cooperation.”
Jenica raised her eyebrows as she watched Bryce in front of her. The man was panting hard and a slight blush was seen on his face. It looks like he ran to chase her.
She looked sideways. “What do you want?” she asked. But of course, she knew what he wanted with her.
Bryce swallowed. “About earlier, I still want you to take over the position. But give me some time and I’ll clean the company.”
“I see. But I think it’s not easy to clean your company, Mr. Desmana.” She shrugged and stared at the man intently, causing Bryce to become uncomfortable. Jenica smiled again. “And I realize that you are more than what meets the eye.”
Bryce froze on his spot, realizing that Code X knew what he had done to the company. He smiled, and eventually laughed to himself. “Of course, you find it out sooner. I can’t hide a thing from the infamous hacker, can I?”
Only a small smile appeared on Jenica’s lips. Bryce sighed and gestured for her to follow him. The man took her to the company’s server room. Jenica raised her eyebrows and looked inside.
“You know that Desmana Group is a large corporation and you might have heard of some rumors about us. But I trust you know what’s going on behind the curtains, Code X?” He turned to her for a moment before looking back at the front. “The very company my family made is run by another clan.”
“Mondragon,” she affirmed.
“Yes.” Bryce sighed. “It started seven years ago when my sister got involved in a s*x scandal in Taguig. My sister was engaged to the young master of La Trinidad clan in Cavite.” His fist clenched. “That man cheated on my sister with that woman Yvette Antonete. Because of the incident, my clan and the Antonete clan became enemies whether it was business or connection. Our clans were at each other’s necks, until Mondragon clan from the South extended a help to us. Because of the help of the Mondragons, we defeated the Antonetes here in Laguna, but not the prominent Antonete clan in the capital.”
“And since then, your clan is indebted to the Mondragon clan, am I right?” she asked then checked a server. “And debt is the reason why there are many Mondragons in the Desmana Group. You let them rule over your family company for the sake of that little help years ago.”
“I really can’t hide a thing from you.” Bryce laughed helplessly. “It was our mistake that lead to this messy situation. Today, not a single Desmana is sitting in high positions in the company because my family members work as lowly employees in our own family company. Isn’t that funny?” He sneered. “And the Mondragon has the guts to threaten me to hand over the company. They think that because Irene Mondragon is my fiancee, it won’t be long before they can gain control of my position. They push me to marry that woman so she can take over my position and I, the current President of Desmana Group, will become her puppet to do her bid.”
Jenica turned to Bryce and stared at the man for a few seconds before she opened her mouth to speak. “So you attacked your company yourself.”
“Of course.” Bryce laughed. “I hired those hackers to let those scumbags feel helpless.” His gaze traveled towards her. “I plan to hire you and put you after my position but the Mondragon won’t agree. So I need your help, Code X.”
“Why should I help you?” She folded her arms and leaned against the not far wall. A small smile appeared on the corner of her lips.
Bryce’s mouth twitched and he sighed helplessly. “I heard that you are enigmatic and nobody has seen your face. But here you are, standing before me. I know from the moment you agreed for a meet-up, it’s not me who needs you but you… needs my help .”
There was silence between them for a few seconds. A glint flashed in Jenica’s eyes that immediately disappeared. Then a grin was plastered on her lips and she laughed. “Mr. Desmana, you make me look at you in a different light!”
“I don’t know what you want from me, but I hope it won’t affect the Desmana Group,” said Bryce.
Jenica waved her hand. “Your little company is not my target.” She saw a displeased expression on Bryce’s face so she chuckled. “I will tell you what I want after we send those leeches away from your company.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
She grinned at him and roamed her eyes around the server room. There was no one inside that cold room and she knew why. It is one of the most restricted areas in the company after the President’s office, so no one dares to casually enter inside. It’s way safer than in Bryce’s office where there might be ears hiding somewhere. At least in the server room, there are no tapped wires because who would spy on a room full of company servers?
After all, the usual meeting place for important gatherings should be at the top of the building and not in the underground where the server room is located.
“Before asking for my plan, do you know why the Mondragon extended a helping hand to your clan?” she asked.
Bryce frowned. “They might be eyeing the Desmana Group long ago. They just used our fight with Antonete as an excuse to enter the company.”Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
“It’s reasonable to think of that scenario, but… Mondragon is a large clan in the South and has enough power and influence to affect the economy of the South. Why would they eye a small company in Laguna? And if they want to extend their influence in the North, they will fight for a place in the capital and not in this province.” Jenica stared at his dumbfounded face. “Do you think something’s not right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think Desmana has won over the Antonete? If Antonete has a powerful clan backing them up in the capital, do you think they will give up the fight?”
“You mean…?”
“It’s not that Antonete was defeated by you so they are not openly opposing your family clan, but they are quiet now because they’re watching the show.”
“What?”
“Mr. Desmana, you’re naive to think that Desmana is more powerful than Antonete and your family has defeated them.” Jenica smiled at the man. “Have you realized now that Mondragon is slowly eating up your company? And why would they eat your company when they have a big bowl of foods in the South?”
“Code X, I don’t like to hear you beating around the bush.”
Jenica laughed. “Are you afraid of what you’re thinking now, Mr. Desmana?” She looked away, the corner of her lips curling up. “Antonete is clever to send the Mondragon on your side. They are enjoying the show as your company is dying at the hands of your so-called benefactors. Clearly, Antonete has the upper hand and quietly won the fight while your family clan… has lost this war without you knowing why.”