The Tycoon's Odyssey

The roo was pristine, and its modern decor was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere crackling in the air.

Steve Hook, CEO of Pears, stood behind his desk with an expression clouded with fiery anger. The technical and software team, usually so confident in their roles, now appeared as if they were caught in the eye of a storm.

Steve's eyes blazed as he glared at the group before him, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Steve's voice cut through the silence like a blade. His frustration was palpable and each word dripped with anger. "We didn't have any issues during testing, so why the hell are we now facing problems with the iPhone 15 and 14?! This is unacceptable!"

The engineers and developers exchanged uneasy glances. Carla, the lead engineer, hesitated before stepping forward, her face flushed and her hands nervously clutching her notepad. She cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. m-vle|mpyr exclusive

"Sir, we're still investigating the issue. It appears to be a—"

"A what?!" Steve's voice thundered, cutting her off. He slammed his palm on the desk, making the surface tremble slightly. "A what? We don't have time for vague explanations. I need answers now. Why did this problem slip through?

How did our testing fail to catch this?"

Tommy, a senior software developer, shifted uncomfortably, his face pale. He fidgeted with his glasses, trying to find the right words.

"There was a discrepancy with the new update we pushed live. It didn't show up during our initial tests, but it seems—"

"Seems? Seams? Are you kidding me?!" Steve's face reddened, and his eyes flared with frustration. He paced the length of his desk, his movements sharp and agitated. "We're talking about our flagship products here! We promised stability, and reliability.

What should I tell our clients now? That our tech team can't do its job? Because that's what it looks like!"

Steve's voice rose to a furious shout, his frustration almost tangible.

Gripping the edges of his desk, Steve leaned forward, his gaze piercing through each team member. "I want everyone in this room to understand something very clearly. Our reputation is on the line. This isn't just a minor glitch—this could undermine everything we've worked for. Get your act together. I expect a full report on my desk within the next hour.

And don't even think about coming to me with excuses. I want results!"

Julia, a senior security analyst, took a deep breath, her face set in a serious expression. She adjusted her glasses before taking a step forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

"No, sir," Julia said firmly, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "We have conducted extensive scans and searches, and there is no evidence of outside interference. At present, all we can conclude is that we might have somehow triggered the safety lock of the Breach Protector."

Steve's eyes narrowed as he listened intently. Julia continued, her tone clear and deliberate.

"The Breach Protector is designed with an automatic lockdown feature. When triggered, it encompasses and shuts off the entire system to prevent unauthorized access in case of an emergency. It's a last-resort security measure intended to protect against breaches."

"Hmmm," Steve grunted, nodding slowly.

"That's what I was going to say."

Another team member, Alex, cleared his throat and added, "We might have inadvertently activated that shutdown protocol. The system is designed to be extremely sensitive to any anomalies, and it appears this might be what caused the entire system to lock down."

"If you know then why aren't you fixing it," Steve screamed and slammed the table in anger.

The crisis might seem small in the bigger run, but a few groups of idiots on the board were already panicking due to the drop in share prices and he was the one who had to bear the brunt.

If this goes on, he might very well be replaced.

"Three days..."

A chill permeated the room as everyone heard his words.

"I am giving you three days to get to the crux of the matter, otherwise, there is no need for any of you to stay here."

"Do you understand?"

"Ye...Yes..." stammering voices echoed as everyone gulped hard.

The room buzzed with a nervous energy as the team absorbed the explanation. The team members, with their faces still pale and eyes darting nervously, exchanged anxious glances before nodding quickly in agreement, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

Without another word, they swiftly walked out of the office, their footsteps echoing down the corridor while leaving Steve alone to process the new development.

The soft click of the closing door marked the end of a fraught exchange and the silence that followed was heavy with the weight of impending action and resolution.

.......

"Three days, huh!"

Evan chuckled at the thought.

Currently, everything happening in Pears was being closely monitored.

"Aurora, how much did we acquire?" he inquired.

[Sir, we bought a very pitiful amount—about 0.25% of total shares.]

Evan's lips twitched at the response.

0.25% might seem insignificant, but in actual numbers, it amounted to over 100,000 shares.

So, is this what you call pitiful?

"Nevermind, proceed as we have planned. Let them retrieve the system. We already have ample shares. And with Breach Protectors on outside, Pear is bound to soar high in the future."

Evan was in his car, with the box containing the VR headgear on the passenger seat.

He was headed to the airport, where a private plane awaited to take him to Great Royal.

He took a look at Mac and said, "Did staying with me bore you?"

Mac, who was driving, looked at Evan and chuckled, "Boss how can that be? With so many toys to play with, how can we get bored."

Pleased, Evan turned to look at the guards and spoke sincerely, "You aren't disposable so in case of trouble try to save yourself first."

"Thanks!" Mac and the others responded.

_____

12 Hours Later

As the private jet approached Luxembourg Airport after a lengthy flight from the United States of Liberty, Evan gazed out the window, tired but focused.

Upon landing, he thanked the pilot and mentioned he would be staying in Great Royal for a week. After clearing through airport security, Evan took a taxi through the traffic to the Icon Hotel, where he checked into a presidential suite.

Once checked in, a hotel employee assisted him with his box, which he trusted would be safe. He settled into his suite before going straight to the bedroom and immediately fell asleep. The 12-hour flight had left him jet-lagged, and this was the first time in over a month he had slept without logging into VR.

After only a few hours of sleep, Evan noticed that it was nearly midnight, with two hours left before it struck twelve. He got up, gathered his thoughts, and called the reception.

"Good evening, sir. How can I assist you?" The receptionist's voice was warm and professional.

"Does the hotel offer rental car services?" Evan inquired, checking if he would need to make any alternative arrangements.

"Yes, sir. We offer both rental cars and chauffeur services for our guests," came the reply.

"Could I request a rental car? I have some business to attend to. When can it be ready?" Evan inquired.

"Our team can have it prepared within ten minutes," the receptionist assured.

"Excellent. I'll be at the reception in about half an hour, so please have it ready by then," Evan specified.

"Certainly, sir," the receptionist responded.

"Thank you," Evan said before ending the call. He then freshened up in the bathroom, preparing for his meeting at Great Royal, Luxembourg.