Rise of Underdog

3

"You think you can outplay me?" Robert's voice was sharp, his gaze locked onto the young man across the chessboard.

The young man smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "That depends. Are we talking about chess or the case?"

Robert's fingers tightened around the bishop he had just moved. "Both."

A flicker of amusement passed through the young man’s eyes. He studied the board for a second before making his move—knight to f3. It was a calm but calculated play.

"I assume you’ve already drawn your conclusions about me," the young man said, leaning back. "But let me ask you this—if the usual methods aren’t working, why not reverse our thinking?"

Robert frowned. "Explain."

"The case," the young man continued, tapping a finger against the wooden table. "We're dealing with a financial fraud scheme where the money flow has been completely cut off, correct?"

Robert nodded. "Go on."

"Most investigators would try to follow the trail, searching for missing links. But what if instead of chasing the money, we look at the ones capable of laundering it?" His voice was steady, confident. "Only a handful of companies have the infrastructure to move such large sums unnoticed. We should start with them."

Robert’s expression darkened. "And you just happen to have a list?"

The young man pushed a small notepad across the table. Robert picked it up, flipping through the pages. It was neatly organized—company names, potential connections, suspicious transactions.

"You came prepared."

"I prefer not to waste time." The young man moved his queen, capturing Robert’s knight.

Robert’s eyes narrowed. "You’re an interesting one." He shifted his strategy, refocusing on the chessboard. "But intelligence alone isn’t enough. Strategy wins wars."

The young man smiled. "I agree. Which is why I borrowed a few strategies from famous American chess players."

Robert studied the board carefully. Then he saw it—the trap. His king was already cornered. The young man had seen five moves ahead, orchestrating a checkmate from the very beginning.

Robert sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Damn."

The young man reached forward and tipped Robert’s king over. "Checkmate."

For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Robert chuckled, rubbing his temple. "I underestimated you."

"A common mistake," the young man replied smoothly.

Robert’s gaze sharpened. "I don’t believe in coincidences. A mind like yours doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Who the hell are you?"

The young man simply smiled. "Someone who sees the board differently."

Robert leaned back in his chair, studying him with new eyes. "I should make you play again."

The young man stood, stretching. "Unfortunately, I have an interview to prepare for."

Robert’s brow lifted. "For what position?"

"State health department," the young man replied, reaching for his coat.

Robert’s lips pressed together, but he said nothing. Instead, he pulled out a card and scribbled something on the back. He held it out. "Take this."

The young man hesitated before accepting it. Robert’s personal number.

"Call me if you ever want a real challenge," Robert said, his tone deceptively casual.

The young man smirked. "I'll think about it."

As he walked away, Robert exhaled slowly, watching him go. There was something about him. Something dangerous.

A few minutes later, Robert’s gaze landed on the small package on the table. He unwrapped it, frowning. Inside were local delicacies—his favorites.

A slow smile tugged at his lips. Clever bastard.

He picked up his phone and dialed. "Thomas. We need to talk about that interview."

The next day, Thomas stormed into Robert's office, slamming a file onto his desk. "What the hell is this?!"

His assistant flinched. "Sir—"

"He failed the re-examination! He shouldn’t even be on the interview list!"

The assistant swallowed hard. "The police department intervened. They believe he has connections."

Thomas’s fingers curled into fists. "Who pulled the strings?"

No answer.

His jaw clenched. "Find out."

His assistant nodded quickly and hurried out.

Thomas exhaled sharply, his mind racing. Who the hell is this guy?

The young man, Ethan, had slipped under his radar, and that infuriated him. Thomas had built his empire by knowing everything about everyone. How had he let a mere upstart challenge his authority? It wasn't just his daughter he was defending; it was the Sinclair legacy.

Thomas paced the length of his office, his thoughts racing. He had to regain control of this situation. He pulled out his phone and dialed a familiar number. "Mary, I need you to look into someone for me. Ethan Caldwell. Find out everything you can."

"Of course, Mr. Sinclair," her voice was crisp and efficient. "I’ll have a full report by the end of the day."

"Good." He ended the call and sat back down, fingers tapping on the desk. He had a plan forming, but he needed more than just information. He needed leverage.

Later that evening, Thomas met with Mary in a dimly lit bar, away from prying eyes. She slid a file across the table, her expression serious.

"Here’s what I found on Ethan Caldwell," she said, her voice low. "He was a top student at a small college, but his records show he had a few disciplinary issues. Nothing major, but enough to raise eyebrows."

Thomas smirked. "Good. That’s a start."

Mary continued, "He’s been involved with several charity organizations, but most importantly, he has a connection to Robert Hughes. They recently played a chess match at a charity event."

Thomas’s brow furrowed. "Robert Hughes? The prosecutor?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "He’s well-respected and has a lot of influence in legal circles. If Ethan has caught his attention, that could complicate things."

Thomas leaned back, mulling over this new piece of information. "What else?"

Mary flipped through the pages in the file. "He has also been working on a civil service application here. His goal is to get into the state health department, which would put him in a position of power."

Thomas’s expression darkened. "A potential threat. We can’t allow that."

"Agreed. But if we want to discredit him, we need more than just rumors," she said. "We should look into his past more thoroughly. If there’s anything we can use against him, we can make sure he doesn’t get that job."

"Do it," Thomas ordered, his mind racing with possibilities. He needed to ensure Ethan’s ambitions were crushed before they could take flight.

The following week, as Ethan prepared for his interview with the state health department, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. He had been working hard, researching the intricacies of the department, and studying the people involved. But there was an underlying tension, a sense that something was off.

The night before the interview, he received a message from Robert. "Meet me at the café tomorrow afternoon. We need to discuss something important."

Ethan felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He had enjoyed his chess match with Robert, but he couldn’t ignore the man’s reputation. Was this a friendly chat, or was he being pulled into something more complicated?

The next day, Ethan arrived at the café, a quaint little place with an inviting atmosphere. He spotted Robert sitting at a corner table, his expression serious as he sipped on a coffee.

Ethan approached, offering a polite smile. "You wanted to see me?"

Robert gestured for him to sit. "Yes, Ethan. I’ve been thinking about our last conversation."

Ethan sat, his interest piqued. "And?"

"I believe you have the potential to help with an ongoing investigation," Robert said, his tone measured. "One that could use someone with your… unique perspective."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What kind of investigation?"

Robert leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "There’s a case involving financial fraud linked to several companies in the area. I can’t go into too much detail, but I need someone who can think outside the box, someone who isn’t afraid to challenge conventional methods."

Ethan considered the offer. "And you think I’m that person?"

"I do," Robert replied. "Your approach to chess suggests you can see patterns that others might miss. We could use that kind of insight."

Ethan felt a rush of excitement. This was an opportunity—not only to make a name for himself but to gain a foothold in a world that had previously been closed off to him.

"Count me in," he said, determination in his voice.

Robert smiled, but there was a seriousness in his gaze. "Just remember, this is a dangerous game. Thomas Sinclair is not someone to be underestimated."

Ethan nodded, fully aware of the stakes. "I understand. But I’m ready for whatever comes next."