34 Is this legit?
1481 Words
“Well Max, I really think that you’re onto something with this invention of yours,” Carlisle Thompson said, sitting with his board of company heads.
The other members of the board looked at the youths with surprise. It was clear that they were impressed with what XMC Tech had brought to the table.
“Thank you, sir. However, it wasn’t all me. My good friends and fellow associates worked incredibly hard to make this product great for you all,” Max replied, taking pride in his team and his company.
Carlisle smiled, impressed at the youth that he had thought at first to be just another typical student. It was clear to everyone in the room at Max, as well as his associates, were far from just your typical students. He was also the picture of pride, as his daughter was the one who was able to get all of these meetings together, for not only Thompson Motors but for other companies across the state of New York.
“Julia, you’ve done really well with the logistics of this operation. I’m beyond impressed. As your father, I couldn’t be more proud.”
“Thank you, Dad,” she said gleefully.
“And as a CEO looking to pass on his company, I believe that this would be exceptional training for you. I hope you’re ready for the responsibility,” he added.
“I’m ready, Dad. I’ll work hard to keep everything running for you when you retire,” she said in a sly manner.
“Please, Julia. You’re making it sound like I’m already old,” he said, slightly embarrassed.
He cleared his voice before continuing, covering his mouth with his fist as he did.
“Alright. So I will have my associates prepare a contract with your company. There is no doubt that if we want to advance as one of the top companies in the States, we need to continue to advance with the times. We believe that your company is on to something special. So, please be back in five to six business days, just so we can get everything in order. Well done,” he said, as he stood to shake Max’s hand.
Max happily obliged as he firmly shook that hand of his first-ever client. Carlisle could see the pure unadulterated joy in Max’s face. He chuckled a little as if reminiscing about when he used to be as young. He could tell that Max was doing everything to hold himself back from completely freaking out. So he let the young one out so that he could celebrate with his coworkers. God knows how hard they’ve worked for this, he thought.
“Alright Max, you go ahead. I have a business to attend to with my associates. Be sure to return after a few days. We should have the contract ready by then,”
“Five to six business days right? We will be here,” Max replied.
“Thank you so much for your time, sir!” Trae added.
“Nonsense, your time was valuable to us, Trae,” Carlisle said with a warm smile.
He then looked on at his daughter, who was brimming with excitement.
“I’m so proud of you, my darling,” he said to Jules. “Your mother would have been proud as well.”
She returned his warm smile and gave him a big hug.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Alright, go on ahead, you kids,”
With that the three youths exited the room, to release sounds of excitement and glee just outside of the room. The noise barely made it into the room, which caused Carlisle to chuckle a little. He turned back to his associates who were also chuckling at the display.
“Sir, you sure seemed to have softened considerably. Is it because of Jules?” one of his heads said playfully.
“I assure you, that I think this company has all the potential to become great,” he said, trying to maintain his air of professionalism. “However… As a dad, I think I’m over the moon right now.”
“Of course, sir. Good for you,” sharing in the happiness of her CEO.
“Now… Let’s get the paperwork going?”
The members of the board nodded and proceeded to pack up their things, preparing for a new age in Thompson Motors; the age of technology.
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“Oh my god! I’m shaking you guys, that was nerve-wracking!” Max said as he walked alongside his friends.
“I know! Even if it was my dad, this is a multinational company. I don’t think I could’ve handled that kind of rejection!” Jules added.
Trae however remained silent, as if his mind was still on something.
“Trae? What’s the matter?” Max asked.
“Huh? Oh! Yeah, sorry! Y’all did great! I was just… Thinking about how we were going to apply the changes to the prototype. That and we need to burn the cd as soon as we get back.” Trae said.
“Oh! Already thinking ahead, ey? I like it!” Max said as he and Jules pulled ahead of Trae.
Trae lied about what he was thinking about though. Of course, he didn’t want to ruin the mood considering that they had just come over their first hurdle as a company. But that being said, something still didn’t sit right with him. He still had his mind on the virus that Max had used to hack the AI that they programmed. Try as he did, he could not find any kind of virus that fit the description that Max gave in any of the search engines that he tried. He even tried to access local government files for any kind of clues. Nothing. It was if Max made all of this up, and that he created probably the most dangerous virus of this era just for fun. That also didn’t sit well with Trae, because he knew that Max was not the type to use that kind of powerful virus for fun. Plus, they practically grew up together, so he knew all of his mannerisms. And now matter how hard he tried to remember, Max looked the same as he normally did. Meaning, he didn’t lie.
All of this thinking was starting to hurt Trae’s head. He looked back at his two friends who at that point were being incredibly flirty in front of him. Trae shook that off and focused back on Max. There was no way that Max would create a virus for the fun of it. Everything he does has purpose and meaning, he thought. In the end, Trae could not come up with any conclusions for the time being. However, there was one thing that he was completely sure of. There was something that Max was not telling him.
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Jasper looked over at Emily Banner, who was sitting down in the main hall of the Locke estate sipping on a glass of wine. Without any goal in mind, he walked up to her.
“What do you want, Locke?”
“What are you still doing here?” Jasper asked, ignoring her rude remark as he always does.
“Well, seeing as our original plan was completely rejected by your uncle, I was just here hoping I could enjoy a peaceful drink. Though it seems, I can’t even have that… Can I Jasper?”
“Hmph, I don’t think I’m sold on his decision. I still think our plan could work if we play our cards right.”
“Hold on Jasper, do you mean you want to continue? Do you have a f*****g death wish?” she asked in complete shock.
Jasper was unmoved. His expression remained the same the entire time, as she continued to eye him with suspicion.
“If we pull this off, then we can get back his trust. After that, he will keep his eyes off of our f*****g groups altogether.”
Emily Banner raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak.
“After that, we could get on with the real plan. You remember, right?”
She looked at him, and let out a sigh.
“Right. Ugh, fine let’s do it.”
Jasper smiled wickedly and then walked off to ready his men for the plan that they have been preparing for. Emily stayed in her seat and continued to sip on her wine. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping to get a moment’s reprieve.
However, within the darkness of her eyelids, she was brought before vivid memories of a life that she used to live. It was brief, but she could still barely make it out. Wrapped in the arms of a lover. The embrace. The warmth of his breath. The smile. She opened her eyes and looked back at Jasper Locke. Every movement he made was the same as the man she saw in her memory. She tried to shake the thought away, but it would keep coming back. She could never forget the memories she once considered precious. Not even if she tried with every fiber of her being. No matter how hard she would shove it down, it would rise again and bring with it pangs of pain, loss, and regret.
“Will getting all of your uncle’s money make you remember Jasper? Will you remember who I was, in the lives, we shared before this one?”
- Writer
