First Steps to the Big Game
1048 Words
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The night air began to cool as Nate made his way down the sidewalk, carefully carrying a package of food. The streetlights reflected off his well-built frame, emphasizing that he was no longer the weak man the Walker family had trampled on.
In the back of his mind, he was already predicting their next move. Thomas Walker was not the kind of person who would stay silent after being humiliated. He would have tried to derail his career, looking for an opening to take him down before he could really stand on his own two feet.
But this time, Nate was prepared first.
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When he arrived home, the aroma of hometown food greeted him. At the dining table, his mother, Linda Carter, was meticulously arranging the various dishes, while his father, Henry Carter, was busy organizing the plates.
"Nate, you're just in time!" Linda exclaimed with a warm smile. "I made some of your favorite foods."
Nate approached, his eyes gazing at the food with mixed feelings. In a previous life, he had prepared this dish for Scarlett Walker, but she hadn't even touched it. She just sneered and told the waiter to throw it away.
"Scarlett likes this meal, doesn't she?" Linda asked, still in a soft tone.
Nate swallowed his emotions and smiled slightly. "Yes, ma'am. But this time, I'll take her somewhere else."
Linda frowned. "Where?"
"There's a charity event downtown. I think this food is better given to people who can really appreciate it."
Linda smiled, not realizing the other intentions hidden in Nate's plan.
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The annual charity event downtown was always a gathering place for businessmen and important figures. Aside from the social activities, one of the most attention-grabbing segments was the international chess competition—an event where grandmasters from different countries clashed over strategies.
Nate stood at the side of the hall, watching the game between two senior grandmasters. Meanwhile, outside the hall, two older men were arguing fiercely near a small table with a chessboard on it.
"You can't just stick to classic strategies!" exclaimed the first man, wearing a black suit with greying hair.
The second man, in a gray suit, crossed his arms. "And you're too aggressive. That's your main weakness."
Nate glanced at their chessboard and immediately caught the error of his ways. He sighed before finally saying in a casual tone,
"If you shift the black piece two steps to the right early, you can create a trap that will block all of your opponent's moves."
The man in the black suit turned his head sharply. "What do you mean, young man?"
Nate stepped closer and rearranged the pieces on their board. "Your style of play follows the pattern of the Russian classical school, but there is a loophole in this strategy. If you make this move earlier..." He deftly moved the pieces, showing how victory could be achieved in just a few moves.
The man in the gray suit raised an eyebrow. "It can't be that simple."
"Please try it yourself," Nate said confidently.
The two old men finally sat back down and retested the strategy Nate had demonstrated. A few minutes passed, and the results were undeniable—the man in the black suit managed to checkmate faster than he thought.
The man in the black suit looked at Nate with interest. "You... have a pretty keen understanding of this game."
Nate smiled. "I just enjoy a good strategy, sir."
The man chuckled and pulled his chair closer. "Well, if you have time, come play a round with me."
---
As the man rearranged the chess pieces, Nate pretended to think for a moment before finally sitting down across from him.
"I don't know your name yet, sir," he said politely.
The man leaned back in his chair. "My name is Robert Fletcher."
Nate suppressed a smile. It wasn't just any name—Robert Fletcher was a senior prosecutor with great influence in the state.
"And you, young man?" Robert asked.
"Nathaniel Carter," Nate replied without hesitation.
Robert's eyes narrowed slightly, as if remembering something. However, he didn't ask any further questions.
The game began. Step by step, Nate strategized while watching Robert's expression. He knew that Robert's son, Daniel Fletcher, was the local police chief. If he could get Robert's attention, then that meant he was already one step closer to someone who could really help him in this big game.
As the game progressed, Nate began to take the conversation in a more personal direction.
"I hear that you have many fond memories of my small town, sir," he said casually.
Robert raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"
"I heard that you first met your wife at a restaurant there," Nate continued as he moved the pawn. "I happened to bring some specialties from that city. If you don't mind, I'd like to give them to you."
Robert's eyes lit up. "Really? That's... quite interesting."
Nate handed him the package of food he had brought. Robert accepted it with a nostalgic smile.
"I haven't tasted food from there in a long time," Robert said as he opened the package slightly. The distinctive aroma of the food instantly stirred his memory. "Thank you, young man."
"I'm also applying for a civil service position, sir," Nate continued in a light tone, as if just stating a trivial fact. "And I happened to read some case reports handled by your son."
Robert's expression turned a little more serious. "Oh? What do you think of those cases?"
Nate smiled. This was it, the opportunity he'd been waiting for.
However, before he could answer, a man in a suit suddenly approached and whispered something into Robert's ear.
Robert's originally relaxed face immediately turned stiff. He looked at Nate for a moment, then stood up.
"Sorry, young man. There seems to be something urgent," he said.
Nate nodded, but in his heart, he knew this was no coincidence.
Robert looked at Nate once more before leaving. "I'd like to talk to you more later."
As Robert left, Nate stared at the chessboard in front of him. The pieces had begun to move, and the game had just begun.
But the question now was...
Who had accelerated the steps in this game of his?
- Writer
