Volume 3: The Rise to Power
Summary: Kevin uncovers evidence of Richard's illegal transactions through overseas companies and hands it over to Jack.
Emily lifted her head, tears clouding her vision. Her once-pristine makeup was smeared by the stream of sorrow running down her face. Her eyes no longer held confusion—only a hardened resolve forged in pain. She gripped the USB drive tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palm, as if trying to channel every ounce of regret and fury into that small device.
"I… I was so blind. How could I have fallen for such a monster?" Emily's voice cracked, like a wounded bird caught in the storm of its own emotions—filled with remorse and unbearable grief.
Jack stepped forward and pulled a clean white handkerchief from his pocket, offering it to her. "It's not too late to wake up now. You still have the chance to make things right." His voice was low and calm, yet it carried the soothing weight of medicine for a wounded soul.
She took the cloth, dabbing at her tears, her voice hoarse like sandpaper. "What can I do? What must I do to make amends?" She looked up at him, her gaze filled with uncertainty and desperation—the last breath of a drowning woman clutching at a fragile lifeline.
"Help me expose Richard for who he really is. Tell me everything you know," Jack said evenly, each word landing like a stone dropped into deep water—solid, heavy, and impossible to ignore.
Emily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Beneath the remnants of her carefully crafted beauty lay exhaustion and fear. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll help you bring Richard down. I know many of his secrets—I even have some evidence of his crimes. I kept backups on his private computer, thinking it would protect me. I never imagined it would come to this." A bitter smile formed on her lips—more painful than a cry.
A flicker of excitement lit Jack's eyes. "Perfect! We need to get that evidence fast. He's probably already sensing danger—he won't give us much time." He thought of Richard—the sly fox who would slip away like an eel the moment he caught a whiff of trouble.
Emily nodded. "I know. But Richard's system security is extremely tight. It won't be easy to break in. He uses a professional security firm that checks daily. I'm afraid we might get caught."
"Don't worry, I've got someone lined up." Jack gave a knowing smile as he thought of Kevin, the brilliant hacker he'd met in an underground bar. Young, irreverent, and slightly unkempt, Kevin was a genius—a walking virus when it came to infiltrating systems. Cracking Richard's network would be child's play for him.
"You call him," Jack said. "Give him the IP address to Richard's system. We have to move before Richard destroys the evidence."
Emily's eyes burned with determination. "No problem. I'll contact him right away."
Jack stepped aside and dialed Kevin. In the dimly lit living room, only his hushed voice could be heard.
"Kevin? It's Jack."
"Jack? What's up? Rare to hear from you. Something exciting going down?" Kevin sounded groggy, half-asleep.
"I need your help. There's a system I need hacked—urgently. Can you start now?" Jack's tone was serious. No time for banter.
Kevin perked up instantly, his voice turning sharp with interest. "What level of security are we talking about? Let's see if it's worth my while. If it's too easy, I'm out."
Jack gave a brief explanation of the system—Richard's firewall, encryption, and general security setup—using the simplest terms he could manage. Tech jargon had never been his strong suit.
After a pause, Kevin let out a low whistle. "Interesting. Not top-tier, but more complex than average corporate stuff. Give me thirty minutes."
"Done. Double the payment when you finish." Jack hung up satisfied. He knew money was Kevin's favorite motivator.
He turned back to Emily, who was watching him anxiously, her hands clenched together, sweat dampening her palms.
"Don't worry," Jack reassured her. "Kevin's good. He'll pull it off." Though he wasn't entirely sure himself, he needed to project confidence now more than ever.
Emily nodded, though her brow remained furrowed. "I'm just scared of what Richard will do if he finds out. He doesn't forgive betrayal. He'll come after me."
"I'll protect you," Jack said firmly. "From now on, you follow my lead. I'll arrange a safe place for you to hide until he suspects nothing." She was their most valuable witness now—he couldn't afford to lose her.
"Okay," she whispered, nodding. With Richard in her past, she was like a broken kite—its string cut—left with only Jack to hold onto.
Time dragged on. The silence in the room was broken only by the ticking of the wall clock. Jack paced restlessly, waiting for Kevin's call, feeling each second stretch like an eternity.
Then, the phone rang. Kevin's name flashed across the screen.
Jack answered immediately. "Kevin, tell me you're in."
"Already done, Jack. I got into Richard's system and downloaded everything." Kevin's voice was full of pride, like a magician revealing his final trick.
"Damn, you're a genius!" Jack exhaled, relief washing over him like warm water.
"Not so fast," Kevin said, suddenly serious. "I found something… interesting in there."
"What is it?" Jack asked warily. He had a feeling this wouldn't be simple.
"I discovered Richard has been conducting illegal transactions with a secret organization called Olympus."
"Olympus?" Jack frowned. He'd never heard of it, but the name alone sent chills down his spine.
"I don't know much either," Kevin continued. "But what I did find suggests they were exchanging highly sensitive information—corruption files on government officials, trade secrets from major corporations. This group seems to be pulling the strings behind Wall Street itself."
Jack sucked in a sharp breath. He'd started this journey seeking revenge for his own downfall, but now he'd stumbled upon something far bigger—an entire shadow network manipulating the financial world. It was like opening Pandora's box.
"Kevin, compile all files related to Olympus and send them to me. This is more complicated than we thought."
"On it, Jack. Already packed up." Sending them now."
As soon as the call ended, Jack opened his laptop and began downloading the files Kevin had sent. His fingers trembled with anticipation.
Looking at the endless list of documents on the screen, Jack felt the weight of the world settle on his shoulders. He was now entangled in a vast conspiracy—one capable of shaking the very foundations of Wall Street. The path of vengeance had become far more treacherous than he'd imagined.
He turned to Emily, his expression resolute. "Looks like our fight is going to be harder than we expected. But I believe we can do this. We can expose everything."
Emily stared into his determined eyes, hope rekindling in her heart. She knew now—only by standing beside Jack could she defeat Richard, unravel the truth behind Olympus, and finally reclaim justice—not just for herself, but for everyone they had hurt.
"I believe in you, Jack. Whatever happens, I'll stand by your side." Her voice was unwavering. She had made her decision—to fight alongside Jack until the very end.
Jack nodded. He knew the road ahead would be dangerous. But he would not turn back. He would make Richard pay. He would expose Olympus. He would reclaim everything that had been taken from him—not just wealth or power, but his dignity, his freedom, and his justice.
And he would ensure those who had wronged him faced the consequences they deserved.