Chapter 2

After sending the message, I opened my laptop. When I answered the call earlier, I noticed the screen was on, even though I left it in sleep mode.

I checked the activity logs. Someone had connected a USB drive and copied my senior project, an AI model I spent three months developing.

I looked over at George, who was playing a game on his phone. "You went through my laptop and stole my senior project."

His fingers paused. Then he slapped his phone down and turned to me without a trace of concern.

"You'd better have proof before you start accusing me of stealing. Westbrook Holdings already caught you lying. For all I know, you copied that whole project from someone else. Good luck getting the department to sign off on it."

He lifted his chin.

"I only took a copy because I thought I could improve it. And now they're considering my version for this year's Outstanding Senior Project Award."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"That's not even the best part. The VP of R&D at Westbrook Holdings saw the algorithm. She said she's never seen talent like mine. You weren't going anywhere with that project, Hank. I'm gonna make a career out of it."

I frowned at the mention of Julia Schmidt.

George spent his internship running errands for the marketing department. Somehow, he managed to get the attention of the vice president of R&D.

My phone lit up with a reply from Emily. As I read through her messages, the pieces started falling into place.

A month earlier, George couldn't get an offer anywhere, including Westbrook Holdings. He nearly broke down in our dorm room, begging me to help him find something.

I felt bad for him. We were roommates, so I sent Emily a quick message asking her to find him an internship.

Emily passed the request directly to Curtis Snyder in HR.

[Find an internship for someone named George Owens.]

That was where the trouble started.

Curtis had spent enough years in corporate HR to think he knew what a request like that meant. He assumed George came from a powerful family and needed special treatment.

Eager to make a useful connection, Curtis rolled out the red carpet for him. He also spread the word around the office that George knew some very influential people.

Julia took Curtis at his word. She even gave George that watch, which cost tens of thousands of dollars.

That explained how George managed to get my offer rescinded and claim the position for himself.

I looked at him, still grinning over his supposed triumph, and nearly laughed.

"Careful, George. You might regret taking something that isn't yours."

He scoffed.

"Please, Hank. You're just jealous.

"Westbrook Holdings is holding a recruiting event here the day after tomorrow. They picked me to present my senior project onstage and introduce me as one of their most promising new hires.

"And you? You won't even get through the door."

I considered that for a moment, then picked up my phone and sent Emily another message.

[I'll be at the campus recruiting event the day after tomorrow.]