All Chapters of Petty Gifts, Big Payback: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Three years, and Gavin was still the same arrogant, self-obsessed jerk.I didn't say a word. He had no clue I was here to take his company.Right after he swaggered inside, a janitor jogged over and grabbed the bag from me. "Sorry, Ms. Valencia—I didn't mean to be late."She'd asked me to bring bottles for some summit promo—trade enough, win a limited-edition rocket for her grandson.When she saw the haul, her face lit up. "Thank you! You just made his dream come true.""Head inside," I told her. "Big day. Keep the place spotless."Then I walked in—and boom. Gavin again. This time with Rebecca clinging to his arm."What, done collecting bottles?" he sneered. "Scavenging indoors now? Or did your sugar daddy finally ghost you?"I stayed silent.He got louder, turning it into a show. "Come on, I gotta be right."A few heads turned. Judgy eyes. Predictable."Everyone here's a major player. Who let her in?""She looks okay," someone muttered, "but she probably slipped past secur

Chapter 2

I still hadn't said a word, and Rebecca was clearly getting twitchy.She grabbed a coffee off a tray, took one flirty step closer—then fake-tripped.Splash.Hot coffee hit my white silk blouse, dead center. Brown stain, front and loud."Oh no!" she gasped, hand over her mouth, eyes practically glowing. "Didn't even see you there! That top's totally wrecked. Though it was kinda yellow already... must've been cheap, huh? Want me to pay for it?"She reached into her crocodile clutch, flashing her diamond bracelet like it was part of the show.Gavin looked way too proud of her little act.He slung an arm around her. "Vera, why are you standing there blocking traffic?"Then that signature smirk."Pay her? Rebecca, come on. Don't waste your money."He pulled out a few $50s and flicked them at my face."That should cover, what, a hundred thrift store tops? Go wild. Maybe next time you'll show up in something that doesn't scream clearance bin. And hey—do us both a favor and stop nam

Chapter 3

Thirty minutes later, in the press room next to the summit's main stage—Gavin strutted in, now dressed to impress and oozing fake confidence.Behind him, a giant LED screen lit up: [NovaTech × Helix Innovations: Partner Announcement & Acquisition Talks].The room buzzed with flashing cameras and VIPs packed shoulder to shoulder."Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press!" Gavin's voice boomed, all swagger. "Today's a landmark moment—for me, for NovaTech! We're locking in a major partnership with none other than Helix Innovations! Full acquisition, full backing, and yep—we're going public!"His pitch was all flash—because this time, he'd hitched himself to real muscle.The room broke into applause.Rebecca, playing the perfect CEO's secretary, sat front and center—back straight, chin up, basking like she owned the win.I'd scrubbed off the coffee, slipped into a sharp black suit, and grabbed a seat in a low-key corner.Gavin kept rolling, now hyping up NovaTech's crown jewel

Chapter 4

Gavin and Rebecca froze like someone had hit pause. Total disbelief. Eyes darting between me and Adrian, trying to process what just happened.Then—Gavin cracked.He burst out laughing like it was some cruel prank. "Hahaha! Mr. Arundell, come on! You can't be serious!"Still laughing, he jabbed a finger my way and turned to the crowd. "Guys, relax. This is my ex. I literally saw her picking up bottles earlier. Maybe Mr. Arundell's just trying to cheer her up or something!"Rebecca snapped out of it, laughing so hard she looked unhinged."Right? Mr. Arundell, good one! If she's Helix's Chair, then I'm the richest woman alive! Okay, where's the real boss?"The crowd started murmuring, most thinking this had to be some weird, off-script joke.I didn't bother with their noise. Just took the file from Adrian and headed for the podium.Gavin and Rebecca watched like I was part of some sideshow.Right up until—ThwackI slammed the folder down."Try using those eyes and read it,

Chapter 5

His eyes rolled back. He hit the floor hard.Rebecca screamed, scrambling to catch him as the summit floor exploded into chaos.Reporters lunged forward like sharks smelling blood, cameras going wild. It was the scandal of the year—betrayal, power, downfall, all of it live.Adrian stepped in fast, barking orders at security to lock down the room and keep the press back. He even called an ambulance, just in case.I stood onstage, arms steady, eyes cold. Just watching it all burn.Moments later, Gavin groaned awake, surrounded by shouting and someone pinching his face.First thing he saw? Me—standing tall, calm, completely out of reach.Reality hit him like a truck. His smug mask cracked, panic flooding in.He slapped Rebecca's hand away and scrambled toward the stage—on all fours like a dog. Tear-streaked, shaking, he looked up at me, sobbing."Vera! Vera, I messed up! I was wrong!"Total wreck—snot, tears, the whole meltdown. A pitiful mess compared to the smug CEO from five

Chapter 6

I stood back, watching the chaos. Only when security yanked them apart did I speak.I didn't need to yell. My voice cut through the noise, crystal clear on the mic. The whole room froze."Gavin Censori."He flinched. The fight drained out of him as he looked at me—eyes wide, like maybe there was still a shot.I walked over, staring down at his wreck of a face. Time for payback."Remember? Seven years ago, you came to me with a dream and a mess of a plan. Said you wanted to build something real. Change the world. You actually had this light in your eyes back then."I believed in you. Turned down a full ride. Burned through my savings. Pulled from my mom's trust fund. Scraped together 300K so you could even register the company."We toughed it out—cramped apartment, dollar ramen. You hustled days, I pulled all-nighters fixing code. No designer? I taught myself Photoshop. No marketing? I begged tech influencers to review our stuff for free."Took three years to get any traction. W

Chapter 7

The summit mess? It exploded. NovaTech and Gavin were toast.[Grifter CEO Exposed: Stole His ex's Code, Then Got Fired][Plot Twist of the Year: Ex Was the Chair All Along]Yeah, those headlines were all over.Overnight, Gavin and Rebecca became the internet's favorite villains.A few days later, I was in the Chair's office at Helix, flipping through contracts, when Adrian walked in looking stiff."Gavin Censori's downstairs," he said. "Asking for you by name. Security can't move him. He's on his knees in the lobby, says he's not leaving till you come down."I didn't even look up. Just kept signing."Let him kneel. Call the press. Tell them NovaTech's ex-CEO, Gavin Censori, is embracing our company values and applying for a janitor spot. Very aligned with our values."Adrian smirked and walked out.Sure enough, Gavin bailed within thirty minutes. Whatever pride he had left wasn't strong enough for a public pity party.I thought that was that—until he popped up a week later i

Chapter 8

I wiped Gavin from my brain.Once Helix snapped up NovaTech's tech and users, we shot straight into orbit. Stock prices popped. I personally led the overhaul, fixed the core flaw in Cosmos Core, and dropped a new OS—AstraGrid. Sleeker, smarter, untouchable. We owned the smart tech game, globally.Every day was a mix of strategy sprints, dev crunch, and back-to-back meetings. My life? Packed and on point.Three months later, I saw Gavin again.I'd set up a meeting with a top chip supplier at The Grand Royale, a private club dripping in quiet money.As I stepped into the lobby, something caught my eye.A middle-aged woman decked in diamonds lounged on a couch, barking orders.And kneeling at her feet, head down, massaging her legs with a forced smile—Of course it was Gavin."Ms. Bieber, please don't be upset. My project really has potential..." He handed her a proposal, grinning.She didn't even glance at it. Just jabbed a red-polished finger into his forehead. "Potential? You

Chapter 9

But before Gavin's hand could even brush me, Adrian and two bodyguards had him slammed face down on the carpet."Gavin Censori. You're doing this here?" Adrian stepped in front of me, voice cold enough to freeze fire. "In front of everyone?""I—" Gavin thrashed, unhinged. "I'll kill her! She ruined me! I lost everything—she's not walking away from this!"The rich woman he'd shoved earlier stormed over and slapped him so hard his head snapped sideways."You filthy scum! You shoved me? Lost it in front of ME?" She pointed, shaking with rage. "Who the hell do you think you are? Someone beat him! Beat him to death!"Club security swarmed in, and chaos erupted.I watched, ice-cold, as Gavin got dragged down and beaten into the floor. Pulled out my phone, calm as ever."Hi, Detective Gomez? Vera Valencia. I'm reporting someone—Gavin Censori. He's at The Grand Royale right now, using a fake project to scam investors. Yeah. He's here."Detective Gomez's voice snapped into focus. "Under

Chapter 10

Gavin's case wrapped fast.Besides shady fundraising, he'd faked docs and looted NovaTech. Ten years, no debate.Rebecca? Sidekick duties got her three.The so-called power couple? Toast—locked up and paying for every dumb, greedy move.Me? I slammed that chapter shut and walked into the life that had my name on it from day one.Under me, Helix blew up.We dropped AstraGrid, flipped the game, and shot past a trillion in value—full-on tech empire mode.Mag covers lit up with my face, calling me "the tech queen boss" and "youngest breakout founder."At the awards, I stood center stage in a custom starry gown, trophy in hand, spotlight blazing.In the crowd? The ones who always had my back—my silver-haired, sharp-eyed dad, and Adrian, my silent shield.Our eyes locked. He gave me that familiar smile and raised his champagne glass.I stepped up to the mic. "People always ask me the secret to success. Well—Never shrink yourself for someone who never deserved you in the first plac

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