All Chapters of Execute Your Own Downfall: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

The USB drive hit the table with a sharp crack that echoed through the conference room. No one moved.My name is Lina Hartwell, and I was the company's second-in-command. Everyone knew it. My methods were sharp, and my results sharper. I had led most of the company's core projects from the ground up.In every way that mattered, I was the backbone of this place. Only Sophia Becker had the nerve to reach out and take the USB drive.She held it like a trophy, satisfaction written across her face. "Lina, I'm doing this for the good of the company. This algorithm is the result of everyone's hard work. If the other employees found out you'd been taking sole credit for it, who knows? We might have a full-on revolt on our hands."I shifted my gaze across the table to Vincent Stark, my boyfriend and the company's CEO."Vincent, tell me. Did this company build that algorithm?" I asked.I already knew what he would say. Years ago, when the company struggled to survive its early days, he had

Chapter 2

The news spread faster than I expected. The meeting had barely ended before word of my suspension swept through the company."Oh my God, the VP got suspended? She always seemed so sharp. I never would have pegged her for something like this.""Who knows? The boss signed off on it, so it must be real.""Maybe this isn't the only thing she's taken. If they ran a full audit, who knows what else they'd find?"I ignored the chatter. I had just sat down at my desk when Sophia barged into my office."Lina, send me all the handover files for your current projects before you leave today," she demanded. "And the client contact files for the partners you've been managing. Send those over too."I did not look at her. I opened my computer, compiled everything she requested, and sent it over."That's very cooperative of you, Lina. But that's not everything, is it?" she asked. "You always close deals over drinks, don't you? The clients' favorite dishes, the liquors they prefer, any allergies.

Chapter 3

I had no interest in staying at the office any longer than necessary. A one-week suspension felt like a paid vacation.What I did not expect was a call from Vincent two days in. He sounded frantic the moment I picked up. "Lina, get back to the office. Something's gone seriously wrong!"I had seen this coming. My voice stayed even. "What happened?"He spoke quickly, tripping over his words, but within a minute I understood.It was exactly as I had predicted. Sophia had no real familiarity with the algorithm. She had tried to integrate it several times and failed each time. It would not adapt under her handling.Instead of stopping there, she decided she knew better and altered the core parameters herself. The result was a complete system crash across the new product line.I tried hard not to laugh. Failing to adapt the algorithm was one thing. But rewriting base code without understanding it? What had she been thinking?Vincent's voice dropped low over the phone. "Babe, what happ

Chapter 4

I stayed abroad for a full month, and the project stalled with me.When Vincent finally saw me walk back in, the relief on his face was almost embarrassing.I ran a quick check on the algorithm Sophia had tampered with, along with the crashed system program."She changed too much. The entire system needs to be recalibrated from scratch. A full fix will take time. A month at the earliest," I concluded."But the investor's team is coming to review progress today." Vincent began pacing in his office. "Here's what we'll do. Lina, come to the meeting with us. Tell them you're still the lead on the project, that everything goes through you. That works, right?"Sophia hurried over and took my hand. "Lina, I know you can handle it. He wasn't happy with me last time, and he specifically asked for you. You know him so well. You even know what he likes to eat. Of course he has a soft spot for you."Vincent's brow furrowed. "Sophia, what exactly are you implying?""Oh, Mr. Stark, you don't

Chapter 5

The meeting room fell silent.Vincent stared at the certificate. His fingers trembled, and he could not find a single word in his defense.Sophia had not caught up yet. She assumed I was bluffing, and her face showed open contempt. "Lina, put the fake certificate away. You're not scaring anyone. A complex algorithm like this couldn't have been built by one person working alone. That's just not realistic."She held her chin high, her eyes filled with disdain. Her ignorance struck me as sad rather than threatening."For you, maybe not. For me, it wasn't that hard." I tilted my head past her and looked at Vincent. "If you don't believe me, ask your boss."That was when Sophia finally sensed the shift. The smile on her face froze as she turned slowly toward Vincent.His face had gone completely white. He drew a long breath, and when he spoke, his voice faltered. "Lina, you don't have to take it this far. What happened that day was my fault. I wasn't trying to take your work. With all

Chapter 6

I resigned on the spot and walked out of the building as my colleagues stood there, staring.Afterward, I sat down with my lawyer and reviewed every piece of evidence to ensure the case was airtight. Then I waited for the legal process to run its course.…News of the lawsuit spread quickly through the industry.At first, it was clear Vincent had not given up. He hired the best legal team money could buy and went on the offensive, convinced he could outlast me.He still believed I was just a woman from an ordinary family, with no connections, backing, or means to endure a prolonged legal battle. He expected me to fold.I was glad I had never told him who I really was.He reached out privately several times, offering a two-million-dollar settlement.I ignored every offer.Two million dollars? The revenue this company had generated from my algorithm over the years was more than ten times that amount. He might as well have offered spare change.My position had always been simple

Chapter 7

The press conference reversed public opinion overnight. People who had torn me apart online rushed to delete their posts and issue apologies, pivoting to sympathy just as quickly.[So she was the wealthy one all along, helping him build the company from the ground up. She had the talent and the backing. She never needed to use anyone.][This guy is unbelievable. His girlfriend gave him everything. Money, connections, the core technology. He repaid her by cheating, stealing her work, and trying to destroy her reputation. Disgusting.][Stand your ground. Men like this deserve to lose everything.]…At the same time, my legal team shifted into full offensive mode. Alongside the patent infringement case, they compiled screenshots of every defamatory post, had them notarized, and filed additional defamation claims.My lawyer told me the evidence alone was more than enough to bury Vincent.Vincent, for his part, lost his nerve completely. He began calling and messaging me nonstop.Vi

Chapter 8

The verdict was enforced, and Vincent's company collapsed completely.Every product built on my algorithm was pulled from the market. Clients terminated their contracts and filed for damages. The courts auctioned off his house and cars to cover the debt.In a single night, he fell from a CEO worth tens of millions to a man buried in debt, with nothing left.The people who had clinked glasses with him and called him "friend" disappeared without a word. They crossed the street to avoid him.He had nothing and no one.…I happened to be near the office tower the day the sheriff's deputies came to enforce the court order, so I watched from a distance.The office tower, once full of people, stood empty. A few former employees lingered on the sidewalk below, staring up at the darkened windows with mixed expressions. One by one, they shook their heads and walked away.I would not call it divine retribution, but I believed that this was the road he had chosen for himself.Sophia did n

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