The Master Programmer-Chapter 197: Industrial Zones and Cold Undertones 1

"It's not the Cross family this time. They're... they're working on something bigger it seems. But they're not telling me, especially not since they lost the contract. This involves... your women, Jason. And someone who wants them."

Jason's frown deepened, the implications of Jack's words gnawing at him. His women, Veronica, Samantha, and the others, were being targeted. He folded his arms, his sharp features unreadable. But there was a danger about him at that moment.

"Go on," Jason urged.

Jack swallowed hard. "It's James Carter. He's bitter, Jason. Furious about Samantha rejecting him and... you, stealing the spotlight. He's planning to frame you. Fake evidence, paid-off cops—he's going all in. And it'll work, especially with the Cross Family helping him behind his back. After all, anything that helps discredit you works in their favour."

Jason's smirk was ice. James Carter. This idiot. What kind of game was he playing? What a fucking idiot. He even mentally said it twice just to remind himself that he was playing with a shitbag. Jason was not too worried about James, but he was worried because idiots like him do the most "interesting" things.

"James is playing a child's game," Jason said, his voice steady but charged with restrained power. "And you're going to help me break his sand castle. Actually, you're going to do a bit more than that. Overturn the entire beach."

Jack's eyes widened. If he was playing a child's game, then did that not mean it was not a game worth playing? "What do you need me to do?"

"Delay the Cross Family's plans. I know you said they are keeping mum, but if they need anything done in the underworld make them feel the need to use you, even if it means you have to shoulder a ton of risk to get it done."

Jack narrowed his eyes. This was going to ruin him. But he stil had to obey. "But after last time, they haven't really…" Jack was about to continue but Jason disregarded him.

"Then feed them disinformation. Make them lag in the quality of their decisions. And in the meantime, collect information on everything they do and have done before. And when the time comes, I want every shred of evidence, every sensitive detail. Don't disappoint me, Jack."

Jack nodded fervently, with the sweat on his brow almost glowing in this cold weather. Jason's gaze lingered for a moment.

"Also find a moment to annul your engagement with Celine. As soon as possible. Within the next two days. I don't care what excuse you use. Tell them you want to focus on business, or you're gay, I dont care. Just get it done."

Jack's eyes went wide. This was something his new father had been working on for a long time now. He was supposed to get it right no matter what just to justify his claim to be one of the elites in this city. "But Jaso—"

"What did I say? Obey everything. You understand, dont you?" Jason said with narrowed eyes. Jack immediately faltered under his gaze, turning his head to the floor and nodding. Jason gazed hard at the man, before he finally turned on his heel and walked away, his parting words slicing through the tension.

"We're not done here. Wait for my call. And do everything I tell you, Jack." Jack gulped in response, saying nothing and only looking at the back of the terrifying man who was walking away. He had never met such a demon, not even in the underworld.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Jason walked away with a frown on his face. That idiot James. What was he doing, playing dirty like this? Even if Jason could get arrested, what would it be for? He could get out of any foxhole, especially with the help of Troy.

No… this felt like something was underfoot, something Jason was not seeing.

If James was setting all this up, making Jason out to be some scapegoat, then it was not the endgame. The endgame was Samantha and Veronica. Samantha was the true target. And if that was the case, James was stepping on his toes.

Jason would make him kneel at his feet to wipe the smudge clean.

*Vroom!!*

Jason's car sped through the city, its engine a low growl. His mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle starting to align. James Carter had overstepped, and in this world, if you overstep you end up losing a leg to stand on. His destination loomed ahead: Carter Co..

This was a towering glass edifice in the heart of the business district, the birthplace of the Carter Family fortune.

The Carters were a family that invested in businesses and grew them to grow their stake, which they later sold off or reinvested in other things. It was impressive how far they had come and how much they had built. But it was also a shame.

They had done so much only to ruin it like this. What a sad thing.

Jason parked the car and walked out, and even the guards at the front didn't stop him from entering. He looked like he was here to take over the building. From the way he was dressed to the way he walked, it was clear that he knew who he was and he was moneyed.

They could not afford to offend someone like that. Jason stepped up to the front desk and assessed the woman sitting over there. The receptionist at the front desk was a vision of elegance, her figure accentuated by a sleek black dress. Her lips curved into a polite smile as Jason approached.

"Good evening, sir. How can I assist you?" Her voice was honeyed, her eyes lingering on Jason's chiselled features.

Jason leaned slightly forward, his tone warm yet commanding. "I'm here to see James Carter. I don't have an appointment but trust me, he'll want to see me. Just tell him Jason Cross is looking for him."

The woman hesitated, her gaze flickering with intrigue. Jason's deliberate eye contact, the slight upward lilt of his voice, and the subtle confidence in his posture created an irresistible pull that she just could not say no to. She picked up the phone, her demeanour shifting to one of compliance.

Before she could dial, a familiar voice interrupted. "Jason Cross… The man, the myth, the legend… What are you doing here?"

Jason turned, his smirk widening as he faced Tommy Carter. Those snide words could only come from a man like him who had been busy doing things behind his back the whole time. "Ah, Tommy. Fired from your last job at Reno and crawling back to Uncle James. How's that working out for you?"

Tommy's face flushed with anger, but he held his tongue. Jason's words were a calculated jab, a subtle assertion of dominance. He knew that, but he too had something that was sure to dominate Jason.

After all, the business community was pretty tight. It was not that difficult to know what was happening at Reno Ventures. And it was obvious that Jason was here because he thought he knew something. Even if he knew something, it was going to be difficult to prove.

Tommy gave Jason a sick smirk. "Spoken like a man who will soon be jobless… Weren't you a convenience store packer before? Maybe you should go reapply for that job again…"

Jason heard those words and he smirked. Weak. He didnt even look at the man after that, gazing at the receptionist, who after receiving his gaze realised that she had been paying too much attention to the back and forth and had forgotten all about the thing she was supposed to do, to take care of his request.

"James isn't here," Tommy nostrils flared after getting ignored by Jason. But he figured this was just the last throes of a dying beast. He would love to see this bastard wiping his windows one day. Why not make him die inside? "James Carter is not here, Jason. He's… confirming his home matrimony."

Jason's smirk faltered as he once again turned to the man. "Home matrimony?"

Hehe… finally got your attention, huh?

Tommy's expression twisted with satisfaction. "That's right! He's with Samantha. Probably already making his move, making a ton of babies and living a life of love and joy."

Jason's jaw tightened. He turned back to the receptionist, who now seemed flustered under his intense scrutiny. Jason was not really here for anything anymore. If James wasn't here, then there was no need for him, Jason, to be here.

But now after hearing Tommy's words, everything was making more sense.

Samantha was in her most vulnerable state right now. And it seemed that Jason was stalking his prey just as James was stalking his too. Jason could not dally.

"Tell James I was here," Jason said, his voice a low rumble. Without another word, he strode out, leaving Tommy fuming in his wake. Tommy turned to the receptionist who was watching Jason leave in a daze.

"Pompous prick, huh?" Tommy said to the receptionist, shaking his head.

All he received was an emotionless, "Yes, sir."

*Vrroom!!*

Jason's car roared onto the highway, his mind focused on one thing: Samantha.

She was vulnerable right now, and James trying to take advantage of that. Jason could not let something like that happen. While driving he put his phone on and the screen lit up. He immediately called her and the cal actually entered. SHe picked up! What a relief.

But the relief was short-lived for Jason because just as she answered, Jason was about to say something only to see James's smug face on the video call.

"Jason Cross," James sneered. "I'm surprised you're not grovelling yet."

Grovelling? So James knew he knew... That Bastard Tommy must have said something. WHat a snitch. Jason's eyes narrowed. "James. Where's Samantha?"

The camera shifted, revealing Samantha, her hands tied but her expression defiant. "Jason, don't—"

James cut her off. "She'll be fine. As long as she agrees to marry me. Otherwise..." His grin was pure malice. "You both lose. Jason, you might not have realised it yet… There's an arrest warrant out on you as of this moment. You are a wanted man. Can you imagine?! Fraud and a few other cases. How funny. Hahaha!!"

Jason's jaw clenched, his mind racing. He tapped a button on his phone, recording every incriminating word and image he was seeing. James was so happy wth himself that he had forgotten this was recordable evidence. Even if he couldn't use it in court, there were tricks he could play, like leaking it online.

"James," Jason said, his tone deceptively calm. "You've just made the worst mistake of your life."

Before James could respond, Jason ended the call. He punched in Veronica's number, his voice urgent.

"Veronica, I need Samantha's address. Now."

Veronica didn't question him, sensing the gravity of the situation. She rattled off the address, and Jason was already accelerating, his car weaving through traffic like a predator on the hunt.

"Jason? What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"Not yet. But everything will be very soon!" Jason said, weaving through the cars on the highway and turning towards the highrise penthouse apartments.

James… you better lay the fuck off my girl!