Chapter 306: Duping Justin Hale (Part 2)

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Duping Justin Hale (Part 2)

This translation software had an incredibly wide range of applications. Essentially, it could be used in any situation where a foreign language was involved. Keystone Technologies had seen the vast market potential for such software, which was why they had invested in its research and development, even going so far as to oppose Hale Corporation. And now, Hale Corporation had successfully developed it!

Kyle Warren could already see the immense profits. The success of this software alone could earn Hale Corporation what an average company makes in an entire year—and even more if managed well! He had made a critical contribution to its successful launch and could already see his bright future ahead. The more successful the software, the greater his achievement. At this thought, the smile on Kyle Warren’s face grew even wider. It was the smile of a victor.

The crowd offered a polite round of applause. Now, it was the reporters’ turn to take center stage.

"Manager Warren, you left Keystone Technologies, brought its research with you to Hale Corporation, and have now achieved tremendous success. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your former boss?" The moment a reporter spoke, they asked a pointed question—one everyone wanted answered. With both key players in the room, the stage was set. After all, gossip is a universal pastime.

Kyle Warren wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. He had anticipated such a question long before the press conference began. In fact, he had foreseen this day from the moment he chose Hale Corporation.

"Chester Sykes is an excellent researcher, but he’s not a competent manager. My decision to leave Keystone Technologies stemmed from issues caused by our conflicting business philosophies. I couldn’t change his mind, and I didn’t want to force him out of his own company. After all, he’d have nothing left without it! So, I was the one who chose to leave and start over."

With just a few sentences, Kyle Warren had painted himself as someone who would give up everything for his brother-in-arms. He was the one who had betrayed Chester Sykes. He was the one who had stabbed his brother in the back. For the sake of his own career and riches, he was the one who had pushed the very man with whom he’d built a company from the ground up to the edge of a cliff. And yet, listening to him now, you’d think he was some noble, selfless saint.

To be that thick-skinned, that shameless, that utterly depraved... it was a level of scumbaggery that was truly in a league of its own.

All eyes unconsciously turned to Chester Sykes, everyone eager to see his reaction. He was, after all, the victim here. He’d lost his partner and his money—that was one thing—but now his reputation was being dragged through the mud. With that one speech, Kyle Warren had squarely blamed his own departure on Chester’s supposed managerial incompetence. Chester Sykes must have been absolutely sick with rage.

Everyone was waiting for Chester Sykes’s response. The room was filled with industry peers—either competitors or partners. Many of them had lost out to Chester Sykes before. Seeing him brought low like this, they might not have shown it on their faces, but inwardly they were gloating, just waiting for the chance to watch him be humiliated.

’Chester Sykes, oh, Chester Sykes, so your day has finally come. The taste of failure isn’t so sweet, is it?’

Chester Sykes may not have been a great manager, but he was no fool. He could read their thoughts on their faces. It was a classic case of a tiger brought low, now being harassed by dogs. Few people offer you a helping hand when you’re in trouble; far more will kick you when you’re down. That was just the way of the world.

But Chester Sykes was calm and unhurried, a faint smile never leaving his face. He didn’t look like a defeated man at all. Kyle Warren glanced at him, assuming he was just putting on a brave front. "Chester," he said patronizingly, "even though Hale Corporation was a step ahead in developing this software, I’m sure Keystone Technologies still has a chance! We can settle the score next time!"

Chester Sykes’s smile only widened. "Kyle, we met on the very first day of college. We were roommates for four years. After all that time, knowing me as you do, do you really think this smile is fake? Do you think I’m just trying to save face as a CEO?"