Chapter 3

"No one put me up to it. If you want to know who I am, you've got ten minutes to crack my code and trace my real IP."

On the other end of the line, Hearst Group's Technical Security Center.

Ten elite cybersecurity engineers sat at their computers, fingers flying across keyboards.

But the algorithm suite was flawless. They were all at a loss.

Five minutes ago, Hearst Group's billion-dollar internal firewall had been forcibly breached by an unknown network IP.

The intruder had browsed the core database for a full three minutes before triggering the alarm.

The entire tech department had joined forces to track and block, ultimately intercepting only a virtual number with no registered location.

At the main console, Zane Hearst stood in a black shirt, his gaze locked on the massive curved screen.

An icy, oppressive aura radiated from him.

The underlying logic the intruder had used completely exceeded Hearst Group's current technical knowledge.

That was why he'd made this call himself.

But he hadn't expected the voice on the other end to sound so young. A woman.

"Hearst Group doesn't welcome uninvited guests. What's your objective?"

His voice was low and cold, carrying the decisiveness of someone long accustomed to power.

Sienna knew he must have authority within the company.

So she spoke frankly. "Hearst Group posted a global recruitment announcement ten days ago, looking for a technical partner who can reconstruct AI's underlying logic. I'm very interested."

Zane's eyes narrowed slightly. The servers were still throwing errors.

This recruitment announcement was tied to Hearst Group's core strategy for the next five years.

Plenty of people had applied, but all had been rejected for lack of ability.

"You want to apply?"

Sienna raised an eyebrow slightly, not denying it.

"Yes. Are you available for an in-person meeting tomorrow?"

The entire security center fell silent.

Sienna had used breaching a billion-dollar firewall as a job application calling card. This kind of audacious approach could only be pulled off by someone with absolute confidence in their abilities.

Zane kept his eyes on the screen, his thin lips curving slightly. "Ten a.m. tomorrow. Hearst Group headquarters."

"Deal."

The call ended.

Zane tossed down the microphone and instructed his special assistant, Ryder Green.

"Push back all appointments scheduled for ten a.m. tomorrow."

Ryder glanced at the virtual number on the screen and nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Hearst."

Sienna had just tossed her phone onto the table when the screen lit up again.

Andrew calling.

Sienna answered. Andrew's roar exploded through the speaker.

"Sienna, you ungrateful brat!"

"You used Nessa's account to borrow from loan sharks, and today debt collectors showed up at the house! You cost the Stone family twelve million dollars!"

Sienna turned on speakerphone and set the phone on the coffee table.

"Vanessa borrowed that money herself. It went into her account. You chose to pay it off. That's your business. Don't try to pin it on me."

"Still making excuses!" Andrew wouldn't listen. "Nessa's never even heard of that company. Why would she touch loan sharks?"

"I'm telling you, those twelve million are on your tab! Hand over the TS Medical Algorithm Suite right now to settle the debt, or don't blame me for not showing you any mercy!"

Sienna laughed at his arrogance.

"Then report it to the police right now. Let the Economic Crimes Investigation Unit check whose handwriting is really on CF Building Materials Inc.'s legal documents. And while they're at it, they can investigate what exactly Vanessa did with that eight million."

Andrew was taken aback by her firm stance.

"Are you threatening me? You think I won't call the police?"

"Think whatever you want. But if you want the TS Algorithm, forget it!"

Sienna hung up directly and blocked Andrew's number.

Then she encrypted and packaged the call recording and stored it in the cloud.

This score needed settling.

Cloudhill Villa.

Listening to the busy signal on his phone, Andrew's face turned red with rage.

"This is outrageous! That little brat dared to block me!"

Vanessa sat in the corner of the sofa, hands clenched tightly, her heart pounding.

How did Sienna know about the offshore account?

That account had been encrypted at the highest level.

"Dad, don't get so worked up."

Marcus came out carrying a cup of coffee and set it in front of Andrew. "Sienna knows we're afraid of affecting Nessa and won't make this public. That's why she dares to be so arrogant."

Vanessa immediately stood up, eyes reddening. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. If it weren't for my onboarding at the Research Institute, Dad wouldn't have to put up with this."

"Once I'm at the Research Institute, I'll work hard to bring in resources for the family and earn that money back as soon as possible."

At the mention of the Research Institute, Andrew's expression softened somewhat.

But thinking about the twelve million dollars lost, he still felt uncomfortable.

"Money's not easy to make these days. Even after you join the Research Institute, you won't be able to help the family immediately."

Vanessa bit her lip lightly and said softly, "Dad, Marcus, I heard that Hearst Group's recruitment announcement for a top technical partner still hasn't found the right person."

"Hearst Group is the Research Institute's largest investor. If we could use this opportunity to establish a relationship with Hearst Group, we definitely wouldn't have to worry about making money."

Marcus's eyes lit up. "Dad, Nessa's right. Hearst Group is the premier financial conglomerate. The number of people in Riverton who want to work with them is endless. If we can seize this opportunity, we'll be set."

Andrew was quite tempted as well. "Nessa, are you confident?"

"My advisor at school knows a senior executive in Hearst Group's tech department."

Vanessa displayed a perfectly calibrated gentle smile. "We can try our luck. As long as we can meet Mr. Hearst, with my Research Institute offer in hand, Mr. Hearst will definitely think more highly of us."

Andrew's mood lifted completely, and he laughed heartily. "Excellent! You truly are my daughter. Tomorrow our whole family will personally visit Hearst Group!"

The next day, Hearst Group headquarters.

Sienna wore a simple hoodie and carried a black backpack as she walked into the first-floor lobby.

Her outfit clashed sharply with the polished, professional white-collar workers.

She immediately caught the receptionist's attention.

"Hello, who are you here to see?"

"Hi, I have an appointment with..."

At this point, Sienna realized that yesterday she'd been so focused on scheduling the meeting, she'd forgotten to ask his name.

So she pulled up that number and showed it to the receptionist.

"I have a ten o'clock appointment with the owner of this number. Could you check, please?"

The receptionist glanced at it, and her expression changed dramatically.

That was Zane's personal cell number.

"One moment, please. Let me confirm."

Sienna nodded, her gaze wandering around the space.

Suddenly, the lobby's automatic glass doors slid smoothly open.

Andrew walked in with Marcus and Vanessa.

All three wore full designer formal wear, clearly here for a business meeting.

Marcus spotted Sienna immediately, his brow furrowing. "Sienna, what are you doing here?"

His tone carried its usual condescension.

"None of your business." Sienna looked away.

Vanessa took in her shabby outfit and smoothed her own six-figure custom suit with subtle satisfaction.

"Sienna, if you were coming to Hearst Group, why didn't you tell Dad and Marcus? Hearst Group is a top-tier tech giant with very strict security. Dressed like that, if you get thrown out, you'll embarrass Dad."