Page 2 of Blackmailing the Mogul

“What's the deal, Henry?” I ask after the waiter leaves to prepare our order. “Why did you invite me here?”

“I just wanted to have dinner with my sister,” he replies, his lips turned up in a mocking sneer.

“We both know that's not true.”

“You're right,” he says with a humorless laugh, leaning forward in his seat. “I want you to work for me, Jenna.”

I blink at him in surprise. "Why? I'm sure countless website programmers are dying to work with your company. I…"

“I'm not talking about that,” he interrupts with a dismissive wave. “I need your hacking skills.”

I freeze, and for a moment everything inside of me seems to stop working. Then my heart starts to pound, hard and fast. No one is supposed to know about my hacking skills. I've been hacking since I was fifteen. At first, it was just for fun, a challenge to see what I could accomplish. But over time, it evolved into something more serious—a dangerous skill set that I use to play an even more dangerous game. This is a part of me that I carefully kept hidden from everyone. The fact that Henry knows about it leaves me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

“How did you find out?” I demand, careful not to reveal the emotion in my voice.

He leans back in his chair with a smug smile. “I have my ways, Jenna. Let's just say I know more about you than you think.”

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling a surge of anger. "What do you want from me?"

His expression becomes serious, his mouth turning downwards at the sides. “I want you to infiltrate MedPlus,” he deadpans, his eyes resting on mine.

“Isn't that your company?”

MedPlus is a medical equipment company Henry co-founded a few years ago.

“It was,” he responds, his tone laced with bitterness. “That bastard, Ryan, ousted me under false allegations.”

“Ryan Anders?”

"The very one," Henry responds, his dark eyes glinting with rage. “He secretly bought up my shares and framed me for corruption, alleging that I had attempted to embezzle investor funds, all so he could have the company to himself. I want to dig up dirt on him so I can take him down and reclaim my rightful spot in the company.”

“And if I say no?” I ask, cocking my head slightly to glare at him.

He smirks. “You can't.”

I push my chair backward and stand up, returning his smirk as I grab my purse. "Watch me walk away."

When I try to leave, Henry's hand darts out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back down to my seat with a force I didn't expect. His grip is tight, his dark eyes boring into mine with a deadly seriousness.

“Not so fast, Jenna,” he hisses. “Do you think you can easily walk away from this? I can't let you do that, my dear little sister.”

His words send a chill down my spine, but I glare harder at him, despite the fear trickling down my spine. He doesn't seem like he's bluffing. “Let go of me, Henry,” I say, my tone quiet. “Or else I’ll start screaming.”

“No one will pay you mind, I promise” he replies, his voice cold. “Now, shut the fuck up and listen to me. I know the game you've been playing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ghost002,” he says, smiling smugly. “Ring a bell?”

My heart skips a beat. I stare at him in disbelief, wondering just how much he knows.

“That's your secret hacker identity, isn't it?” He asks, snickering slightly. “It was you that exposed Gemini Inc. for fraud and illegal mining. Believe me, the people you've exposed would love to see you pay for it. I just have to let your real identity slip.”

His threat hangs in the air, and I feel a wave of panic wash over me. I know it is likely an idle threat, but even the thought of him exposing my identity, and destroying my career, is enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.

Henry's grip on my wrist loosens slightly, but his gaze remains locked on mine. “You can help me and get out of this unscathed. Or you can refuse, and I'll make sure your secret is spilled to the people you’ve wronged.”

I swallow hard, trying to think through my options. I can't just let him blackmail me into helping him, but the consequences of being exposed are too great to ignore. My mind races as I desperately search for a way to turn the situation to my advantage.

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