Heir to an Indispensable Family

Chapter 2

At that very moment, hearing such words. Every single person in that room turned around directing their attention to the location of the voice, craning their necks to see who dared to interrupt Sarah Hendrix's big moment. Eyes searched through the crowd until they landed on Hector, still standing there with his fists clenched tight.

He knew this was an opportunity to speak, speak for himself and ask important questions, because he doesn't understand what was happening anyone.

Hector's voice shook but he kept going. He had to get this out now or he'd never get another chance.

“Sarah, was any of it real? Our love? Everything we had together?” His voice got louder, more desperate. “Have you been using me this whole time?”

Upon hearing what Hector was saying People started whispering to each other.

They couldn't believe he would open his mouth and uttered something this Disgusting.

“ What the hell is this fool talking about, Sarah and him, at having an affair?”

Immediately both is them started laughing.

“It has to be a joke, just look at him, he looks so sick and lost.”

Hearing the whispers Hector didn't care anymore, he knew he has to speak up for himself today. And the words poured out of him like water through a broken dam.

“I helped you with all your projects! Every single one! I practically built your whole reputation for you! That app you're showing off right now - I'm the one who coded it! I'm the one who stayed up all night fixing your mistakes! and adding my whole ideas to it, and make it better, made it worth talking about. And now you're standing up there giving James all the credit for my work!”

Hearing Hector more accusing words the whole room went dead quiet. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared back and forth between Hector and Sarah, trying to make sense of what they just heard.

But then the whispers started again, and they weren't nice ones.

“Is he serious right now?”

“Sarah Hendrix dating him? Yeah right.”

“Look at this guy, he's so off stranded and he thinks we're going to believe such nonsense. He's completely lost his mind.”

“There's no way the most beautiful girl in school would ever be with someone like that.”

At that moment the crowd started laughing. Not just small chuckles, but full-on mocking laughter that echoed through the whole room. They looked at Hector like he was the biggest joke they'd ever seen.

Sarah's voice cut through the laughter like a knife. She didn't even look embarrassed or caught off guard. Instead, she had this calm, cold look on her face that Hector had never seen before.

“I will say this and say it once, because I will go straight to the point. Hector was part of my development team, yes. But let's be clear about something.”

She paused and looked right at him with those same eyes that used to make his heart race.

“Hector never helped me with any of the main parts of this app. He did some basic coding work, sure, but James is the real mastermind behind everything you see here today, every ideas and support.”

Without even thinking twice the crowd started nodding along with her words. Of course they believed Sarah Hendrix over some nobody.

Sarah's lips curved into a smile, but it wasn't the sweet one Hector remembered. This one was sharp and mean.

“I mean, really? How could some local computer science student who's still stuck in university come up with something this brilliant? and he didn't use that brilliant idea of his to better his life. This was my vision from day one, and James brought it to life with his expertise.”

She reached over and grabbed James's hand, holding it up like a prize.

“James comes from one of the biggest tech families in the state. His family's company is worth millions of dollars. I think everyone here can understand my position now, can't you?”

At that moment Hector felt like someone just threw ice water all over his body. He stood there, staring at Sarah, trying to find even a tiny piece of the girl he thought he loved. But all he saw was a stranger wearing her face. A stranger who could lie so easily, so perfectly, that even he almost started to believe her.

How could she twist everything like that? How could she make his work sound like nothing? Every late night, every line of code, every brilliant idea she stole from him - she made it all disappear with just a few words, and it was truly convincing.

Then James stepped forward with that smug look plastered across his face. His voice boomed across the room like he owned the place.

“This little nobody just tried to ruin my reputation and my girlfriend's reputation in front of some of the most important people in the tech industry.” James crossed his arms and stared down at Hector like he was looking at a bug.

“I'm not going to let this slide. Not until this loser gets on his knees and apologizes to me properly.”

James paused and that evil grin got even wider.

“Actually, no. I want him to come up here on this stage and kiss both of my feet. That's the only way I'll consider letting this go. Because if he doesn't, I'm taking him straight to court. I'm going to sue him for everything he's got." James's voice got louder and meaner. "And I'm pretty sure his little countryside farming parents won't be able to pay for the legal bills when I'm done with him.”

Immediately Sarah jumped in right away, nodding her head like James just said something brilliant.

“Hector, you really should apologize. James is being more than fair here, you truly crossed the line, and I'm actually surprised he's offering you a Leverage” Her voice sounded sweet again, but Hector could hear the poison underneath it now.

“If you handle this the right way, I might even give you a job when Fashion Icon takes off. But if you keep acting like this, don't come crying to me later when you need work.”