Too late, ex wife. From Janitor to Tycoon

Chapter Eight

“Why don’t we talk about what you are offering first?” Sam asked, his voice steady, but threaded with curiosity and a spark of mischief. He leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the sleek office, the polished desk, and the sunlight reflecting off the glass skyline. A tight knot of anticipation settled in his chest.

“Ohhhh,” Susan said, leaning forward, her expression calm yet authoritative. Her eyes met his steadily, commanding attention without force. “If you can fix this glitch,” she continued, deliberate and measured, “we’ll give you five percent of the company.”

Sam felt the floor drop beneath him. Five percent of Yonda Holdings? The thought made his head spin, a dizzy mix of disbelief, exhilaration, and fear. The offer was intoxicating and terrifying all at once. He had started the day cleaning floors, and now he was being offered a stake in one of the most powerful companies in the city.

He leaned back, trying to process it all. His mind raced with emotions: disbelief, excitement, anxiety, and a touch of guilt for even considering it. Could he really go from janitor to part-owner of a billion-dollar corporation? It sounded impossible. Yet here he was, staring at his old friend on the screen and a woman whose calm authority radiated power and certainty.

Aiden’s eyes on the screen were serious, heavy with expectation, a tension lingering in the air like a low hum. “So… what do you say, Sam?” he asked quietly. “Are you ready to work with us?”

Sam exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He looked at Susan, searching for any sign of hesitation, any flicker of doubt—but there was none. Her unwavering calm was almost unnerving, yet reassuring.

He glanced back at Aiden, remembering the long nights of coding, laughter echoing in empty labs, the thrill of solving impossible problems. All of that experience, all of those memories, were being called upon now in a world he had never imagined entering.

For a long moment, Sam said nothing. He simply sat, letting the weight of the offer settle over him like a heavy cloak. Five percent of a billion-dollar empire. A friend who had risen far above him, now calling on him. A company in crisis—and only he could fix it. His stomach tightened, heart racing with both excitement and the heavy responsibility of the task.

Finally, he lifted his head, a sly edge creeping into his voice. “Why don’t we raise the stakes higher…” he began slowly. “I want ten percent of Yonda Holdings.”

Aiden blinked, disbelief almost spilling from his eyes. “You… you’re serious?” he asked, leaning closer to the screen.

Sam’s gaze didn’t waver. Years of being underestimated—cleaning floors, overlooked, invisible—had built a quiet, smoldering confidence. His work had been used without credit, and now he was finally claiming his worth. “Take it seriously,” he said. “Ten percent, or I walk out—and trust me, you’ll lose more money than that if I do.”

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, smirking nervously as he exhaled. “Offering you five percent is already more than fair… Ten percent? Really?”

“I’m serious,” Sam said firmly. “Ten percent, or I walk.” His words carried calm authority, but underneath burned fierce determination. He was no longer just the janitor in the background. He was someone to be reckoned with.

Susan’s lips curved in a faint, approving smile. Sam could feel the energy in the room shift, subtle electricity threading between challenge, power, and anticipation. In minutes, he had gone from invisible laborer to negotiator. His heart thumped, alive with exhilaration.

Aiden let out a soft laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Ooh… Sam, you were washing floors yesterday, and now you’re making demands.”

Sam shrugged lightly, leaning forward just enough to command the space. “Alright then,” he said with mock nonchalance, “I’ll leave—if you can’t handle it.”

The tension in the office hung thick. Susan’s eyes glinted with amusement, but she said nothing, letting Sam feel the full weight of the moment.

After a tense pause, Aiden finally exhaled, a reluctant grin spreading across his face. “Alright,” he said. “Eight percent. That’s the maximum we can go.”

Sam paused, letting the words sink in. Eight percent. Far more than he could have ever imagined. He let a small, victorious smile slip across his lips, relief and pride mingling with satisfaction.

“Deal,” he said finally, leaning back, his mind already racing with plans. “Now… show me the programs, and let’s get to work.”

Aiden nodded, still grinning, while Susan tapped a few keys and slid a laptop closer to Sam. The sleek device gleamed in the sunlight, promising access to everything he needed.

Sam leaned over the laptop, fingers poised, pulse quickening as he prepared to dive in. Every instinct in him screamed both excitement and caution. The thrill of opportunity was palpable, almost dizzying.

Then, just as he opened the first file, his eyes froze. Lines of code scrolled across the screen faster than he could follow, red warnings flashing in rapid succession. He blinked, heart sinking.

“Wait… what’s this?” he muttered under his breath, his stomach twisting. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t just a glitch.

Susan leaned slightly closer, her brow furrowed, tension threading through her calm exterior. Aiden’s expression on the screen shifted from admiration to concern.

“Sam…” Aiden said cautiously. “I haven't told you everything, there is more you need to know.”

Sam turned to Aiden, his jaw tight and his eyes sharp. “What more?” he asked, his voice steady but edged with a mixture of disbelief and urgency