The Master Programmer-Chapter 116: Mysterious Contracts 1

Troy, the criminal mastermind, lounged in his chair with the ease of a man who believed himself untouchable. His sharp eyes bore into Jason, his expression a mix of curiosity and challenge.

"So, Jason," Troy began, a smirk tugging at his lips. "What’s your next move?"

Jason leaned back, his confidence as tangible as ever. "That depends on the contract you’re about to show me," he said smoothly, his voice carrying a subtle authority that demanded attention. His tone, deliberate and calm, invoked a sense of trust and power.

Jason was pacing Troy, by looking just as comfortable as he was even though it was not his space, lounging in his chair, and mirroring Troy’s demeanour. With pacing came leading, by making sure that he was dictating the direction of the conversation.

Troy chuckled, signalling to a statuesque brunette in a tight black dress who stood by the wall. She stepped forward, her heels clicking against the polished floor, and handed Jason a folder. Jason admired the woman a bit before turning his eyes to the folder.

He opened it, scanning the contents with sharp, calculating eyes. It was a contract alright… But… there was something about it… The room fell silent, save for the faint rustle of paper.

Jason’s brow furrowed slightly as he flipped through the pages. Then, he looked up, locking eyes with Troy. "There are problems here," he said, his tone matter-of-fact but firm. "Here, here, and here." He pointed to specific clauses, his finger tapping the paper with precision. "These are designed to leave you with all the leverage and me with all the risk."

Troy’s smirk widened, though his eyes revealed a glint of respect. "You’ve got sharp eyes," he said. He gestured to the brunette, who took the folder and disappeared into another room to make the necessary adjustments.

Jason felt annoyed at that moment. This bastard was going to leave him with all the risk, and then he might even default in the future, or if everything went to shit, Jason would be the one who went down for everything Troy might have done in the Auction house or their deals with the Pills. What a bastard.

"It’s not about sharp eyes," Jason replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It’s about sharp instincts," Jason said this simply, even though it was a powerful reframing tactic. He wanted Troy to think him more competent, more dangerous than Troy was already sure of.

Reframing his skill not as a technical one, but one he had from birth was exactly going to keep Triy on edge. People with innate skills were terrifying to go against.

Troy offered a low laugh, pouring himself another glass of whiskey. "Fair enough. Are you sure you don’t want to drink?"

Jason shook his head. "No, thanks. I’ll save my appetite for later." His refusal was polite but firm, reinforcing his disciplined image. He was not here for anything but business. This man had better understand that.

Soon enough, it seemed Troy had run out of ideas on how to gauge and challenge Jason as he began talking about the actual pill and the operation of how he thought they could sell it. Jason and him soon began sharing ideas, talking and understanding each other the more time went by.

They fell into casual conversation, discussing business strategies and the challenges of managing empires. When the topic shifted to women, Troy’s grin turned wolfish.

"So, Jason," he drawled, "how do you juggle all the women in your life?"

Jason chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement at the fact that he had gotten investigated. "I don’t juggle. I let them find their rhythm. The more, the merrier, as long as everyone’s happy."

Jason was using an embedded command, telling Troy that he was very capable and that he could handle tons of relationships with people in an effortless fashion.

Troy’s laughter filled the room. "You’ve got a way with words, my friend."

I know, Jason thought, leaning back. The other reason he had not accepted a drink was because he didn’t know what was inside those drinks. If he got drugged what would he do? If he woke up chained and in some dark and dingy dungeon, he would only have himself to blame.

As long as he was still alert and awake, nothing else would matter.

The brunette returned, her hips swaying side to side as she came, handing the revised contract to Jason. He reviewed it carefully before nodding. "This works." He signed with a flourish and handed it back. Troy clapped his hands together, clearly pleased. But Jason knew... this man was regretting the fact that he couldn’t get a sweeter deal.

"Let’s celebrate," Troy announced, signalling to the room. Several women entered, their movements fluid and sensual, their outfits designed to captivate. The air thickened with an electric tension as they began a belly dance performance.

Their hips swayed to the rhythm of exotic music, their expressions teasing and inviting. There was one who looked at Jason with eyes that seemed to say, I’d let you take me right here if only you said the word. Jason paid special attention to her, and soon she took centre stage.

The hypnotic beat of drums grew louder, vibrating through his chest as the belly dancer took the stage. Her eyes, as dark as the night sky, locked onto his, and she began to sway her hips in a mesmerizing rhythm, like a snake charmer, trying to charm the snake on his body.

Her jingling belt and skirt fluttered around her, revealing the tight, muscular contours of her stomach and thighs. Each shimmy and shake sent waves of sensual energy through the room, and Jason felt himself getting drawn into her performance.

Her hands glided over her body, teasing Jason as she smiled at him with a smile of desire. She moved closer, her voluptuous figure moving in a way that made him feel like he was the only man in existence.

The dancer’s name was Lila, and she had the kind of beauty that could make a saint sin. Her dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, framing her glowing, golden skin. She twirled around him, her skirt brushing against his legs, leaving a trail of heat and the faint scent of jasmine.

Jasmine and something else… something musky…

Jason’s pulse quickened as Lila began to plant her hips onto his, grinding against him in a way that made him question his resolve. She leaned in, her warm breath tickling his ear, whispering sweet nothings that seemed to dance in the air like the music that surrounded them. Her hands roamed over his chest and shoulders, leaving a trail of fire wherever they touched.

But Jason was not someone who would just allow himself to fall to such simple provocations. He noticed the glint in her eye. There was more to this dance than met the eye. With Troy also enjoying his own dance, slapping and grabbing at the woman with a grin on his face, Jason felt something off.

He was unconvinced, especially after what happened in the factory warehouse. With this dangerous man, nothing was ever as it seemed.

The dance grew more intense, Lila’s moves more deliberate. Her eyes searched his, looking for a sign of weakness, a spark of lust to fan into a flame. But Jason remained unmoved, his gaze as cold and calculated as ever.

With a final, dramatic hip drop, she leaned in, her ample breasts pressing against his chest, her lips a breath away from his. But Jason didn’t budge. Instead, he looked to his right at Troy who was holding a woman, making her grind on his crotch with a wolfish grin on his face.

"Thank you for the dance," he murmured, his voice low and steady. "But I’m not here to play your games."

Jason shook his head with a polite smile. "Thanks, but I’ll pass. I’m not here to play games. Or fuck around with women I don’t know..." He said this to both Troy and the woman, and she soon understood, her eyes flickering with some disappointment as she walked backwards along with the one who was almost unclothed at that point, leaving Troy sad with a tent in his pants, his arms wide as if he had just lost the love of his life.

Troy sighed but his grin didn’t falter. "Always the disciplined one, eh? Fine. I know I’ve been stalling but I had to get to know you... Let’s talk business now. For real." Troy waved the women away and they all scurried off as he finally turned to Jason.

It seemed celebrations were over.

Jason reached into his pocket and retrieved a sleek metal capsule, placing it on the table. "The Neural Flux pills you wanted," he said, his tone casual but carrying weight. "Twenty pills, as promised. These will be your gateway to the elite. But remember, they’re not for you. They are only for making connections…"

Troy’s eyes narrowed. "And why’s that?"

Jason leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly, drawing Troy in. "Because you’re too smart to waste your potential. These pills are for those who need an edge, not those who already have it."

As Troy smirked, Jason also smirked. He had painted him a picture of his future, while simultaneously complimenting him without actually complimenting him.

Troy’s smirk returned. "How much?"

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"Five million," Jason said smoothly. "That’s the business partner discount. The public price will be twenty million per pill. They might not understand, but as soon as they take the pill, they will. That is why we need to make sure they take it. And when they do don’t be surprised when people start calling your name."

Troy’s laughter echoed through the room. "You’re a bold one, Jason. Fine." He called his assistant, who began the transaction. As the funds transferred, Troy extended a hand. "To a profitable partnership."

Damn… this guy had sent the money without fail. And it was quite a lot too. What a guy! Jason clasped his hand firmly. "To power."