Chapter 496

Corey pieced together the basic details. He said coldly, "Caden will likely target me soon. Stay vigilant and update me on any developments." Despite not anticipating immediate repercussions, Corey's mood darkened.

Upon reaching the office, he practically dragged Yolanda inside. Yolanda cursed, "Only a weak man strikes a woman. If my father discovers you hit me, he'll obliterate the Hampton Group!" Corey tensed. "If Caden discovers this, we're both doomed. He'll retaliate against your family. Do you think Dorian can handle this?" Yolanda realized handling one problem might be manageable, but two would be overwhelming. Still defiant, she retorted, "If Caden stirs up trouble, you'll need to back me up. Remember, you profited handsomely using his chip this year, and the city honored you with an Innovation in Technology Award last week. You're globally celebrated. You can't enjoy the limelight without facing some risks, right?"

Corey seethed with rage. As he escorted Yolanda toward the office, he noticed nothing amiss. Only upon opening the office door did he spot Alicia sitting there. An alarm sounded in his mind. He realized the security system had been suspiciously silent during their ascent. No one had noticed a breach. Alicia sat on the sofa, arms crossed, her frosty stare directed at the door, sending a chill through him. He felt cornered. He set Yolanda down. Yolanda straightened her attire, her eyes burning with animosity toward Alicia. "How dare you enter here? I could easily have you tossed from the thirty-second floor like a sack of potatoes."

Alicia’s eyes flicked briefly to the slap mark on Yolanda’s cheek before returning her cold gaze to Corey, who was still visibly irate. She hesitated, then her understanding dawned, and her face turned cold. "If I were to fall from here, would I be the only one ruined?"

Yolanda scoffed, "I'd simply stage it as a suicide. And I'll ensure you transfer ownership of the gallery to Corey as compensation for the emotional turmoil caused."

Alicia responded, "That's a good idea. Perhaps you should save it for yourself someday."

Yolanda opened her mouth to reply when Corey interrupted. "Ms. Bennett, how did you get up here?"

Alicia smirked. "That's an interesting question. It's a wake-up call for you, Mr. Hampton. You run a tech company, yet your security is laughable. I breached it in under ten minutes. Even a guard dog would be more effective."

Corey's expression darkened. Alicia's words starkly contrasted her sweet appearance. The claim of breaching his security in ten minutes was absurd. Who did she think she was? She was just a delicate woman selling paintings.

Corey poured her a glass of water. His actions were gentlemanly, but his words dripped with sarcasm. "I know Caden has connections that run deeper than the ocean. It wouldn't take much for him to find top hackers to attack my company." His words clearly implied disbelief in Alicia's capabilities.

Unfazed, Alicia retorted, "Do you have any idea what kind of international competition Caden and I participated in the year I graduated from college?"

Corey, raising an eyebrow, played along. "What was it?"