Chapter 209


    Mike burst through the doors and strode into Avery''s office.


    "Avery! Chad was the one who had initiated it!" Mike said. His pale blue eyes filled with apprehension.


    "We were just drinking and chatting at first when his leg slid against mine... If he didn''t mean anything


    by it, then why did he bump my leg with his? Wasn''t that a signal for sex?"


    Avery''s face turned scarlet.


    "Chad was trying to find out if you were gay or straight, " Ben said awkwardly.


    Mike was determined to argue his case.


    "I didn''t know what his true intentions were! Besides, he had the time of his life that night!" 1


    The entire room dipped into pin-drop silence.


    Elliot picked up his ss of water and took a sip.


    Ben followed suit.


    Avery changed the subject, "Did you ever hack into Ang Special Needs Academy? Also, were you


    behind the system breach at Sterling Group before this?"


    Mike raised both his hands and swore, "It wasn''t me!


    I''d admit it if it were me. It''s true that my hacking


    skills are impressive, but it really wasn''t me."


    He then shot a meaningful look at Avery.


    His eyes said, "It was your son."


    Avery was at a loss for words. Finally, sheposed herself and said, "So... I haven''t had lunch. What


    about you guys? Let''s go get lunch together!"


    In order to protect her son, she had no choice but to muster her courage and treat Elliot and Ben to


    lunch.


    "There''s a really good Mexican restaurant nearby.”


    Ben nced at Elliot and decided to help him win this round.


    "Miss Tate, that''s-"


    "Didn''t you say you love Mexican food? Give it a try!" Elliot interjected before Ben could finish his


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    sentence, and epted Avery''s offer.


    Ben was bewildered.


    Since when did he like Mexican food?


    "Ha! Serves him right getting tortured by Avery!" Ben thought.


    "Could you ask Chad out for me? I''d like to talk to him, " Mike said.


    He was not interested in joining them for lunch. All he wanted to do was to set things straight with


    Chad.


    "Just head over to Sterling Group if you want to see him. I doubt you''d act recklessly once you''re on


    our turf," Ben said.


    "I never picked on him!" Mike said with an innocent expression on his face. "That night, he was a little


    reluctant and twitchy at first, but then he-"


    Avery did not want to listen to the details, so she interrupted him and said, "Go apologize to him right


    now! And don''t harass him again after this!"


    Mike instantly turned meek and said, "Okay."


    Once they were at the restaurant, Avery ordered a few of the specials, then passed the menu to Ben,


    who then passed it to Elliot.


    "Didn''t you say you loved Mexican food?" Avery asked.


    "Elliot likes it, too," Ben said with a grin.


    "I see... Did you suffer any damage from the hacking attack?" Avery asked.


    Ben and Elliot had both seen Mikemunicating something to Avery with his eyes.


    Whoever the hacker was, even if it was not Mike, it was definitely someone close to Avery.


    "Of course. We failed to close a hundred-million-dor contract that day, and anotherpany


    swooped in and got the contract. What''s worse was all the important information on Elliot''sputer


    was wiped clean! We''re still looking into the whereabouts of that hacker! Once we find out who he is,


    we''ll make sure he


    pays for his crimes financially and legally!"


    Ben''s words made Avery turn pale.


    Noticing her reaction, Elliot said, "He''s just scaring you. We can excuse the financial matters, and I still


    have all the data that was on myputer. However, the written challenge the hacker left behind


    annoyed me. I''ll definitely find him and throw him in prison!"