The bet

28. Heartburn

Joel

It's done.

I did it. 

I'm sitting in front of the computer, data and figures facing me. 
Christian Meyer's project is all in my computer, ruined.

It took me a long time to hack it cause the system was very protected. 
But now it's all gone. 
I messed it all up and they won't be able to save even just the half of it.
I made sure for the project to be unfixable. 

Tomorrow 'Meyer Team' will be faced with some serious financial problems and a ruined project.

They'll bankrupt if they don't come up with a solution within a week. 

I get out of the project's system and close my laptop.

The clock on my bed's nightstand says 2am.  
Damn it, five hours has passed since I opened my computer?
I need to sleep, or I'll be a walking zombie in the morning. 

Something brushes my feet, and I smile when I look down. 

''Hi Popsicle.''  I whisper and scoop her at my arms, ''Why aren't you sleeping?" 

My cat brushes her head at my chest, purring. 

Popsicle is three years old, I got her on my fourteenth birthday when she was just born.
I found her in front of my house's gate, in a bad condition and her mother had died. 
She looked really cute even that she was wet, and her eyes were unopened. 
I wanted to save that cat, and I begged my father to allow me to keep her.
He said yes just because it was my birthday.

I named her popsicle because my mother loved popsicles. I don't know if she still does.

We both share the same birthday.
She's like my best friend.

I lay down on my bed and Popsicle snuggles close to me.
She's really fluffy now, her gray fur shines.

I lay on my back and look at the ceiling. 
I can't stop the thoughts from forming on my mind.
What will happen if they really bankrupt?
Olivia's life will be destroyed?
She won't come to 'Royal Academy' anymore?

''She'll be gone, Popsicle.'' I whisper to my cat, ''She'll disappear from my life, and I won't see her again.''

She meows and I pet her head.

Why does it bother me? 

Why the thought of not seeing her again makes me feel this vulnerable? 

''After all, is what I wanted since the beginning.'' I whisper. ''It's what my father sent me there for.''
I sigh and kiss my cat's head. 

''Why do you keep looking at your phone?" Avril asks, ''The teacher gave you a warning eye through all the lesson.''
"As if I give a fuck.'' I say.
Literature is not that important as the thing that I'm worried about.

The news about Meyers financial problems should have dropped by now.
Did they save the project?

That's impossible, I ruined all of it. 

My phone rings and I quickly look at it.

Father: Good Job. 

He sends me a link about the Meyers, and I quickly click at it.

The successful company of Christian Meyer in danger to bankrupt? 
Yesterday late at night 'Meyer Team' employees discovered that something was wrong with their project (something that they kept hidden from us) and then they found out that the project was completely wrecked and impossible to be fixed.