Chapter 222 - A Prodigy

"What do you mean?" Jake asked interestedly, as he turned to look at her with curious eyes. The serious look she was giving him was making him anxious.

Jade turned her body to look at him so they could see eye to eye.

"Well I don't know much of IT stuffs like you guys do here, so I can't be of much help, but I want to think of this on a tactical level"

"Okayyy"

"From what you've said, I believe who ever was behind this would be able to fix this before you can, because they have the malware creator. And tracing back the source would be next to impossible given the time frame you have" She paused while Jake nodded affirmatively.

"So if they fix the software they gain your position right?" She asked again just to be sure.

"Yes"

"So what if they can't?" She asked making Jake to look at her questioningly.

"I don't understand" He didn't understand what she was trying to say. What does she mean by what if they can't?

"I mean what if none of you can fix it, at least make whoever is behind it think so or rather more, have them fall into their trap" She said cryptically, piquing Jake's interest even more.

"Babe I don't understand what you're saying. You're being to cryptic with your words" He honestly told her.

"Okay I'll explain what I mean. You know the logic that applies when you're a playing a game, let's say cards or Goa" She asked him.

"Never show you winning hand too early?" He said in a skeptical manner, not sure if that was what she was referring to.

"No baby, delay the winning hand when you don't have one" She chipped, while Jake cocked a brow at her.

"Honey you're making me more confused. My brain is exhausted, just tell me what you have already" He hissed as he lolled back on the sofa.

She briefly eyed him, before hopping to kneel on the couch with a smile now plastered on her face.

"Jake, how fast can you make a virus?" She asked making him snap his head to look at her, his brows cocked like she was asking something funny and crazy.

"Tell me. How long will it take to create a virus similar to the one affecting ProGuard?" She urged taking his hand in his.

He looked at her with an inscrutable look, "Maybe two days or more depending on the ability of the programmer" He answered, still not sure what she wanted with that information.

"And two days will be enough to call for another board meeting right?" She asked again, and this time Jake's interest was really heightened by her questions. She looked like she was scheming something in her head, which could be interesting.

He sat upright to look a her, and nodded his head. "Yes"

"Then I guess you have a lot to do then"

"Jade Peterson, can you tell me what's going on in that head of yours?" He really wanted to know.

"I will but first you have to bribe me because I might just have a good plan for you to topple your enemy" She said with a mischievous smile and a wink, making him narrow his brows as he intently stared at her, his lips turning upward amusedly as he watched her being mischievous and calculative.

"What do you want?" He indulged her.

"You'll give it to me no matter what I ask?" She curiously inquired.

"If I can, then I will"

He narrowed his eyes when Jade gestured for him to lean closer indicating she wanted to whisper it into his ears. He knew whatever she was about to say was going to sound really crazy, but he did anyway. He anxiously wanted to hear what she had in mind. Jade leaned towards his ears and started whispering into it.

His eyes flew open, and a strong, "No" escaped his mouth, making Jade frown at him.

"But why?" She asked pouting.

"Because it's too dangerous and you can't control it"

"Who said? And you'll be there with me too" She pressed, still frowning at him.

"The answer is still no. You're not getting an inch close to it" He declared.

"Because you love it more than me right? You've always called it your baby even before you called me baby" She said accusingly. Jake looked at her incredulously before he let out a sigh.

"If letting you drive my car is the only way to get you to spill what you want to tell me, then forget it. I don't want to hear it" He said before standing up for the couch. He walked back to his seat and opened up his laptop to work.

He couldn't believe she'd ask for something like that. It's not like he didn't want to let her drive, but definitely not those monstrous sport cars of his. It was dangerous, and he didn't even want to take that risk. He didn't even know if she knew how to drive, so how was she expecting him to let her drive a car like that. He'd allow a normal car, but definitely not any of his sport cars.

Jade pouted as she watched him leave her on the couch. "So that's it? You're not even going to consider it?" Jade grumpily asked from where she was still sitted.

"Babe if that's the only condition you want, then no" He said without looking at her.

"Jake" She called his name faking a teary voice.

"Say something else"

"But it's just a drive" She stated.

"In a car that has the highest accident rate in the world" He turned to look at her.

"But you own it and you drive them" She pointed out.

"Is still a no. Either you tell me what you want to tell me or leave it" He told her in a tone of finality.

"Fine"

"So are you tell me or not" He asked.

Jade looked at him for a while before saying, "I will" She was only trying our her luck, she had a feeling Jake would turn her down in the first place, but you can't blame a girl for trying.

She stood up from her seat and approached his desk. She wanted to sit on one of the seats opposite his desk when Jake said, "Come here"

She walked closer to him and the pulled to seat on his laps. "I'd to hear you from here" He said. Jade's cheek blushed slightly when Jake made her sit on his laps. She wasn't entirely comfortable with it, but not him. Jake noticed her cheek slightly color and he knew why. He didn't want to ask about it, because she might feel more embarrassed so rather he said, "I'm all ears"

Jade looked at him and cleared her throat, as she regained her composure.

"So I was thinking from a gaming level"

"Okay"

"If someone was playing a game and you think your opponents about to win, what do you?"

"Prolong the game or give up" He replied.

"Exactly, you stall. The strategy is to let your opponent think they're winning and you're trying to prolong the game because you're at a lossing end, but the major thing is you let them think they're winning while you get them to deal their best cards" She looked at Jake who now has a frown between his brows.

"So you're saying I should shouldn't do anything about the software?" He asked curiously, while Jade nodded. His frown deepened when she nodded.

"The truth is you already said it's difficult trying to neutralize the virus, and with the time frame there's really not much you can do. So why don't you let them fix the virus themselves"

"But then I'd lose"

"But will you?" She asked tilting a brow at him. Jake fell silent for a while before his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Nope, I just have to start my own virus" He said with a smile curling his lips.

"Dingo. A virus similar to theirs is all you need to check the game. And you boyfriend can easily fix yours, upgrade your firewall from future threats and ah, be the impeccable CEO you truly are"

"Babe you're a prodigy"