"Speak," Bruce said, approaching him.
Lee Harris stood, adjusting his non-existent glasses. "Actually, the bug isn't in the code."
"What?" Stone jumped in first. "Kid, what are you talking about?"
"Please continue," Bruce said, silencing Stone.
Lee Harris took a deep breath, his voice slightly shaky. "The code itself is flawless. The real issue is… it's too perfect."
The conference room fell silent.
"In a real-world environment, any system encounters noise and errors. But this AI algorithm chases absolute precision, which causes it to crash when faced with imperfect data." Lee Harris pulled up a code segment. "So, the fix isn't about patching a bug—it's about… adding one."
He typed swiftly, inserting a seemingly redundant random function into the core algorithm.
"This gives the system 'fault tolerance.' It's like…" He paused. "It's like human intuition—not always accurate, but flexible enough."
Bruce studied the screen, a flicker of something in his eyes.
"Run the test."
The assistant complied. Minutes later, the results came in—efficiency up by 35%, stability improved by 50%.
"Interesting." Bruce clapped Lee Harris on the shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Lee… Lee Harris."
"Lee Harris." Bruce repeated the name. "Come to my office after work."
With that, he turned and left.
Stone's face was ashen, his glare burning into Lee Harris. Colleagues exchanged looks—some envious, some jealous, but most were smirking. At Wayne Enterprises, a private summons from the boss wasn't always good news.
Lee Harris sat back down, playing the nervous newcomer. But inside, he knew the first step of his plan had worked.
Show value, but not too much.
Clever, but not too clever.
Like the solution he'd just given—he'd spotted the issue in five minutes but waited forty. He needed to stand out, but not seem impossibly brilliant.
"Lee Harris, right?"
A voice came from behind. Lee Harris turned to see a blonde woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with flawless makeup and a subtly revealing neckline.
"I'm Susan, from marketing." She leaned in close, her perfume wafting over him. "Congratulations. Not everyone catches Bruce's eye."
"Thank you." Lee Harris awkwardly averted his gaze.
"Free tonight?" Susan's fingers lightly grazed the back of his hand. "I know a great bar. We could celebrate."
A trap.
Lee Harris's instincts screamed. Her approach was too deliberate. Either Stone sent her, or she had other motives.
"Sorry, I… I don't really drink."
"That's okay. I can teach you." Susan winked. "There's a lot I could teach you."
"Susan."
Barbara's voice cut through. She'd appeared beside them, her business attire impeccable, but her eyes icy.
"Barbara." Susan straightened, and the two women locked eyes, the air crackling with tension.
"I believe marketing is on the 38th floor." Barbara's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Lost your way?"
"Just congratulating our rising star." Susan smiled back. "Promising young talent always makes you want to… nurture them."
"Indeed." Barbara moved to Lee Harris's other side. "Which is why HR handles new employee training. Other departments needn't bother."
Lee Harris sat between them, perfectly playing the confused newcomer. But inside, he was analyzing—neither woman was simple. Barbara, obviously, and this Susan was likely trouble too.
"Well, I'll be off." Susan gave Lee Harris a final look. "Remember my invitation."
Her high heels clicked defiantly as she walked away.
Barbara turned to Lee Harris. "Nice performance back there."
"Thank you."
"However," she lowered her voice, "Bruce Wayne isn't that easy to deal with. Be careful."
With that, she left.
Lee Harris watched their retreating figures, a faint smile curling his lips.
The bait was set. Now, who would bite first?
Time ticked by, and soon it was quitting time. Lee Harris packed up, heading for the chairman's office on the top floor.
In the elevator, he ran into Stone.
"Kid." Stone leaned in, his breath a mix of coffee and cigarette smoke. "Don't get too full of yourself."
Lee Harris stepped back. "Supervisor Stone, I didn't—"
"Shut it." Stone grabbed his collar. "I've been here fifteen years. Seen too many cocky geniuses. Know what happens to them?"
Lee Harris shook his head.
"They disappear." Stone released him, adjusting his own tie. "Wayne Enterprises is deep water. A rookie like you better stay in line."
The elevator doors opened, and Stone stormed out.
Lee Harris smoothed his wrinkled collar, his eyes growing cold.
Seeking death.
But not yet. He needed more intel—whether Stone had backing. In a city rife with conspiracies, recklessness was suicide.
Top floor.
The chairman's office spanned the entire level, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Gotham. As the sun set, the city of sin glowed in a bloody haze.
"Come in."
Bruce sat behind his desk, a glass of whiskey in hand. Financial reports were scattered across the table.
"Sit." He gestured to the chair opposite. "Drink?"
"Water's fine." Lee Harris sat cautiously.
Bruce poured him a glass of water and leaned back. "Know why I called you here?"
"No, sir."
"You lied," Bruce said suddenly.