The silence from Nexus Systems was deafening. Five days had passed since Brandon submitted his application, and his phone remained stubbornly quiet. He found himself checking his email obsessively, refreshing his inbox every few minutes like a gambling addict pulling a slot machine lever.
The irony wasn't lost on him—in his previous life, he'd never had to worry about job hunting. He'd gone straight from college into Carter Technologies' waiting arms, like a lamb walking into a slaughterhouse. Now, with the freedom to choose his own path, he was discovering just how difficult that path could be.
The bigger problem loomed ahead: what would happen when—if—he got the job? Richard Carter's tentacles reached deep into the tech industry. Once word got out that Brandon was working for their biggest rival, the backlash would be swift and merciless. And Brandon would still be living under their roof, sleeping next to Victoria, pretending to be the grateful son-in-law while secretly plotting their downfall.
The thought made his stomach churn. But he needed time—time to establish himself, time to save money, and most importantly, time to pay off that contract before Richard could use it as leverage. Only then could he safely divorce Victoria and truly start over.
His phone buzzed.
"Brandon Carter?" The voice was crisp, professional. "This is Sarah Chen from Nexus Systems. We received your application for the junior software engineer position."
Brandon's heart hammered against his ribs. Junior position—not what he'd hoped for, but it was something. "Yes, hello."
"We'd like to schedule an interview. Are you available Thursday at 2 PM?"
"Absolutely," Brandon managed, his voice steadier than he felt. "Should I bring anything specific?"
"Just yourself and any technical knowledge you'd like to demonstrate. The interview will be with our development team lead, Marcus Webb. Plan for about forty-five minutes."
After hanging up, Brandon allowed himself a moment of cautious optimism. An interview wasn't a job, but it was a start.
---
Nexus Systems occupied a mid-rise building in the business district, impressive but not ostentatious. The company was large enough to have its own building but small enough that everyone seemed to know each other. Brandon had done his research—Nexus was owned by the Pryse family, old-money tech royalty who'd been feuding with the Carters for decades over patents, contracts, and market share.
Brandon was escorted to a conference room where Marcus Webb waited. He was exactly what central casting would order for a tech team lead—mid-thirties, beard, thick-rimmed glasses, and a casual button-down that somehow managed to look both professional and relaxed.
"Brandon, thanks for coming in," Marcus said, gesturing to a chair across from him. "So, you're looking to leave Carter Technologies after... let me see here... two years? That's not very long. What's driving the change?"
Brandon had prepared for this question. "I'm looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow. Carter Tech is a great company, but I feel like I've learned what I can in my current role."
"And you think a junior position at Nexus will provide that growth?" Marcus leaned back, studying him.
"I believe working with different technologies and approaches will make me a better engineer," Brandon replied carefully. He couldn't reveal that he knew Nexus would eventually become an industry leader.
"Fair enough. Let's talk technical," Marcus said, pulling out a laptop. "I'm going to give you some coding challenges. Nothing too complex, but I want to see how you think through problems."
For the next thirty minutes, Brandon found himself answering questions about data structures, algorithms, and system design. His twenty years of experience made the challenges trivial, but he had to be careful not to appear overqualified. He solved each problem efficiently but explained his reasoning in terms a recent graduate might use.
"Impressive problem-solving approach," Marcus said, making notes. "Your solutions are clean and efficient. Tell me, what interests you most about software development?"
"I like building systems that solve real problems," Brandon said, choosing his words carefully. "There's something satisfying about taking complex requirements and turning them into elegant code."
Marcus nodded approvingly. "One more question. This position pays forty-two thousand annually—significantly less than what you're probably making at Carter Tech. Why are you willing to take that cut?"
Brandon had expected this. Forty-two thousand was indeed a substantial pay cut, but he needed to escape Carter Tech's influence more than he needed money. "I'm more interested in the opportunity than the salary right now. I believe the experience here will be worth more than the short-term financial sacrifice."
After the interview, Brandon walked to his car feeling cautiously optimistic. He'd demonstrated solid technical skills without appearing suspiciously overqualified, and Marcus had seemed genuinely interested in his responses.
Two days later, his phone rang.
"Brandon? This is Sarah Chen again. I'm pleased to offer you the position of Junior Software Engineer at Nexus Systems. The starting salary is forty-two thousand, with standard benefits after ninety days."
Brandon closed his eyes, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. "I accept."
"Wonderful. Can you start Monday?"
---
Dinner at the Carter household had always been a formal affair. Crystal glasses, china plates, and conversation that felt more like a board meeting than a family meal. Tonight was no different, except for the bomb Brandon was about to drop.
"So, Brandon," Richard said, cutting into his prime rib with surgical precision. "How's the job hunt progressing? Ready to admit defeat yet?"
Margaret shot her son-in-law a sympathetic look while Victoria watched with predatory interest. She was probably expecting him to break down, to beg for his old job back.
"Actually, I got hired," Brandon said casually, taking a sip of wine.
The silence was immediate and absolute. Even the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to pause its ticking.
"Hired?" Victoria's voice was sharp. "Where?"
"Nexus Systems."
If Brandon had announced he was joining the circus, the reaction couldn't have been more dramatic. Richard's fork clattered against his plate. Victoria's perfectly composed mask slipped completely. Even Margaret looked shocked.
"Nexus Systems," Richard repeated slowly, as if the words tasted bitter. "The Pryse company. You're going to work for the Pryse family."
"They offered me a junior engineer position," Brandon replied, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Given that everywhere else rejected my applications, it seemed like the logical choice."
Richard's face was turning an alarming shade of red. "Do you have any idea what this looks like? My son-in-law working for our biggest competitor? For the Pryses?"
"I need a job," Brandon said simply. "You made it clear that I couldn't stay at Carter Tech, so I found employment elsewhere."
"Brandon," Richard's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I want to be absolutely clear about something. You will not—under any circumstances—reveal any proprietary information about Carter Technologies' projects, clients, or business strategies. The NDAs you signed aren't suggestions."
"Of course not," Brandon replied. "I understand my legal obligations."
What Richard didn't understand was that Brandon had twenty years of industry knowledge that had nothing to do with Carter Tech's secrets. He knew which technologies would succeed, which markets would emerge, and which strategies would dominate the next two decades. That knowledge was his own, earned through experience that technically hadn't happened yet.
Victoria finally found her voice. "How much are they paying you?"
Brandon hesitated. "It's... less than what I was making at Carter Tech."
Victoria's smile returned in full force. "Oh, Brandon. A junior position at reduced pay? I'm sure it will be a valuable learning experience."
There was that phrase again—learning experience. Victoria still thought this was temporary, that he'd come crawling back within months. She had no idea that Brandon was already planning his long-term escape.
---
Nexus Systems' office had a different energy than Carter Tech's sterile corporate environment. It was professional but more relaxed, with an emphasis on collaboration over hierarchy. Brandon could feel the difference immediately.
"Brandon!" Marcus Webb approached with a welcoming smile. "Ready for your first day?"
"Absolutely."
"Great. Let me show you to your workstation and introduce you to the junior dev team."
The next hour was a blur of handshakes and names. The development team was a mix of experienced engineers and recent graduates—exactly what Brandon would expect from a growing company. He was assigned to work with three other junior developers on maintenance tasks and minor feature implementations.
"So," Marcus said, settling Brandon at a workstation with a single monitor and basic development setup. "We're starting you on some bug fixes and small enhancements. Nothing too complex, but it'll help you get familiar with our codebase and development processes."
Brandon's heart sank slightly. Bug fixes and minor enhancements—exactly the kind of work he'd expected but hoped to avoid. But he understood the reality. To Nexus, he was just another IT employee starting at the bottom. He'd have to prove himself before they'd trust him with anything significant.
"That sounds perfect," he said, forcing enthusiasm into his voice. "I'm eager to contribute however I can."
As Marcus walked away, Brandon stared at his single monitor and took a deep breath. This wasn't how he'd imagined his second chance beginning—relegated to grunt work while Victoria and Richard assumed he'd fail. But he'd been in worse positions before.
He had knowledge. He had experience. And most importantly, he had motivation.
Now he just needed patience. And a plan to survive on forty-two thousand dollars a year while owing half a million to his in-laws.
Brandon opened his first bug report and began to work. Each line of code he wrote was a step away from his old life and toward something better. The chains weren't broken yet, but he could feel them beginning to loosen.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon, everything would change.