Grant didn't realize he was holding his breath until the call started ringing.
The phone felt heavier than usual in his hand.
Not because of its weight…
But because of what it carried.
Five years.
That's how long it had been.
Five years since he had last spoken to Adar.
The ringtone echoed softly in his ear.
Once.
Twice.
Each second stretched longer than it should.
"What if he doesn't pick up…" Grant thought.
The idea hit harder than expected.
Because this call wasn't just about catching up.
It was about everything.
Arthur leaned slightly closer.
"Call lag gaya?" he asked quietly.
Grant nodded.
Didn't speak.
Third ring.
No answer.
Grant slowly pulled the phone away from his ear.
The call ended.
Silence.
For a moment, he just stared at the screen.
No missed call.
No message.
Nothing.
A small knot formed in his chest.
"Maybe…" Arthur started, but didn't finish.
Sophie stepped in.
"It's been five years," she said calmly. "He probably didn't recognize the number."
Grant gave a small nod.
"Yeah… maybe."
But deep down—
That wasn't what bothered him.
It was something else.
"What if he doesn't want to pick up?"
That thought stayed.
Uncomfortable.
Grant placed the phone on the table.
Tried to focus.
But he couldn't.
The room felt heavier again.
The same tension.
The same uncertainty.
Then—
The phone vibrated.
Grant's eyes snapped to the screen.
Adar – Incoming Call
For a split second, he didn't move.
Then he picked it up.
"Hello—"
"Wow."
The voice came instantly.
Sharp.
Familiar.
And slightly amused.
"Took you long enough."
Grant froze for a moment.
Then exhaled.
"…Adar."
On the other side, a short laugh.
"Didn't think you'd call me after all these years," Adar said. "Or did you finally run out of options?"
Grant didn't reply immediately.
Because… that wasn't entirely wrong.
"Time ho gaya," Grant said quietly. "But… problems remind you who to call."
A pause.
Then a softer tone.
"Hmm," Adar replied. "That sounds more like you."
Grant leaned slightly against the desk.
The tension in his shoulders didn't disappear—
But it shifted.
"So," Adar continued, "what happened?"
Grant didn't sugarcoat it.
He told everything.
The budget cut.
The team reduction.
The delay.
And then—
The worst part.
"They took the project," Grant said.
Silence.
"They didn't just copy it," he continued.
"They stripped it… changed it… and launched it as their own."
The line stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
For a moment, Grant thought the call had disconnected.
"Adar?"
"I'm here," came the reply.
But the tone had changed.
No humor.
No sarcasm.
Just cold understanding.
"…Who's your manager?" Adar asked.
Grant frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"Just tell me."
Grant hesitated for a second.
Then said the name.
There was a pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
A short, dry laugh.
"…Of course."
Grant's expression changed.
"You know him?"
"Know him?" Adar repeated. "I worked under him."
Grant straightened.
"What?"
Adar exhaled slowly.
"That guy…" he said, "was my manager before I left."
Something inside Grant tightened.
"And?" he asked.
Adar didn't answer immediately.
When he did—
His voice was flat.
"He did the same thing."
Grant's grip tightened on the phone.
"What do you mean?"
"He took my project," Adar said simply.
"Changed it slightly… presented it as his own."
Grant felt a sharp wave of anger rise.
"And then?" he asked.
A short pause.
"And then I was removed from the team."
Silence.
No explanation.
No justification.
Just like that.
Grant looked down at the floor.
Now it made sense.
Everything.
This wasn't random.
It was a pattern.
"He's done this before…" Grant muttered.
"Yeah," Adar replied. "And he'll keep doing it."
The room around Grant felt quieter again.
But this time—
It wasn't confusion.
It was clarity.
Grant's jaw tightened.
"So you're saying…" he started slowly,
"he stole your work… and pushed you out?"
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then Grant asked—
"…Will you help me?"
Direct.
No hesitation.
On the other side, there was no immediate reply.
Then—
A chuckle.
"Help you?" Adar repeated.
Another pause.
"Of course I will."
Grant blinked.
"What?"
"I've been waiting for a reason," Adar said calmly.
A slight edge entered his voice.
"That guy owes me."
Something in Grant's chest tightened again.
Not fear.
Something sharper.
Anger.
Purpose.
"Good," Grant said quietly.
"So what's the plan?" Adar asked.
Grant didn't answer immediately.
Because honestly—
He didn't have one yet.
"…We need to move fast," Grant said finally.
"They'll launch their version soon."
"Then don't chase them," Adar replied.
"Outplay them."
Grant frowned slightly.
"How?"
A short pause.
Then—
"Tell me something," Adar said.
"What?"
"That project we started in college…" Adar continued.
"The one everyone said was impossible."
Grant's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You still remember that?"
"Answer the question."
Grant hesitated.
"…Maybe," he said.
Adar didn't sound convinced.
"You don't forget something like that," he said.
A pause.
"…Do you still have the data?"
Grant didn't answer immediately.
Because that project…
That wasn't normal.
It was unfinished.
Raw.
Dangerous.
But powerful.
"…I think so," Grant said slowly.
"My old laptop… I never deleted it."
Silence.
Then—
A quiet, satisfied tone.
"Good."
Grant frowned.
"What are you thinking?"
Adar didn't answer directly.
"Call me when you reach your office," he said.
"I'll come."
Grant blinked.
"You're coming here?"
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Unless your company doesn't allow unwanted guests."
Grant looked up instinctively.
Across the office.
Toward the manager's cabin.
A cold feeling settled in his chest.
"…That might be a problem."
Adar laughed softly.
"Good."
Grant frowned.
"What?"
"I was getting bored anyway," Adar said.
The call ended.
Grant lowered the phone slowly.
Arthur looked at him.
"What did he say?"
Grant exhaled.
"He's coming."
Sophie frowned slightly.
"Here?"
Grant nodded.
But his eyes had already shifted.
Toward the manager's cabin.
Because one question remained.
Would Adar even be allowed inside?
And if not—
Then what would they do?
Grant clenched his fist slightly.
Because now—
This wasn't just about a project anymore.
It was personal.
End of Chapter