Page 15 of Code of Heart

Tyler had been terrorizing Levi for months.

Part of it stemmed from his lack of understanding of Neuronix’s technology.

The rest was because Tyler was a miserable asshole who believed he knew better than everyone else.

Levi stared across the table, waiting for the beady-eyed miniature demon possessing Tyler's body to speak. Tyler had been pushing for a premature release of Project DL from the beginning, ignoring repeated warnings that it wasn’t ready.

The Board knew that Levi had been diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. It was why Neuronix existed: to level the playing field for people like him. And now, someone like Tyler was trying to weaponize that against him.

Levi was simply pissed off.

Pissed off at this disrespectful little troll across from him, who continued to undermine him in the very company he built.

Pissed off by how his struggles were being used against him at the place where his life’s work was devoted to creating a space and environment for others to thrive. The one place he was supposed to feel safe.

And he was even more pissed off that no one on the Board had called Tyler out.

Finally, Tyler spoke.

“I've spentmonthsoffering valuable feedback and suggestions that would elevate the project and take it in a more lucrative direction, only to be ignored,you prick! I've askedmultipletimes when it will be ready to be released, and you have yet to dignify me with a response. I willnotapologize for trying tomake Project DL better because you are too pigheaded to listen to me,” Tyler said hotly.

And there it was.

Levi stared, unmoved. Tyler believed repeating the same question over and over would wear him down.

He was about to learn how wrong he was.

“Pretty sure my answer is going to be the same as the dozen times you asked in the last two months alone. We arenotrollinganythingout when it is still in the early phases of development, especially if it hasn't even been evaluated yet. I don’t even understand how you’ve made it this far in life without grasping this concept. Neuronix isnotin the business of putting out crappy products when so many individuals rely on them to navigate everyday life. It’s been an absolutewaste of my timeto continuously repeat myself, and I have better things to do than take part in your twisted games,” Levi retorted.

Tyler leaned in, voice venomous. “Perhaps I’m starting to lose confidence in your ability to lead this company, particularly after the last media scandal we had to deal with. The level of judgment you’ve exercised in your personal life has been a joke and only shows that security concerns were a problem long before today. You can’t even maintain a steady relationship, let alone lead this company.”

Levi winced. His last girlfriend had stolen his badge and tried to break into the building. That was a PR nightmare…Owen was still pissed about it.

Before he could stop himself, he fired back, “While my love life is no one’s business but my own, my fiancée and I are more than happy with ourprivaterelationship. But that has nothing to do with the fact that you exploited what we now know is a gaping hole in oursecurity to satisfy some personal agenda of yours.”

Isaac reacted visibly, catching the lie.

Tyler didn’t miss it either.

A sinister smile spread across his face. “I, for one, look forward to meeting thesecretwoman who hasstolenyour heart. Let us hope this one doesn’t try to break into the building like the last one—unless she doesn’t exist.”

Shit shit shit.

Levi regretted it the second the words left his mouth. He knew Tyler was waiting for a misstep, and Levi had now handed him ammunition.

With forced calm, Levi said, “I’m sorry, but is there a point you’re trying to make?”

Pointing a stubby finger at Levi, he spat, “The point is that you aren’t capable of exercising good judgment in your personal life, let alone in business.”

Levi held his ground. “Yet it’s been my ability to lead this companythat I built from scratch,that’s fattened your bank accounts, not my personal life. But no one’s complaining about that. You’re determined to sit in my seat without the qualifications.”

Isaac cut in, irritated. “By all means, if you’re sodesperateto be involved in the development of this solution, then please send your resume to us both, and we’d be more than happy to review your credentials in consideration for a position on our development team.”

Tyler smirked and said, “I’d be happy to send you my resume, but…” he paused dramatically to stare directly at Levi as he finished with, “…I wonder if you’d be able to read it efficiently without someone to help you. We all know how difficult it is for you to do something so simple.”

Levi froze.

Air caught in his lungs.