Job Stolen, I Took N+1 and Quit

The layoff wave hit Big Tech, and the company gave us two options.

Option one: take the N+1 severance package and leave. Option two: take a pay cut and transfer to the new, godforsaken Pioneer department to build it from the ground up.

In my last life, I chose the new department.

It turned out to be a secret R&D hub for the companys push into AI. Three years later, everyones stock options exploded, and I became financially independent. My best friend, Jessica, took the severance, gambled it all on the stock market, lost everything, and ended up driving her car into mine, sending us both off an overpass to our deaths.

Reborn, I found myself back in that meeting room. The moment the HR manager finished speaking, Jessica slammed her hands on the table.

Im taking the new department! Dont even think about fighting me for it!

She shot me a venomous glare. Take your pathetic severance and get lost. The future is mine.

I signed the severance agreement without a second thought.

The gazes of my colleagues pricked my skin like needles.

Someone whispered, Is Ava crazy? I heard the new department is the CEO's pet project. It'll be tough for a couple of years, but after that, it's all founders stock.

Short-sighted. What do you expect from a woman?

Jessicas chin lifted higher at their words, preening like a victorious rooster.

In my past life, that same rooster was the one who, just as I was about to cash in my stock options, drove me off that bridge because she was drowning in debt to loan sharks.

The feeling of my bones shattering still lingered, a ghost pain in my limbs.

I smiled.

Fine, Jessica. This golden ticket to unimaginable wealth? Its all yours.

I slapped the signed agreement on the table.

N+1. I want every last cent, and I want it in my account by the end of today. Also, Im taking the money tree from my desk.

Jessica sneered. So pathetic. You even want a stupid plant.

She didnt know that buried in the soil of that plant was a hardware dongle Id tinkered with in my past lifethe physical key required to boot the core code.

Without it, the new departments so-called core assets were nothing but a pile of gibberish.

I started packing my things.

My box was only half-full when Jessica strode over and kicked it, sending everything scattering across the floor.

My keyboard, mouse, and notebooks clattered loudly.

Oops, sorry. My foot slipped, she said, her voice dripping with mock apology, her eyes burning with challenge.

Then, she shrieked, Mark! I think Ava has a confidential company hard drive in her box! I just saw it! Shes trying to steal company property!

The HR manager and security guards swarmed over instantly.

The manager frowned. Ava, open your bag. We need to check it.

Everyone was watching, waiting for the show. Getting laid off was one thing, but being publicly searched on your way out was the ultimate workplace humiliation.

I looked at Jessicas triumphant face, feeling no anger, only a detached pity, like watching a clown perform its tired act.

You can check, I said calmly. But if you find nothing, then what?

Jessica crossed her arms. If theres nothing, Ill get on my knees and apologize. But if there is, you can get ready for prison.

In the chaos, she had slipped a file labeled Top Secret into the inner pocket of my bag. It was a slick move, but amateurish.

I pulled out my phone and connected to the offices smart surveillance systema little plugin Id installed myself to test a visual algorithm. No one knew it existed.

I mirrored my phones screen to the large TV in the conference room.

And there it was, in glorious high definition: Jessica, furtively stuffing the file into my bag. The image was so clear you could see the poorly blended pimple on her cheek.

The room fell dead silent.

Jessicas face turned the color of raw liver. The HR managers face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Jessica, he growled. Care to explain?

She trembled. I I was just joking with her

On your knees, I said, my voice cold.

Jessica bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, but she didnt move.

I raised my phone. Fine. Dont kneel. Ill just send this video to every HR group in the industry. And file a police report for false accusation while Im at it.

Thud.

Jessicas knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor.

Im sorry she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I picked up my box and stepped over her.

Save your knees. Youll be doing a lot more begging in the future.

Outside, the sunlight was blinding. My phone vibrated. A text from my bank. The severance had arrived. Thirty-five thousand dollars. My startup capital.

As I passed the smoking area, I saw a couple of security guards shoving a man. He was a messunshaven, his hair greasy and matted, wearing a yellowed white t-shirt. His eyes were utterly dead.

Noah.

In my last life, he was the companys Director of Technology. After offending the CEO, he was sidelined and eventually fired for gross misconduct, forced to pay the company a fifty-thousand-dollar breach of contract fine.

No one knew that this man, who now looked like a homeless person, was the true architect of the companys AI strategy. The core logic of the new departments project was all his work.

In my past life, he vanished after leaving, sinking into obscurity. The company, meanwhile, rode the coattails of his unfinished code for three years.

Get lost! Sell a kidney if you cant pay! a guard sneered.

Noah stared at the ground, his fists clenched white, silent.

I walked over and stood between them.

Ill pay his fine.

The guards stared. Ava, are you crazy? This guys a total washout.

Noahs head snapped up, a flicker of disbelief in his dead eyes.

I took out my bank card, the money still warm in my account, and paid the fifty thousand dollars.

It was everything I had, plus my savings.

I didnt even blink.

After the paperwork was done, Noah stood on the sidewalk, clutching the termination agreement, his voice hoarse.

Why? What do you want from me?

I looked at him and pressed the bank card, now with only a few hundred dollars left, into his hand.

I dont want you, and I dont want your money.

Noah, I want your brain.

Work with me.

Upstairs, behind a floor-to-ceiling window, Jessica was watching us through a pair of binoculars. She snapped a photo and posted it online with a caption:

Trash belongs with trash. Its hilarious how some people find a piece of garbage and treat it like treasure.

I put my phone away and smiled at Noah.

Come on. Lets go set the world on fire.

I rented a shabby two-bedroom apartment that served as both our living quarters and our office. The living room was crammed with secondhand server racks, the buzz of their cooling fans a constant, tireless hum.

Noah sat on a sofa missing a leg, staring at me.

Youre broke, he stated, not as a question.

After paying his fine and renting all this equipment, I didnt even have next months rent sorted.

I pulled a cup of instant noodles from my bag and tore off the lid.

As long as the servers have power, I wont starve. What, is the great Noah too good for this?

He didnt answer, just stared at the noodle cup. In my past life, I only knew he was a tech genius. I didnt know he was also the runaway scion of a powerful East Coast family. Hed cut ties with them because he refused to inherit the family business, choosing to pursue technology instead.

This time, I was going to make this hidden dragon soar ahead of schedule.

The new departments project is a trap, Noah said suddenly, his tone flat. I wrote the architecture, but I left a back door. Once the concurrent user volume exceeds ten million, the entire system will crash.

I smiled and pushed the now-ready noodles toward him.

I know. And I also know that your back door is actually an infinite loop. Once triggered, itll fry the hardware.

Noahs pupils contracted. He looked at me like I was some kind of monster. How did you know? I havent even finished writing that algorithm

I didnt explain. I just sat down at the computer. My fingers flew across the keyboard, lines of code pouring out like a waterfall. It was the same algorithm that had taken him three years to complete in our last life, the core technology that would later have industry giants scrambling.

Ten minutes later, I hit Enter.

A green SUCCESS flashed on the screen.

The fork dropped from Noahs hand, clattering on the floor. He rushed over, his eyes glued to the screen, his breathing heavy and ragged.

That thats the logical loop Ive been trying to solve for six months

I pointed to the screen. I want to turn this project into a SaaS platform. I need it online within a month. Any problem with that?

Noah licked his dry lips, a fire igniting in his eyes.

As long as we can pay the electricity bill, I can get it done in two weeks.

The days that followed were a blur of manic energy. We were like two mad scientists, doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and coding. To save money, I sold all my old designer bags. Noah saw it all but said nothing. He just typed faster.

In our old work group chat, Jessica was broadcasting her highlight reel daily.

Another late night at the office. The coffee in the new department is amazing.

The boss said Im the future of the company. So much pressure, lol.

Heard someones been dumpster diving since they left? So sad.

The posts were accompanied by pictures of her posing at her desk in a bright, spacious office. I knew that the screen of her computer actually showed an order page for a freelancing website.

She was hiring a ghostwriter. Because before I left, Id completely wiped my old computer. She couldnt find a single useful document.

One day, one of our graphics cards burned out. We had no choice but to replace it.

Noah and I went to an electronics market.

And of course, we ran into them.

We had just walked into a shop when we heard Jessicas shrill voice.

Ill take this A100 graphics card. The companys paying, money is no object!

She was clinging to the arm of a balding manher sycophantic boss, Mark, the one backing her in the new department.

I glanced at the card. It was the best secondhand one in the store, exactly what we needed.

I saw that card first, I said, walking over.

Jessica turned, and a mocking smile spread across her face when she saw me. Well, if it isnt Ava. What, are you scavenging for parts now?

She scanned my cheap t-shirt, then glanced at the scruffy Noah beside me. Tsk, tsk. Still hanging out with your homeless boyfriend? This card is eight thousand dollars. Can you afford it? You probably couldnt even get that much if you sold yourself.

She deliberately lifted her high-heeled foot and pressed it down on the graphics card, grinding it against the floor.

Oh, sorry, I got it dirty. But since I saw it first, even if I smash it, I wouldnt give it to a beggar.

The balding man chuckled. Jessica, dont waste your time on these lowlifes. Lets just have security throw them out.

The other shop owners and customers were watching the spectacle. I clenched my fists, about to snap.

But the ever-silent Noah, standing behind me, suddenly moved.

When Noah moved, it was like a black flash of lightning.

He shoved aside the security guard who was stepping forward, the force of it sending the two-hundred-pound man stumbling backward. Then, he bent down, ignoring Jessicas shriek as she jumped away, and snatched the graphics card from under her foot.

The movement was rough, almost brutal. He used his own yellowed t-shirt to wipe the dust off the card, his eyes dark and menacing.

This technology under your shoe, he said, his voice low and dangerous, is an insult.

He looked up, his cold gaze sweeping over Jessica and her boss.

Touch her again. I dare you.

His voice wasnt loud, but it was filled with a chilling intensity.

Jessica, terrified, shrank back into Marks arms. Humiliated, Mark pointed a trembling finger at Noah. You goddamn beggar, do you know who I am? I can make sure you never work in this industry again!

Oh? And who are you? Noah shot back with a cold smirk. Mark Johnson, former deputy manager of the operations department? The one who got promoted by washing the CEOs car?

Marks face went pale. How did you know

Noah ignored him and turned to the shop owner. Chen, Im taking this card. And give me those two servers youve got in the back.

The shop owner, a middle-aged man with glasses, had been enjoying the show. At the sound of Noahs voice, he jolted. He squinted at Noah, his glasses nearly falling off his nose.

Noah? The the Legend?

In their circle, the name Noah was just thata legend. Even though hed been fired, in the eyes of true geeks, he was a god.

The owners hands were shaking with excitement. Noah, sir! What are you Oh my god! The card is a gift! A gift! And the servers, you can have them for half price! Just if you have any big projects in the future, please remember me!

Jessica was dumbfounded. Are you crazy? Ill pay double!

The owner shot her a disdainful look. You think money is everything? Get out, get out! Dont dirty my shop. Do you have any idea who you were just bullying?

Trembling with rage, Jessica pointed at me. Ava, you win this time! Just you wait! At the product launch in a few days, Im going to show you the meaning of despair!

She stormed off, dragging Mark with her.

On the way back, Noah cradled the graphics card like a precious treasure. I looked at his profile and suddenly found him much more appealing.

Thanks, back there.

Noah grunted. I was saving the card, not you.

Back at our workshop, the atmosphere grew tense. The product launch Jessica mentioned was the new departments public debut. According to the timeline from my previous life, there was no way they could have a viable product ready. The only reason Jessica was so confident was that she must have found a shortcut.

Sure enough, at three oclock that morning, our firewall lit up with frantic red alerts.

Someone was attacking our private network.

Noahs fingers danced across the keyboard, code flowing down the screen like a waterfall. Its an IP from the old company. Theyre scanning our ports. He sneered. Trying to steal our code? Not a chance.

Just as he was about to hit Enter to launch a counter-attack, I placed my hand on his.

Dont stop them.

Noah frowned at me. Are you insane? This is everything weve built.

I stared at the blinking red dot on the screen, a glint of steel in my eyes.

Let them steal it.

I opened a hidden folder. Inside was a code package that looked flawless but was actually riddled with logical bombs.

Put this in the honeypot. And open a small crack in the firewall.

Noah stared at me for a second, then a slow, wicked grin spread across his face.

You, woman, have a very dark heart.

Takes one to know one.