Bitcoin Billionaire: I Regressed to Invest in the First Bitcoin!-Chapter 58: Smithers’ Scandal

Brooklyn leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other as she studied Darren with sharp, calculating eyes.

She was a reporter. She'd spoken to many people so it was easy not to take offense to somethings, but that one stung.

"I do what I do for my job. There's basically no risk I wouldn't take for a good story."

Darren exhaled through his nose. "And that's exactly the problem with you journalists."

Brooklyn tilted her head. "You don't like journalists?"

"It's not that I don't like you," he said, his voice flat. "I just know exactly what your kind does. Nothing you won't do for a good story. That also includes lying and manipulating. For you people, truth means nothing when a headline is at stake."

Brooklyn smirked. "You wound me."

Darren said nothing, waiting for her to get to the point. But she wasn't done poking around just yet.

Her gaze flicked around the room before settling back on him. "However, I am fairly confused, Darren Steele.

"This house. The car outside. This... street. You live on Malegreen Street. So I heard. You graduated from Brookfield University of Business and Literature. You took an intern-paying job under Gareth Smithers. I even heard you were dating his daughter, Lily Smithers." She leaned forward slightly. "But you broke up. The same day you left his company."

Darren's jaw tightened, but he kept his face neutral.

Brooklyn arched a brow. "How does someone like you end up here in just a month? Were you a secret millionaire in disguise? Like in those Bollywood movie shorts?"

Darren didn't speak for a while, then he kissed his teeth. "When did this become about me? I thought you were here to ask questions about Gareth Smithers."

Brooklyn smiled, lowering her head for a moment before looking up again. "You're right. Sorry about that. My curiosity got the best of me." She met his gaze directly. "That's another thing you hate about us, isn't it? We can't control our curiosity."

Darren said nothing.

Brooklyn took that as her cue to move forward.

Her expression became more professional, more serious. "Before we begin," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small recorder, "I just need to let you know that this discussion is now being recorded."

Darren glanced at the device, then gave a slight nod. "That's fine."

She clicked it on, placing it on the table between them. Then, she folded her hands together.

"If you don't mind, this is major news that still hasn't fully come out yet. I ask that you keep it between us if you can."

Then she began. "An employee of Gareth Smithers — whom I won't disclose — came to me and made a report. Then, more reports started coming in. Numerous accounts of Gareth Smithers, exposing his tactics of capturing young talents straight out of university and locking them down with iron-clad, borderline slave contracts." She paused, gauging Darren's reaction. "And more than that— stealing their business ideas to grow his company."

Darren sat still, his fingers loosely interlocked. But inside, his mind raced.

A source she wouldn't disclose.

Could it be Sandy?

In the former timeline, it was because of her that Smithers had entered a scandal. But this time… that wasn't supposed to happen because she resigned earlier.

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However, Darren was the one that made that possible. He was the one who altered Gareth's employment contract, making it easy for the employees to resign when they wished.

Did that singular act cause a butterfly effect?

Had his attempt to free himself simply opened the floodgates for everyone else to walk out and report the truth?

He exhaled slowly. It didn't matter. A bloated, self-centered man like Gareth Smithers was bound to fall into scandal eventually. It was his nature.

Brooklyn continued, her voice lower now. "I haven't disclosed this part to anyone else yet. But…" she hesitated, watching his expression carefully. "There have also been reports of sexual harassment."

Darren's brows lifted slightly. 'Sexual harassment?'

His thoughts circled back to Sandy. That was exactly what she had accused Gareth of in the former timeline. But now she was no longer there...

Could there be someone else in the office that Gareth would have harassed?

Brooklyn watched him. "Everyone I've interviewed says it started with you," she said. "So how were you able to break free? How did you alter the contract that bound the employees so wickedly? And why did you do it?"

Only a short hesitation before Darren responded firmly, "Look. I only did it because I realized I was being used."

He exhaled, eyes momentarily distant. "One day, the next ten years of my life flashed before my eyes. In those ten years, I was shackled to Gareth Smithers. No growth. No freedom. No future." He met her gaze. "So I cut him loose immediately. And I did it without hesitation."

Brooklyn's pen scratched against her notepad as she wrote quickly.

Darren continued. "To be honest, I wasn't thinking much about others when I changed the employment contract. I didn't even know it would extend to them as well. And I definitely didn't know it would cause such a scandal."

Brooklyn glanced up, intrigued.

Darren watched her, taking note of how diligent she was. He realized that she really took her job seriously.

"But that still doesn't tell me how you managed to change the contract," she pressed.

Darren thought back to the lawyer. The bribe. The information on a surefire investment that would rake in seven million dollars.

Of course, he couldn't tell her that.

His lips pressed thinly. "I can't tell you that."

Brooklyn narrowed her eyes slightly. "But you are certain that Gareth Smithers has been stealing his employees' ideas?"

"Yes," Darren answered without hesitation.

"Can you tell me how?"

Darren leaned forward slightly. "Smithers would bring in employees: fresh graduates with ambition, just like me. He'd make them feel special. Then, he'd have them present business ideas, investment strategies, market predictions. Everything."

His voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it. "And once they'd done all the work, he'd take their ideas, tweak them just enough to claim ownership, and turn them into profit. Meanwhile, the employees got nothing. No credit. No royalties. Even a pat on the back would have been nice. He makes it seem like it was what they're hired for. And no, some of these guys are just errand interns trying to work their way up."

Brooklyn nodded, scribbling furiously. "And I was told you were his biggest prize," she said after a moment. "Graduated top of your class. An excellent mind for business."

Darren exhaled, his jaw tightening. "I presume so."

Brooklyn tapped the end of her pen against the notepad. "An excellent mind for business." She studied him again. "Is that how you were able to afford this house in just a month?"

Darren didn't answer.

Brooklyn smirked. "And what about Lily Smithers? Was it because of her father that you broke up with her?"

A sharp tension filled the air. Darren's expression darkened. His fingers flexed.

"Alright. We're done here," he said abruptly, standing up.

Brooklyn frowned. "Just a few more—"

But he was already moving toward the door, pulling it open. His stance was firm, unwavering. "No. The interview is over."

She tried to squeeze in another question, but he gestured toward the exit. Firm. Not aggressive. Not rude. Just final.

Realizing she'd pushed too far, Brooklyn sighed and grabbed her recorder. As she stepped out, he slammed the door on her face.

She grimaced. "Well, thank you for your time!" she yelled at him through the door.

She stared at it for a moment before shaking her head, and sighing. "That was interesting."

The cameraman gave her a questioning gesture.

She flashed him a thumbs-up. He nodded and climbed into the van.

Brooklyn lingered a moment longer, looking back at the door. She grinned.

"Darren Steele," she murmured. "I thought you were just some insignificant boy who stumbled into an overwhelming situation. But you're way more interesting than I thought."

She turned and headed towards the van.

"I'll be keeping an eye on you, blue eyes."

With that, she climbed in, and they drove off.