The Tycoon's Odyssey

The moment he heard it, Evan knew that this time he had fucked up.

And it wasn't just a little—it was very bad.

Sweat beads started forming on his forehead as if he was sitting on a bed of needles, his mind scrambling to find an answer to this.

'Now… Now what do I say… System… Hey, System, where are you?'

Feeling in a pinch, Evan decided to call on that omniscient egoist residing in his mind. To his dismay, a mechanical, robotic voice sounded.

[The person you are trying to reach is offline.]

"…"

'Fuck it! This damned bastard!"

"Evan!"

"Yes!" Evan shouted with an uneasy expression.

"Why aren't you answering?" Amelia asked, her smile sharp akin to that of a demon and laced with menace, forcing Evan to instinctively take a step back.

"Or do you think I am not beautiful enough?"

"Tha… That…" Evan stammered, finding himself stuttering, his thoughts tangled in a mess.

'If I say she isn't, it's bound to offend her, but if I say yes, I am sure she would successfully pull me into her trap.'

Just as he struggled to formulate a response, Amelia suddenly burst into laughter.

"PFFFTT!"

Covering her mouth with her hand, she chuckled softly, finding Evan's reaction amusing.

"Don't be so serious—it was just a joke."

"Uh…I see…" Evan exhaled deeply in relief.

For a moment he felt as if his heart was being squeezed in a vice. His back was drenched in sweat. A situation like this was dangerous enough that even being a superhuman wasn't going to save him.

"So Evan," Amelia continued, her tone turning serious. "From now on, the responsibility of my daughter lies with you. I hope you don't let her down."

"Yes, Ma'am!" Evan replied with a resolute expression.

_____

Inside Brew Heaven, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, blending in with the gentle hum of conversations. The cozy cafe was bustling with patrons enjoying their drinks, the atmosphere vibrant as ever.

Sasha, the manager, stood at the counter, gracefully managing orders and chatting warmly with the regulars when the door swung open with a loud clank.

A group of government officials barged in, their expressions stern as their eyes scanned the room. Sasha's smile faltered slightly as she took in the intruders, but she quickly composed herself and stepped forward to greet them.

"Good morning. How can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite yet guarded.

One of the officials stepped forward, flashing a badge. "We're here for a routine inspection—Health and Safety. We'll need your full cooperation."

Sasha nodded, though suspicion flickered in her gaze. "Of course. We maintain the highest standards here. Feel free to inspect anything you need."

The officials made their way through the café, scrutinizing everything, taking notes and exchanging low murmurs. They eventually reached the kitchen, where they found that everything was spotless—counters gleaming, dishes neatly stacked, and even the floors were immaculate. Behind them, Sasha folded her arms, a small, satisfied smirk appearing on her face as she watched them.

"See?" she said, unable to resist. "We're particular about cleanliness."

But her satisfaction was short-lived.

Amidst the inspection, one of the officials crouched down, reaching into his coat pocket and subtly sprinkling dirt across the floor, making sure that no one caught it.

The next moment, he shouted, "There is something here."

"Hey!" Sasha protested, her eyes widening in outrage. "What are you doing?"

The official stood, unfazed, as he gestured toward the dirt. "I'm afraid we've found… evidence of poor sanitation practices."

"That's absurd!" Sasha snapped, her face flushed with anger. "This kitchen was spotless before you walked in here."

The official raised an eyebrow, looking around at his colleagues with a smug flashing on his face. "Well, it doesn't appear that way to us. Expect a notice, miss."

Chaos erupted as Shasha's staff tried to protest, their voices clashing with the official accusations.

A murmur of confusion spread as customers nearby overheard the exchange. One of them, a woman sipping her latte, turned to her friend with a frown. "Did you hear that? They're saying Brew Heaven's kitchen is dirty?"

Another customer leaned over. "Seriously? I thought this place was top-notch. Guess it's not as clean as it looks."

Sasha's heart sank as the officials continued their accusations, their voices loud enough for everyone to hear. "This establishment has violated health codes," one of them declared. "We'll have to issue a warning and possibly shut it down if conditions don't improve."

Hearing this, a group of customers stood up, visibly upset. One man shook his head, disappointment evident on his face.

"I thought this place was better than that," he muttered as he left his coffee unfinished on the table.

"Maybe it's true," another customer added, glancing around. "If they're cutting corners on cleanliness, what else are they hiding?"

Despite Sasha's protests and attempts to reassure them, a few more customers began gathering their things, casting suspicious glances at her and muttering to each other as they left.

_____

Later that day, the media erupted with a flood of sensational headlines.

[BREAKING NEWS]

[Brew Heaven Faces Health Violations in Shocking Government Inspection]

Insider Report: Next Gen's Brew Heaven Café Exposed – Dirty Kitchens, Poor Hygiene!

And on social media, the rumors spread like wildfire. Tweets poured in, each one piling onto the accusations and amplifying the outrage:

@TruthSeeker99: "Knew Brew Heaven was too good to be true! Dirty kitchens and all, yuck. Another Next Gen flop."

@NoFilterNina: "Brew Heaven being unsanitary isn't surprising if you know what I mean."

@CaffeineCritic: "Avoid Brew Heaven at all costs. If they can't keep a kitchen clean, they're not worth a cent of my money."

Following BrewHeaven, people started flashing faults in Next Gen.

Soon, the backlash extended to Next Gen Innovations itself. Posts and reviews regarding their products filled online forums, painting the company as unreliable—even dangerous.

The words spread like wildfire, reaching everyone and raising numerous questions about Next Gen Innovations and its subsidiaries.

As the public backlash continued, Next Gen Innovations faced an onslaught from all sides. News anchors, tech analysts, and social media influencers joined the bandwagon, each adding fuel to the growing fire.

One tech blogger published a scathing article:

"The Rise and Fall of Next Gen Innovations: Is This the End of the Tech Giant?"

"Next Gen once dazzled the market with promises of innovation, but recent revelations have shown a company crumbling under the weight of its own hubris. From faulty gadgets to alleged health violations at Brew Heaven, it's clear that Next Gen's golden era may be over."

Another report circulated on popular news websites, amplifying consumer concerns and making waves:

[How Safe Is Your Data? Experts Warn Against Next Gen's Cyber Security Flaws]

"With the recent accusations against Next Gen's weak cybersecurity measures, analysts are beginning to question whether the company ever took priority in user safety seriously. Experts suggest that their software may even have built-in vulnerabilities, putting millions at risk."

Television segments followed, digging deep into the company's other operations, exaggerating minor issues into major concerns. Hosts spoke about Next Gen's devices as though they were relics, their tone incredulous and dripping with scorn.

"Imagine spending a thousand dollars on a smartphone that freezes every five minutes," one anchor sneered on a popular morning show. "Not only that but now it's linked to a company that can't even keep its own café clean. Are we supposed to trust them with our data?"

The effect on Next Gen's reputation was staggering. Review sites like TrustTalk and SecureBuy were flooded with disgruntled customers airing complaints:

"My phone heats up after ten minutes of use. Worst investment ever! Next Gen can't even get the basics right."

"Brew Heaven is just the tip of the iceberg. Next Gen is a scam!"

"I tried their software on my laptop, and it slowed everything down. Not worth it if you care about your device or data."

Amid the chaos, even some loyal customers began to question their faith in the company, posting their sentiments online:

@RealTalkRita: "Loved Next Gen since the inception, but now I'm not so sure. Can't ignore all this bad press. Maybe it's time to move on."

In the midst of the barrage, #NextGenScam started trending on social media, drawing thousands of posts and comments. Rivals in the tech industry seized the opportunity, subtly advertising their own products as "reliable" and "secure." Competitors like Holocene and Pear retweeted user reviews bashing Next Gen, amplifying the snowball effect.

Even Next Gen's flagship products weren't spared. Clips of users demonstrating their gadgets freezing, lagging, or failing outright went viral, accompanied by sarcastic captions:

@TechBlitz: "Why invest in Next Gen when you can stare at a frozen screen for free?"

@SecureSkeptic: "Next Gen's 'secure software' left my data wide open. Switch now, or regret later."

As the media frenzy raged on, the cumulative impact was undeniable. Next-Gen Innovations, once a titan of the tech industry, found itself embroiled in a public relations nightmare.

@TechTerror19: "Next Gen gadgets? Total junk. Got one, and it was slower than my old device. #WastedMoney"

@HackedForReal: "Their software is supposed to be secure? Yeah, right. Bet it's full of holes. #CyberSecurityFail"