The Tycoon's Odyssey
Chapter 79: 79:Scapegoat

'Scapegoat...'

Evan hadn't even finished his thoughts, when he saw a muscular person greeting him with a smile.

"Gentleman, may I know your name?"

"It's Evan...CEO of NextGen Innovations..."

"Evan..Just Evan...What about the title?"The man asked, tilting his head.

Evan's expression faltered a bit for a moment.

He didn't have any title after breaking out from his parents.

"I am an orphan."

"OH! Sorry....I didn't know that...How unfortunate."

The man made an exasperated expression with the end of his lips curling when a sly grin.

"NextGen Innovations...Codezipper...Did I get it right?"

"Yeah!"

"Then nice to meet you, Evan...I am Zi Shou, the CEO of Tick Tack..."

"Hey Evan, congrats on the award," Angelo said casually, though his tone hinted at something more probing. "Tell me, did you pull some strings at the last moment to clinch this? I mean I know the app is exceptional but it also depends on the number of downloads still manages to carter a million downloads."

Evan side-eyed Aria who gave an expression as if saying I told you?

Evan chuckled, his expression a blend of amusement and confidence, "Why do I need to?"

"To make a splash, possibly?"

"Hahaha!"Evan gave a light-hearted laugh and raising his hand patted him, "First thing. if you can crack my app or ever see a pirated app, I am willing to offer 1 million."

"Secondly even though my app isn't great, it at the very least, doesn't create a place for useless people to gather and sully the eyes for a minute."

"Damn!Thats brute."

"That was some epic shit."

The moment he said this a heavy silence lingered and Angelo's expression cracked.

"Even if it's a good app, don't be smug after all you know is piracy us prevalent these days."

Aria playfully nudged Evan, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Zi Hsoh, caught off guard by Evan's witty comeback, chuckled and shook his head in mock defeat. "Fair point, Evan. Enjoy your moment," he said, conceding gracefully as he patted Evan on the shoulder.

After Zi Shou left, Evan could hear a few murmurs especially

For a few moment, it felt weird

At the Eagle Play Words ceremony, Evan and Aria moved through the bustling crowd, greeted by enthusiastic nods and smiles from various company heads and industry veterans.

Evan extended his hand to Mr. Thompson from InnovateTech, a prominent figure known for cutting-edge AI applications. "Evan, good to see you here. CodeZipper has been making waves," Mr. Thompson remarked, his tone a blend of admiration and curiosity.

"Thank you, Mr. Thompson. We've been working hard on some exciting updates," Evan replied, his voice tinged with restrained excitement.

Aria engaged in a lively discussion with Ms. Ramirez, CEO of Global Apps Inc., known for her bold market strategies. "Aria, congratulations on CodeZipper's nomination. You've made an impact this year," Ms. Ramirez exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Ramirez. It's been a journey, but we're thrilled to be here," Aria responded warmly, her confidence infectious.

As they moved through the crowd, Evan exchanged a few words with others head of Product Development at TechSpark Solutions, known for their user-centric designs. "Evan, your approach to user experience is inspiring. Can't wait to see what CodeZipper has in store next," Mr. Chen remarked his expression a mix of professional respect and friendly camaraderie.

"Appreciate that, Mr. Angelo We've got some exciting developments in the line" Evan replied, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

He also casted hint about Breach Protector as discussed with Aria.Unlike Aria, he still felt off but with passage of time he felt quite natural.

As for Aria, she found many familiar figures.

The exchange ended with a good-natured slap on the back and shared laughter, underscoring the camaraderie and friendly competition among industry peers. .

As they made their way to their seats, Evan's expression showed a mix of nerves and quiet confidence. His hands fidgeted slightly, revealing his anticipation for the awards.

The ceremony began with lights and applause. The host, with a commanding presence, announced the category for Best Innovative App of the Year. Dimmed lights focused on a screen displaying the nominees.

"Good evening," the host said, his voice resonant. "Tonight, we celebrate the developers pushing innovation boundaries."

Images of the nominees appeared, including Evan's CodeZipper. The host highlighted its journey from obscurity to acclaim, noting its revolutionary impact on productivity tools. "For your excellence and innovation," he declared, looking at Evan, "We honour Evan for the innovative app CodeZipper."

A wave of applause greeted Evan as he took the stage. His face mixed disbelief with pride. Aria, smiling brightly, squeezed his arm in congratulation.

Accepting the award, Evan delivered a heartfelt speech, thanking his team and expressing gratitude for the recognition. The audience applauded enthusiastically, acknowledging CodeZipper's game-changing role.

...…..

After everything was over, it was time for lunch.

As Evan moved through the buffet line, he glanced around the room, taking in the myriad reactions from the guests.

The vibrant atmosphere of the celebration contrasted with the mixed emotions he sensed in the eyes of the onlookers. Some gazed at him with suspicion, their brows slightly furrowed as if questioning how CodeZipper had defied industry norms. Others looked on with curiosity, clearly intrigued by the app's surprising success.

Trying to focus on the task at hand, Evan selected a variety of dishes from the buffet. He piled his plate with a hearty serving of crab cakes, a few delicate canapés, and a portion of tender chicken sliders. He also grabbed a small bowl of fresh fruit and a glass of sparkling water.

Just then, Aria spotted her colleague Julia across the room. Julia, a sharp-dressed woman with a friendly smile, made her way over to Aria.

"Aria, congratulations!" Julia said warmly, giving her a congratulatory hug. "And Evan, well done!"

"Thank you, Julia," Aria replied, smiling. "It means a lot to us."

As Evan approached near,Aria smiled and said, "Evan, meet Julia. Julia, this is Evan CodeZipper."

Julia extended her hand. "Congratulations, Evan! It's great to meet you."

Evan shook her hand, smiling. "Thank you, Julia. The pleasure's mine."

Julia's eyes sparkled with interest. "I've been following your work. It's impressive."

Aria added, "Julia's been crucial at Pears and knows a lot about app development."

Julia nodded. "I'm excited to discuss some opportunities with you."

Julia's expression turned slightly more serious as she continued, "Actually, Steven Hook from Pears would like to meet with you both. He's interested in discussing some business matters."

Evan's face registered surprise. "Steven Hook? From Pears?"

"Yes," Julia confirmed, nodding. "I know it's a bit unexpected. He mentioned he's been following CodeZipper's success and wants to talk."

Aria's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a thoughtful look. "That's quite an honor, but I wasn't aware of any potential talks with Pears."

Evan's brows furrowed in concern. "Do you know what this is about?"

Julia shook her head. "He didn't give specifics, but it sounded important. He asked me to make sure you both are available."

Evan glanced at Aria, his expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Alright!I have no problem."

Julia gave them a reassuring smile. "I'll let him know you're ready to meet. He had booked the meeting place in above floors."