Roman Godfrey (sheeeyut) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-02-21 07:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | pidge gunderson, roman godfrey |
WHO: Pidge and Roman
WHAT: A little discussion
WHERE: Coffee shop
WHEN: Backdated to a couple of weeks ago
RATING: Lowish
Part of being in charge of a multi billion dollar empire was keeping tight security and that included cyber security. This little breach in security had been very small, nearly undetectable and there was the problem. Usually a breach was an easy enough catch, more of a big glitch, completely detectable by Roman’s crew of computer nerds.
Roman didn’t know enough about it all himself, that stuff was left up to those who could speak in ones and zeros. He’d been asked if he wanted the hacker arrested, but Roman had other plans for her.
After his crew tracked down her signal to a local coffee shop, Roman took a flash drive full of his main frame’s codes with him and went to order a cup of coffee from a shop he’d never even heard of and didn’t really care about. This wasn’t exactly his crowd, all full of Tumblr addicts who said things like “That’s not okay” and “I can’t even”. But she was there, just a kid herself, but Roman had no room to judge. A CEO by the age of eighteen didn’t give him much room to tell any other young person they were too young to be doing something.
Roman wasted no time in approaching her. He set his coffee down first, then slid into the tall chair across from her, staring at her. Yes, he knew who she was and he was pretty sure she knew who he was, too.
***
Normally Pidge would be in the back working on their computer while in the shop but today it had been too much chaos with the maintenance guys back there working on the oven so a table out front in a corner had been the next best option. Nothing illegal - that would wait until they were at home with their secure network and less witnesses even though the latest round hadn’t given any results - just some routine paperwork that was easy enough to look away from as someone took the other chair at the table. Shit. Roman Godfrey. Owner of the company they’d hacked into last on the chance they had access to records that would point to where Matt and their dad had been treated last during their military service.
Pidge closed the computer, sliding it off to the side so that the man opposite would know he had their full attention. “Mr. Godfrey.” What was the point of playing games? Pidge hadn’t found anything useable or even messed with any of the files they’d seen. “First time in my shop?”
***
“Really?” Roman asked, unimpressed by the simple slash of small talk. Naturally, he didn’t answer, but he was sure she (respectively, Roman didn’t know any preference yet) already understood that.
“I’m not going to ask you how you got into our mainframe,” he said, also not bull shitting around. Good that she didn’t strike him as the sort either. “What I’m going to ask is why I shouldn’t have you arrested.” Other than the fact that she was obviously too young and pretty to survive a day behind bars.
***
Pidge leaned back in their chair, studying the man opposite for a moment before answering. “Never let it be said my mother didn’t teach me manners.” Was the only comment they made.
“Because I exposed a flaw in your security but didn’t take advantage of it to actually mess with anything. I was looking for information, it wasn’t there, so I left. Without copying anything and actually, as I’m sure your security has already told you, put up a temporary wall to prevent anyone else taking advantage of that flaw. I might not do legal things all the time but I’m not a criminal. I just believe that information should be free to the people willing to put in the work to get it. As long as they aren’t hurting anyone.”
***
She wasn’t making a very convincing argument, not for Roman.
“Well pin a fucking medal on your chest,” he hissed. Fuck, he was thirsty. As soon as he got back to Godfrey Industries, he’d have a nice, tall gut bucket.
“I don’t care what you do to other companies or whether or not it’s legal, but my company’s information isn’t for you or anyone else, much less everyone else,” he stated, reeling himself back in for the time being. With slightly unsteady hands, he grabbed the sugar from the table and began to pour it into his coffee.
“The way I see it,” he continued, “I could have someone come and slap some nice, new bracelets on your wrists, or I can give you a job, that actually pays. I’d rather do the latter if you’re listening.”
***
Pidge had to swallow back their initial response to Roman’s comment, counting to ten before answering him so that they wouldn’t snap. Getting angry wasn’t a good idea with someone like this and Pidge knew it. Besides he did have the power to get them arrested and that was a phone call to Mom that Pidge didn’t want to make. They’d promised not to hack anymore after that visit from Matt’s former commander that had revealed to her that Pidge had hacked into the military servers. “I’m listening.” They weren’t promising anything but it wouldn’t hurt to listen to what he was offering.
***
“I obviously need some brighter minds in my cyber security department.” They were smart enough to catch her, but she shouldn’t have been able to get in in the first place. “You let go of your fucked up moral code and work with my team on tightening security and I’ll forget you hacked into it and pay you.”
It was a good deal if you asked Roman. She was a kid, but he was sure she was of legal working age, or at least old enough to have her parents sign for her and he didn’t care where the signature actually came from.
***
“How much are you talking about paying me?” Pidge asked. Roman had their attention, and there were already a number of improvements in mind for his security that would prevent other people from getting in there. “If I were to say yes.”
***
Ah. Roman’s lips turned slightly upwards on one side. Everyone’s morality went out the window when there was money involved, a little something his mother had taught him. A little disappointing, actually. Somehow, he’d thought there’d be a little more push, but he wasn’t too surprised to see her at the negotiation phase already.
“That depends,” he said. “On how often you work and how good that work is. I pay my best techs very handsomely, but you already know that. I’m sure you’ve viewed at least some of my payroll.” He had to pay well since most people didn’t exactly want to work for him.
***
“Nothing in the accounting department was going to help me find what I’m looking for so I didn’t care.” Pidge said with a shrug. “I’m just curious what the offer would be.” Their moral compass was probably skewed as far as most people were concerned but it wasn’t as if anything Pidge did actively and directly hurt people. “And how often you’d need or want me to come in to work. I have managers but I’m trying to be active in running this place as I learn more. And my school work which generally takes one night a week to knock out.” That was always an allnighter and a pot of coffee at least so that the rest of the week was free to do whatever else.
***
“Like I said, it depends,” Roman repeated. He wasn’t here to beg, only offer. If she was more concerned about the pay, Roman understood, but it was clear he’d make it worth her while if she worked hard enough.
But it was all up to her in the end. He wasn’t going to report her as long as she stayed out of his network and he’d find someone else; she wasn’t the only cyber genius around and Roman could probably even afford better. They were here, though, and the offer was on the table. The ball was currently in her court.
***
Pidge looked down at the table, obviously thinking over the offer Roman had just made. “I’m guessing I’ll have to sign an NDA or something when I start.” Okay so maybe they wouldn’t be allowed to poke around in the company records anymore but they already knew that what they needed wasn’t there. They’d have to find another way to get to the true files about the Holt mission
***
“Smart girl,” Roman said, then handed over his card before rising to his feet.
“Call me and we’ll meet at my office. Bring ID and your social security card and a slip from Mommy or Daddy giving you permission if you’re under eighteen.” He didn’t care if it was fake, he just needed something for his own records. Lawyers could figure out the rest.