At My Brother’s Party, the Family Laughed at Me — Then I Asked to See the Badge from the Company I…
Chapter 1: The Feast of the Arrogants
The August sea breeze from the Atlantic swept through the perfectly manicured gardens of the Sterling family estate in East Hampton. Today was the most important day of the year for my family: a celebration for my brother, Derek, being appointed Senior Vice President of Aegis Tech – a multi-billion dollar defense technology corporation.
I, Leo, stood at the edge of the crowd, a glass of water in hand. I wore a worn-out suit bought from a thrift store, a stark contrast to the glamorous tuxedos and evening gowns surrounding me.
In my family’s eyes, I was the “black sheep.” A failure. The son who dropped out of college to “do some computer nonsense” and live in seclusion in a rented apartment in Brooklyn. They didn’t know what I did, and they didn’t bother to ask. They only knew I didn’t have a glamorous title like Derek’s.
Derek stood in the center of the party, raising his champagne glass, laughing heartily. He was 35, handsome, polished, and arrogant.
“Thank you everyone!” Derek said loudly, tapping his spoon against his glass. “Today is a milestone. Aegis Tech doesn’t hire mediocre people. Only 1% of applicants make it to the final interview round. And I, Derek Sterling, have conquered it!”
Applause erupted. My mother, Linda, wiped away tears of pride. My father, Robert, patted Derek on the shoulder so hard he almost spilled his wine.
“That’s my son,” he said loudly. “This family is lucky to have someone capable of something like this. Unlike…”
He left the sentence unfinished, but his eyes darted towards me with contempt. The crowd turned to look at me. Giggles and malicious whispers began to spread.
“Hey, Leo,” Derek called out to me, his tone condescending. “Come here, little brother. Don’t just stand there like a waiter. Come here and raise a glass to me.”
I walked over. I didn’t smile. I just looked at him.
“Congratulations, Derek,” I said softly. “Aegis Tech is a big company. The standards are very high.”
Derek smirked. He pulled something out of his vest pocket.
It was a brand-new ID badge, encased in sturdy plastic, with a lanyard bearing the Aegis shield logo. The badge had Derek’s photo on it, the title “Senior VP,” and a gold security chip.
“Look, Leo,” Derek held the badge up in front of me like a child showing off a new toy. “This is a real ticket to the elite. This opens doors you’ll never be able to cross in your lifetime. Do you know that feeling? The feeling of social recognition?”
My mother chimed in, “Come on, Derek, don’t be so hard on him. Leo… he’s slow. How could he possibly understand the world of successful people?”
“I just wanted to encourage him, Mom,” Derek winked at his friends. “Leo, if you want, I can get you a security guard job in the lobby. At least you’ll get a… plastic badge.”
The whole family burst into laughter. Laughter of mockery, of blatant contempt. They laughed at me, at my “failure,” at my existence in this prestigious family.
I stood still, letting the laughter seep into my very being. I wasn’t angry. I only felt a deep sense of pity.
I looked at the badge in Derek’s hand.
“Derek,” I said, my voice so calm that the laughter gradually died down. “Can I see that badge for a moment?”
Chapter 2: The QR Code of Truth
Derek raised an eyebrow. “You want to see it? Fine. Take it and dream about it. But be careful not to scratch it; it’s worth more than your life.”
He tossed the badge toward me. I caught it.
Holding the card in my hand, I felt its weight. I flipped it over. There was a secure QR code and a serial number identifying the employee.
I pulled out my phone.
“What are you doing?” My father frowned. “Trying to take a picture and post it on Facebook? Don’t make a fool of yourself.”
“No,” I said, opening a special app on my phone – an app with a black interface and an eye logo. “I just want to check if the company’s security system is working properly.”
“Security system?” Derek burst out laughing. “What the hell do you know about the security of a multinational corporation?”
I didn’t answer. I scanned the QR code on Derek’s card with my phone.
BEEP.
A small sound rang out. My phone screen displayed a details panel.
I swiped my finger, entering an Admin code.
“Derek Sterling,” I read aloud from the screen. “Employee ID: 8842-Alpha. Status: Awaiting activation.”
“Of course it’s awaiting activation!” Derek snatched the card back. “I don’t officially start until next Monday. You’re such an idiot.”
I smiled. A smile that sent a chill down Derek’s spine.
“You know, Derek,” I said. “Aegis Tech has a very rigorous vetting process. Especially for senior positions. They check everything: qualifications, credit history, and even… a history of embezzlement at your previous company.”
Derek’s face changed color. He recoiled slightly. “You… what nonsense are you talking about?”
I looked him straight in the eye.
“Him.”
“Three years ago, when you were the CFO of Vance Logistics, a $200,000 sum went missing. The case was covered up because Dad used money to silence the board and save you from jail. You thought it was erased from the record?”
My father jumped up, knocking over his chair. “Leo! Shut up! Who gave you permission to bring that up again?”
“Aegis Tech doesn’t like employees with blemishes, Derek,” I continued, ignoring my father. “But you falsified your criminal record. You bribed the headhunter to overlook that detail. You thought you got past the system.”
“I’m a talent! They need me!” Derek yelled, but sweat was already beading on his forehead. “You’re just a jealous jerk! You know nothing about Aegis Tech!”
“Really?”
I held up my phone, turning the screen towards Derek and my parents.
It wasn’t the company website. It was the Aegis Tech Global HR Management System interface. And in the upper right corner, where the logged-in username was displayed, bright gold lettering appeared:
USER: LEONARD STERLING
ROLE: FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
Chapter 3: The Hidden Man’s Twist
The garden fell silent. The distant sound of the waves suddenly became clear.
Derek’s jaw dropped, his eyes bulging as he stared at the lettering. My mother dropped her glass of wine. My father stood frozen.
“Chairman… Chairman?” Derek stammered. “No… no way… Aegis Tech belongs to an anonymous Silicon Valley investment fund…”
“That’s right,” I said, taking a step forward, my demeanor completely changed. No longer the timid, head-down Leo. “And I’m the one behind that investment fund. I requested to see the company badge because I wanted to verify if my applicant screening system was flawed.”
I pointed at Derek.
“And clearly there is a flaw. A huge loophole named Derek Sterling.”
“You… you’re lying!” my mother yelled. “You dropped out of school! You live in the slums!”
“I dropped out of Stanford because there was nothing left for me to teach,” I said coldly. “I live in Brooklyn because I like the quiet to work. I built Aegis Tech from that rented room for the past seven years. While Derek was busy partying and covering up embezzlement, I built this empire.”
I looked at my phone, my thumb hovering over a red button.
“Derek,” I said. “You just showed off this badge that opens all doors, right?”
“Leo… little brother…” Derek trembled, reaching out to grab my shoulder. “I was just kidding. We’re brothers…”
“I’m not kidding,” I pressed the button.
BEEP… BEEP… BEEP.
Derek’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He hastily pulled it out. An automated email from the Aegis Tech system.
Subject: TERMINATION NOTICE & CONTRACT CANCELLATION.
Content: “Mr. Derek Sterling, your employment status is terminated immediately due to fraudulent record keeping and ethical violations. The legal department will contact you regarding allegations of falsification.”
Derek looked at the badge in his hand. The LED on the chip changed from yellow (awaiting activation) to bright red (deactivated).
“It…it’s dead,” Derek whispered, dropping the card onto the grass.
“Not just fired,” I said. “As Chairman, I just ordered the Internal Audit department to review your entire hiring process. And I’ve also sent your past fraud record at Vance Logistics to the FBI. This time, Dad won’t be able to save you with money, because Dad’s going bankrupt too.”
“What did you say?” my father roared.
“Why do you think your company lost all the big contracts in the last six months?” I smirked. “It’s because of me. I instructed Aegis’ subsidiaries to stop working with unscrupulous partners. You covered up Derek’s crimes, and that’s the price you have to pay.”
Chapter 4: The End of the Party
My whole family crumbled before my eyes.
My mother wept bitterly, not out of regret, but because she realized she had bet on the wrong horse. She rushed to embrace me: “Leo! My dear son! I knew you were so clever! Forgive your brother! He’s your brother!”
I pushed her hands away.
“No, Mom. Didn’t you just say I wasn’t family? I’m just the ‘black sheep’.”
I adjusted my suit collar, looking around at the guests standing like statues. Those who had just mocked me now looked at me with fear and respect.
“The party’s over,” I declared. “And by the way, this mansion… Dad mortgaged it to Iron Bank to bribe officials to get Derek into the Aegis, right?”
My father’s face turned pale.
“Iron Bank is also a subsidiary of mine,” I said, my voice light. “And I just ordered the repossession of assets due to overdue debts. You have 24 hours to get out of my house.”
“You’re kicking your parents out?” my father yelled in despair.
“I’m not kicking them out,” I turned and walked away. “I’m just taking back what’s rightfully mine. And I think, with Derek’s talent, he’ll surely find a suitable job… maybe a security guard, like he suggested?”
I walked out of the mansion gate.
The mansion, where my Rolls-Royce Phantom (which I had instructed the driver to park in a secluded corner) was slowly approaching.
The driver opened the door, bowed, and said, “Good morning, Mr. Chairman.”
I got into the car, leaving behind the wailing of a decaying family inside.
They had mocked me for my old vest.
They had mocked me for not having a title.
But they forgot one thing: The true owner never needs a badge. Badges are for the hired hand. And I, I am the one who sets the rules.
As the car rolled away, I looked out the window. Derek was kneeling on the grass, trying to pick up his worthless plastic card. He still didn’t understand. Power isn’t in that plastic card. Power is in knowing who you are, even when the whole world turns its back on you.
And today, I showed them who I am.
