Brielle looked from me to her father and back again. «You did something. We can’t get the stabilization process to work.»
«That’s unfortunate,» I said, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. «Have you tried following your own innovative approach? The one you presented yesterday?»
The color drained from her face.
«You know I was building on your work… Did I?» I asked, feigning confusion. «That wasn’t mentioned in your presentation. In fact, I believe you specifically said you’d developed an alternative approach.»
Ellis stepped forward. «Enough games. The investors will be here soon. Fix this, and we can discuss compensation, a promotion, whatever you want.»
I looked at him directly. «I’m afraid I can’t help you, Ellis. As I said, I didn’t remove anything from company systems. Everything I developed while employed here remains intact.»
«Then why isn’t it working?» Brielle hissed.
I checked my watch deliberately. «Perhaps because science requires understanding, not just slides and buzzwords.»
I moved toward the door. «Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting of my own to attend.»
Ellis moved to block my path. «You’re not going anywhere until you fix this.»
I kept my expression neutral as I looked up at Ellis. «Are you physically preventing me from leaving? Because that would create a whole different set of problems for you.»
The implied threat hung between us. Ellis was many things—ruthless, calculating, privileged—but he wasn’t stupid. After a moment, he stepped aside, his jaw clenched so tight I could almost hear his teeth cracking.
«This isn’t over,» he said.
«Actually, it is,» I replied, walking past him. «I quit yesterday, remember? When your daughter announced that my ideas weren’t needed anymore.»
I felt their stares burning into my back as I walked through the lab. Colleagues who had been whispering minutes earlier now watched in stunned silence. Most would never dare to stand up to Ellis; his reputation for crushing opposition was legendary.
As I reached the main door, Brielle’s voice rang out, high and strained. «She sabotaged us! She must have!»
I didn’t turn around. I didn’t need to see the expressions to know the damage was spreading. Doubt. Confusion. Fear.
The investors would arrive to find chaos instead of confidence. The perfect presentation Brielle had delivered yesterday would crumble when they asked for demonstrations.
Outside, I took my first deep breath since entering the building. The morning air felt cleansing after the suffocating tension. I checked my phone: three missed calls from unknown numbers and a text from Zara.
«What just happened?»
I got into my car but didn’t start it immediately. Instead, I watched the main entrance, waiting. Five minutes later, Kieran arrived with two other investors. Their expensive cars and confident strides spoke of people accustomed to being catered to. They had no idea they were walking into a disaster.
Another ten minutes passed before my phone rang. A number I didn’t recognize. I let it go to voicemail.
Thirty seconds later, it rang again. Same number. This time, I answered.
«Veda speaking.»
«This is Kieran Walsh.» His voice was tight, controlled. «We need to talk.»
«I’m listening.»
«Not over the phone. Where are you?»
I looked at the glass building gleaming in the morning sun. «Close by.»
«Ah. Meet me at the coffee shop across the street. Five minutes.»
He hung up without waiting for my response. I smiled at my reflection in the rearview mirror. Right on schedule.
When I entered the coffee shop, Kieran was already seated in a corner booth, as far from other customers as possible. His normally immaculate appearance showed signs of strain: tie slightly askew, a faint sheen of sweat on his forehead.
I ordered a coffee before joining him, taking my time, establishing control of the interaction through unhurried movements.
«What happened in there?» he demanded when I finally sat down.
I sipped my coffee. «You’ll have to be more specific.»
«Don’t play games, Veda. Yesterday, Brielle presents a revolutionary stabilization process. Today, nobody can make it work, and Ellis looks like he’s about to have a stroke.»
«That sounds stressful for them.»
Kieran leaned forward. «Six investors are ready to commit $80 million in funding, but not if this is smoke and mirrors.»
I nodded thoughtfully. «Interesting dilemma.»
«What do you want?» He was direct now, recognizing negotiation when he saw it. «We want to fix this. To make the process work, like it did in all the preliminary reports we reviewed.»
«I’m not employed there anymore.»
«That can change.» He pulled out his phone, scrolling briefly. «Your salary was what, $110,000? We can triple that, plus stock options.»
I shook my head. «You’re negotiating for the wrong company, Kieran.»
His eyes narrowed. «What does that mean?»
«It means I’m not interested in going back to work for Ellis.»
«Then what do you want?»
I took another sip, letting him wait for my answer. «You’re investing in a specific innovation, correct? A molecular stabilization process that allows for targeted delivery with minimal degradation?»
«Yes.»
«And you’ve verified that this process works? That it’s reproducible?»
He shifted uncomfortably. «The preliminary data was compelling, but this morning, suddenly nobody can make it work.»
«I said, doesn’t that concern you?»
«It would concern me more if I didn’t think you were behind it somehow.»
I smiled. «That’s quite an accusation. Am I wrong?»
«Let me ask you something, Kieran. In yesterday’s presentation, who did Brielle say developed this process?»
He frowned, thinking back. «She presented it as the company’s innovation. Her team’s work.»
«Her team.» I nodded slowly. «Interesting.»
His expression changed as understanding dawned. «You’re saying…?»
«I’m saying you should be very careful about where you put $80 million. Especially when the person presenting can’t actually deliver what they’re selling.»
I stood up, leaving my coffee half-finished.
«Wait.» Kieran reached for my arm but stopped short of touching me. «We need to continue this conversation.»
«I agree. But not here. And not now.»
I handed him a business card. Blank, except for a phone number. «Call this number at 3 pm today if you’re interested in seeing what actually works.»
I left him sitting there, staring at the card in his hand. By the time I returned to my apartment, my phone was lighting up with messages.
The lab was in complete disarray. Technicians couldn’t replicate results that had been standard for months. Brielle was blaming faulty equipment. Ellis was threatening everyone with termination if they didn’t fix it.
Zara texted: «Ellis just fired Darren for suggesting the process might be flawed. What is happening?»
I didn’t respond. Instead, I opened my laptop and began preparing for my 3 pm meeting. Everything needed to be perfect.
At 2:30, my doorbell rang. I checked the security camera, surprised to see Ellis standing there alone. His car idled at the curb, no driver visible. He’d come himself.
I considered ignoring him but decided against it. This confrontation was inevitable. When I opened the door, he looked older than he had that morning. The powerful CEO was showing cracks.
«May I come in?» His voice lacked its usual commanding tone.
I stepped aside, allowing him entry but saying nothing. He glanced around my modest apartment, taking in the stacks of scientific journals, the small desk cluttered with notes, and the cat watching warily from atop a bookshelf.
«The investors walked out,» he said finally.
«I’m sorry to hear that.»
«No, you’re not.» There was no anger in his voice now, just exhaustion. «You planned this.»
«I planned nothing, Ellis. I simply quit after being publicly humiliated and having my work stolen.»
He winced at my directness. «Brielle was overzealous. She shouldn’t have presented without acknowledging your contributions.»
«Contributions?» I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. «That’s an interesting way to describe creating the entire process.»
«We can fix this,» he said, moving to sit on my sofa without invitation. «Come back. Full credit. Higher position. Name your terms.»