Chapter 18: Shadow Of Loyalty
Charles stood beneath the early morning sun, heart still pounding from yesterday’s explosive rollout. The streets buzzed, cameras flashed. He and Lena had hardened Iron Brew’s independence, but the fight wasn’t over.
In his coat pocket, his phone vibrated—nothing from Reed. Instead, his screen read:
"Investors meeting in 4 hours. Proposal from Victor Kane. He wants another chance."
He stepped into the secure elevator of Iron Brew HQ, Lena by his side.
"I think he’s baiting us," Lena murmured. "He lost face publicly—they want their revenge."
Charles nodded. "The system flagged it too. But we need funding for Phase Three. We can’t ignore it."
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9:30 AM – Investor Conference Room
Serena sat at the head of the long table, flanked by key investors: venture funds, angel groups, even ESG reps.
"Thank you all for coming," Serena began. "Chapter 17’s move was bold. We want to know: how do you plan to scale without Reed’s backing?"
Charles stood. His suit fit him better now—cut for an entrepreneur who demands respect.