Chapter 90The crisp autumn breeze swirled through the campus, sending leaves scattering across the ground like confetti. Jamal sat at a bench outside the main building, his eyes scanning over a variety of articles on tech startups and business strategies. He hadn’t realized how much he missed this—the ability to just sit and focus without the looming pressure of deadlines or constant phone calls. For the first time in weeks, he felt a sense of peace. But he knew better than to get too comfortable. In his world, peace was often temporary.Leah appeared, as if summoned by his thoughts, carrying two iced coffees and a small stack of textbooks. "Hey, there you are," she said, sitting down beside him."Hey," Jamal replied, taking the coffee she handed him. "What’s up?"Leah stretched out her legs and leaned back, clearly enjoying the rare moment of downtime. "Nothing much, just trying to catch up on some reading," she said, flipping open one of the textbooks. "You?""Same," Jamal replied,

Chapter 92The morning air was heavy with anticipation as Jamal made his way to the university’s main building. His mind was racing, still tangled in the mess of the last few days. The pressure of the looming conflict with Milo, combined with his personal struggles, was beginning to take a toll. The weight of it all felt like a brick in his chest, and no matter how many breaths he took, it didn’t seem to get any lighter.As he entered the building, the familiar buzz of conversation and the shuffle of students moving between classes barely registered in his mind. He was already running late for a meeting with the investors, and the tension was suffocating. Milo’s moves had gotten more aggressive, and Jamal knew he couldn’t afford to show any signs of weakness. But the truth was, he was stretched thin, and something had to give.As he approached the conference room, he saw Ethan and Zoe already waiting, their faces tense. They had been working nonstop on damage control, trying to find o

Chapter 94The next morning, Jamal walked onto campus with a new resolve. He had spent the previous night going over everything—the investors, the pressure, Milo’s interference. It was clear now: he couldn’t afford to stay on the defensive. It was time to make a move.The crisp morning air did little to ease the weight pressing down on his chest, but at least now, he had a plan. The moment he spotted Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan near the library, he knew they had something to tell him.Leah’s arms were crossed, her expression tight with concern. Ethan’s jaw was clenched, his usual calm replaced with something sharper. Zoe was tapping her fingers against her arm—a sign she was irritated. Evan stood slightly apart, his brows furrowed as he scrolled through something on his phone.Jamal sighed. “Alright, what’s the bad news?”Leah and Ethan exchanged a glance before Leah spoke. “Milo’s been talking.”Jamal’s stomach twisted. “Talking how?”Zoe exhaled. “He’s been meeting with people. Not j

Chapter 96The morning of the Skilbridge demo arrived with a mix of tension and excitement.Jamal stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his blazer. His mind raced through everything they had prepared. The presentation, the demo, the counterplay against Milo’s sabotage—it all came down to this moment.A buzz from his phone snapped him back to reality.Rachel: You got this, Jamal. We all believe in you.Jamal smiled faintly. Rachel always seemed to know exactly when to check in.Alex: Make ‘em regret ever doubting you, man. Can’t wait to hear about it.He exhaled, slipping his phone into his pocket. There was no room for doubt today.—By the time he arrived at the presentation hall, the energy in the room was electric. Rows of seats were filling up fast, and investors, professors, and students murmured among themselves. The last-minute buzz they had created worked. Even some of Milo’s allies were here—likely to see if the rumors were true.Jamal spotted Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan at

Chapter 98Jamal barely slept.The last forty-eight hours had been a blur of investor calls, team meetings, and relentless planning. His laptop screen was beginning to blur in his vision, but he couldn’t afford to slow down. Not when Skilbridge was under threat.Milo had made his move, and now it was war.He stretched his fingers before clicking through the latest email reports. The response to their counterstatement had been promising. A few investors had already backed out of Milo’s offer, unwilling to get involved in his cutthroat tactics. But it wasn’t enough.They needed a game-changer.Jamal’s mind worked rapidly. If they wanted to win this battle, they couldn’t just hold ground—they had to dominate.He glanced at Leah, who sat across from him at the dining table, typing furiously on her laptop. Ethan and Zoe were on a call, discussing potential outreach strategies. Evan, seated on the couch, had his tablet in hand, monitoring investor feedback.Jamal took a deep breath and stoo