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Beyond the Bottom Under the Surface
Chapter 91The library was quiet, the only sounds the soft rustling of pages turning and the occasional murmur of students in the corners. Jamal walked in, his mind racing, trying to piece together everything that had happened in the last few hours. As soon as he stepped inside, he spotted Ethan and Zoe at their usual table, a pile of textbooks and papers scattered across the surface. Ethan looked up when he saw Jamal approach, his expression tense."Jamal," Ethan said, his voice low. "Glad you're here."Jamal took a seat beside him, setting his bag down. "What’s going on? What’s this about Milo?"Zoe, who had been silently typing on her laptop, looked up. "We’ve been tracking some of Milo’s moves," she said, her tone sharp. "It’s not just him trying to undercut us. He’s getting help. We don’t know who, but someone’s backing him."Jamal ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping into his chest. "Great. Just when I thought we had a handle on things."Ethan leaned in, showing Jam
Beyond the Bottom Melting Point
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
Beyond the Bottom The Troubles Within
Chapter 93The rest of the day dragged on, the weight of the meeting still heavy on Jamal's shoulders. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were teetering on the edge of something bigger, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. As he walked through the campus, his mind raced, replaying every conversation, every look from the investors. But there was nothing more he could do for the moment. For now, the only thing he could control was what came next.Later that evening, Jamal sat in the lounge, his laptop open in front of him but his mind elsewhere. The glow of the screen was barely registering as his thoughts continued to spiral. He was so caught up in his worries that he almost didn’t hear the knock on the door.“Jamal?” Leah’s voice broke through the fog in his mind. “Hey, can we talk?”He looked up, blinking as if waking from a deep trance. Leah stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of concern and determination. Jamal sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.“Y
Beyond the Bottom The Unfinished Business
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
Beyond the Bottom Setting the Stage
Chapter 95The days leading up to the presentation moved fast. Too fast.Jamal barely had time to catch his breath between finalizing Skilbridge’s demo, coordinating with investors, and ensuring everything went smoothly. Leah took charge of managing the logistics, making sure the right people received their invitations. Ethan and Zoe worked relentlessly on perfecting the interface, while Evan stayed glued to his phone, tracking Milo’s next moves.Despite the mounting pressure, Jamal knew one thing: they couldn’t afford any mistakes.And, more importantly, they couldn’t afford to lose.—The night before the presentation, the team gathered in Leah’s apartment to run through everything one last time.Ethan connected his laptop to the TV, displaying the Skilbridge interface. “Alright, final check. System’s running smooth, no lag, and all key features are in place.”Jamal leaned forward. “How’s the automated matching?”“Works like a charm.” Ethan clicked a few buttons, and the algorithm i
Beyond the Bottom Moment of Truth
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
Beyond the Bottom Just Another's at the Office
Chapter 97The adrenaline from the presentation still buzzed through Jamal’s veins, but as the crowd began to disperse, reality settled in. Milo wasn’t done.Jamal knew that look on his face. It wasn’t defeat. It was a silent promise. A war that hadn’t ended—just escalated.Leah, Zoe, and Ethan stood nearby, discussing the next steps with some of the investors. Evan was off to the side, taking notes. The room was still alive with murmurs and handshakes, but Jamal’s focus remained locked on one thing.Milo was talking to someone at the exit. A sharp-dressed man in his late thirties—tall, clean-cut, exuding the kind of quiet confidence that came with money and power. Jamal didn’t recognize him, but from the way Milo was speaking, the man was important.Too important.Leah must have noticed too because she leaned in. “You see that?”Jamal nodded. “Yeah.”“Who is he?”“I don’t know. But I’m gonna find out.”Leah glanced back at Ethan and Zoe, who were still locked in discussions. “Want me
Beyond the Bottom The Gloves Come Off
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
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Sliver Lining at Last
Chapter 113 The media storm surrounding ByteEdge’s corruption sent shockwaves through the university. News stations aired reports on their monopolistic practices, and students flooded online forums with outrage. ByteEdge’s once-infallible reputation was crumbling, and the momentum was shifting in Skilbridge’s favor.Jamal Davenport sat in the Skilbridge workspace, exhaustion evident in his eyes, but there was no time to rest. The fight wasn’t over yet."We’re seeing record-breaking sign-ups," Zoe announced, staring at the analytics on her screen. "In the past 24 hours, over 20,000 new users have joined Skilbridge."Leah whistled. "That’s insane. Can our servers handle that?"Ethan nodded. "For now. But if this keeps up, we’ll need a serious upgrade."Jamal leaned forward. "Good. The more students we help, the harder it’ll be for the university to ignore us."Leah smirked. "Speaking of which… The board just announced an emergency town hall. They’re opening the floor for discussion abo
The Tides of War
Chapter 112 The days that followed were a whirlwind of meetings, legal consultations, and sleepless nights. Jamal Davenport had always known that challenging a corporate giant like ByteEdge would come with consequences, but he never imagined they would escalate this quickly.Sitting in the Skilbridge workspace—a small, converted student lounge in the university’s co-working hub—Jamal rubbed his temples as he scrolled through the latest news articles. The lawsuit had made national headlines."ByteEdge vs. Student Innovators: The Battle Over Digital Education""A Campus Rebellion: Students Fight Back Against Corporate Monopoly"Skilbridge had become more than a startup. It was now a symbol of student empowerment.Leah walked in, dropping a thick folder on the desk. "Legal just sent over an updated breakdown of ByteEdge’s claims. They’re arguing that we reverse-engineered their platform."Jamal scoffed. "That’s ridiculous. Our code is original.""Yeah, but proving that in court takes ti
The Breaking Point
Chapter 111 Jamal Davenport sat in front of his laptop, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The email from ByteEdge’s former corporate partner was still on the screen, the offer staring back at him. It was an opportunity—one that could cement Skilbridge’s place in the industry.But there was a catch.“They want exclusivity,” Leah said, pacing the room. “If we take their deal, we won’t be able to work with any of their competitors.”Ethan frowned. “That sounds like a trap. ByteEdge lost them, and now they’re trying to lock us in before we grow any bigger.”Jamal exhaled slowly. He knew Leah and Ethan were right. ByteEdge played dirty, and even if this company had pulled away from them, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t try to control Skilbridge in the same way.“We need to negotiate,” Jamal finally said. “We can’t afford to get boxed in.”Zoe tapped her phone, scanning through their latest engagement numbers. “We have leverage,” she said. “Skilbridge’s user base has tripled since the unive
The Turning point
Chapter 110 Jamal Davenport sat at his desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as he waited for the call. This was it. The meeting with the university board would determine whether Skilbridge could survive ByteEdge’s onslaught or be crushed under corporate pressure.The room was tense. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan sat around him, their eyes locked on the laptop screen.“You sure they’ll go for it?” Ethan asked.Jamal exhaled. “They don’t just want a scholarship. They want something sustainable. And that’s what we’re offering.”The laptop screen lit up with an incoming call. Jamal straightened his posture and clicked accept.“Mr. Davenport,” the university administrator’s voice came through, steady but unreadable. “We’ve reviewed your proposal.”The tension in the room thickened.“And?” Jamal asked, keeping his tone professional.The administrator paused. “The board is impressed. Your career development pipeline is innovative, and we believe it could provide real value to our studen
The War for Dominance
Chapter 109 Jamal Davenport had always known that running a startup wouldn’t be easy, but this was a full-on war. ByteEdge wasn’t just moving aggressively; they were dominating.Their latest move—securing exclusive deals with two universities—was a brutal blow. Skilbridge was fighting against a corporate giant with deep pockets and powerful connections. If they didn’t strike back fast, they’d be buried before they even had a chance to grow.As soon as Jamal ended the call with Ethan, he headed straight for their dorm. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan were already waiting inside, tension thick in the air.“We need a new plan,” Leah said, arms crossed. “ByteEdge isn’t playing fair.”Jamal dropped his bag onto the chair and ran a hand through his hair. “We knew this would happen. We just didn’t expect them to move this fast.”“They’re leveraging money,” Ethan muttered. “Universities can’t say no to a fat check.”“But that’s their weakness,” Zoe said, adjusting her glasses. “They’re focusing o
Battling for Survival
Chapter 108 Jamal Davenport had faced challenges before—balancing Skilbridge with university, securing funding, and dealing with relentless coursework. But this? This was different.ByteEdge was a monster, a competitor with deep pockets and industry influence. If Skilbridge didn’t act fast, they’d be crushed before they even got a chance to thrive.The emergency meeting in Jamal’s dorm had ended with a plan, but now came the hard part—execution.By the next morning, Skilbridge’s team was already in motion. Ethan was coding new features, Zoe was reaching out to student organizations, and Evan—true to his word—was spreading the word across campus.Leah, on the other hand, had taken control of the marketing strategy.“We need to hit every major university event,” she told Jamal as they walked through the campus courtyard. “Tech fairs, career expos, student meet-ups—anything that gets people talking about Skilbridge.”Jamal nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His inbox was full of emails
Pressure Building
Chapter 107 Jamal Davenport had thought securing an investor would be the hardest part of the journey. He was wrong.With the ink barely dry on the contract, the real challenge began—balancing Skilbridge, university, and life. Columbus University was unforgiving; professors didn’t care about his startup, deadlines didn’t wait for board meetings, and exams loomed like an unstoppable storm.It was just past midnight, and Jamal sat hunched over his laptop in the student lounge, eyes scanning Skilbridge’s latest analytics report. The numbers weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. Growth had to be faster if they were going to meet Langford’s targets.“Still at it?” Leah’s voice cut through the quiet.Jamal looked up to see her standing by the vending machine, a bottle of water in hand. She wore an oversized hoodie and sweatpants—her unofficial study attire.“I have to be,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “If these numbers don’t improve, Langford might start thinking we aren’t worth
The Waiting Game
Chapter 106 The days that followed were agonizing. Patience had never been Jamal Davenport’s strong suit, and now, with everything on the line, waiting for a response from Langford and Hayes felt like torture. The uncertainty gnawed at him, making it impossible to focus on anything else.He sat in the student lounge at Columbus University, his phone in his hand, refreshing his emails for what felt like the hundredth time. Nothing. Leah sat beside him, flipping through her notes, while Ethan and Zoe occupied the opposite couch, discussing an upcoming project.“You’re going to burn a hole through that screen if you keep staring at it,” Leah muttered, not looking up.Jamal exhaled sharply. “What if they back out? What if they decide Skilbridge isn’t worth the risk?”Leah sighed and closed her notebook. “Jamal, you need to breathe. We presented the best possible pitch. If they’re interested, they’ll call. If they’re not… we’ll find another way.”“You say that like we have a backup plan.”
Racing Against Time
Chapter 105 Jamal Davenport sat at the head of the table in Leah’s apartment, surrounded by his closest allies—Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and even Evan, who had surprisingly decided to stick around. Their expressions were serious, their gazes fixed on the documents and laptop screens before them. The weight of saving Skilbridge rested on their shoulders, and there was no room for hesitation.“We don’t have time to waste,” Jamal began, his voice steady but firm. “If we’re going to rebrand Skilbridge and attract investors, we need a full plan in motion by the end of the week.”Leah tapped her pen against the table. “That’s ambitious, but necessary. What’s our first step?”Jamal took a deep breath, knowing the next part would be the most difficult. “We need a pitch that sells Skilbridge as a must-have investment. Not just another start-up struggling to survive, but a company with real potential.”Ethan leaned forward. “We need success stories. Testimonials. Something that proves Skilbridge isn’t
