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Beyond the Bottom The Pitch is on
Chapter 62The countdown to the pitch competition was in full swing, and Jamal was feeling the pressure. The stakes were high, and winning meant more than just bragging rights—it was his chance to prove that he could turn his dreams into a reality. He was going to need the right team to make this happen."I’ve decided to put a team together," Jamal said, his focus intense. "Zoe, Leah—I want you both on it."Leah, who was balancing her law courses and preparing for the upcoming exams, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about this? Law school isn’t exactly easy to juggle with extracurriculars."Jamal grinned. "I know it’s a lot, but I need your expertise, especially for the strategy and presentation. You’ve got a sharp mind for negotiation. Trust me, it’ll be worth it."Leah smiled, but the doubt lingered in her eyes. "Alright, alright. I’m in. But we better keep it efficient. Between my cases and assignments, I don’t have much time to spare."Zoe, who was busy with her own demanding cour
Beyond the Bottom Battle of Wits
---Chapter 63Jamal sat at the café table, staring down at the notes in front of him. His mind was racing, but no matter how hard he tried to focus, it kept drifting to one thing.Leah.It wasn’t just the fact that the competition was fast approaching. It wasn’t just the pressure of having to get everything right. No, it was Max.Every time Max entered the room, Jamal couldn’t shake the feeling that the guy wasn’t just there for business. Max was charming, easygoing, and way too comfortable around Leah. It had only been a few weeks since Max started hanging around, but it already felt like he was trying to plant himself firmly between Jamal and Leah.Jamal shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. This wasn’t the time for distractions. He had to focus on the competition, on the pitch, on the work they needed to do. But every time Max was around, it was like a cloud hanging over everything.Leah’s voice snapped him back to the present."Jamal," she said, her tone sharp. "You’r
Beyond the Bottom The Pitch To remember
---Chapter 64The day of the pitch competition had arrived. The energy in the air was palpable, a mix of nerves and excitement, as students and entrepreneurs from all walks of life filled the venue. The sleek, modern space was filled with bright lights, large screens, and rows of tables where teams were prepping their final presentations.Jamal stood at the back of the room, pacing back and forth. His team was ready, and yet his heart raced, not from the pressure of the competition itself, but from the feeling he couldn’t shake—his growing feelings for Leah.Leah had always been there for him, a steady force in the chaos that was his life. She had a sharp mind, a strong sense of justice, and an unwavering loyalty to her friends. Over the past few weeks, as they worked tirelessly on their pitch, Jamal found himself thinking about her more and more. It wasn’t just admiration anymore. It was something deeper.He watched her now, standing confidently with Zoe, both discussing their prese
Beyond the Bottom A subtle shift
---Chapter 65: The excitement from the pitch competition still buzzed in the air, but Jamal couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. As the day wore on, Leah was all smiles, recounting how well their presentation had gone, but Jamal’s thoughts were elsewhere—his eyes often drifting to where Max had stood earlier, or to Leah’s subtle glances in his direction.The competition had gone well. The investors were intrigued, the judges seemed impressed with their ideas, and for a moment, Jamal felt a sense of pride swell within him. But beneath that pride, there was something else—a gnawing uncertainty he couldn’t ignore.Leah had been so focused on the pitch, on getting their startup off the ground, that Jamal had barely had a chance to tell her how much she meant to him. His feelings for her had only deepened over the past few weeks, and every time they shared a moment—whether it was working on the project together or just talking between classes—he felt a pull, a connectio
Beyond the Bottom Dinner, Decisions,and New Beginnings
---Chapter 66The restaurant was buzzing with energy as Jamal, Leah, and Zoe settled into a booth near the back. The dim lighting gave the place a cozy vibe, and the scent of sizzling burgers and fries filled the air. Jamal was still reeling from the competition results, but it was a different kind of energy now—one that felt lighter, like the weight he’d been carrying all day had started to lift.Leah slid into the seat across from Jamal, smiling at him with that warm, genuine smile that made his heart race. Zoe, ever the instigator, sat beside Leah, clearly happy to be out of the dorm room and into a space where they could all breathe a little easier.“So,” Zoe began, tapping the menu lightly on the table, “now that we’ve conquered the pitch competition, what’s next for Team Empire? I vote we get the biggest burger they have and celebrate in style.”Leah chuckled. “I like that idea. We definitely earned it.”Jamal took a deep breath, trying to push past the nervousness swirling in
Beyond the Bottom The Prize and the Messages
Chapter 67The morning after the pitch competition was unusually quiet. The surge of adrenaline had faded, leaving Jamal in a restless calm as he sat at his desk, fingers drumming against the wooden surface. His laptop was open, but the screen blurred in his vision.Stacks of notebooks, pitch drafts, and empty energy drink cans still littered the desk—remnants of the late nights that had led up to yesterday’s event. His phone lay silent beside him, face up, the screen dark. No notification yet.The results were supposed to arrive by noon. It was already 12:17 p.m.A soft knock echoed from the dorm door before Ethan stepped inside. He was in his usual laid-back hoodie and jeans, a cup of coffee in hand, his brown hair slightly tousled as if he’d been up late too."Still nothing?" Ethan asked, glancing at Jamal's phone.Jamal shook his head. "Nope. Not yet."Ethan set his coffee down on the dresser, then leaned against the wall with a grin. "Dude, chill. You nailed that pitch. Trust me,
Beyond the Bottom In the Spotlight
Chapter 68The pizzeria buzzed with life, the scent of melted cheese and fresh dough hanging in the air. A neon "Open" sign flickered in the window, casting a soft glow over the small group crowded around a corner booth.Jamal sat at the head of the table, Ethan to his right and Leah to his left, while Zoe leaned casually against the wall, her hand wrapped around a soda cup. A stack of steaming pizzas lay before them, the grease pooling on the cardboard boxes. Jamal looked at the group, his friends laughing and arguing over the best toppings, and felt something stir in him—a rare lightness."Alright, alright," Zoe said, lifting her drink in the air. "Here’s to Jamal and his Skilbridge Empire in the making! To apps, pitches, and—let’s be real—free pizza!""To Skilbridge Empire" Ethan echoed, clinking his soda against hers.Jamal hesitated for a moment, then raised his glass too. "To all of us," he said, his voice soft but steady. "We did this together."The group cheered, though Leah i
Beyond the Bottom Cracks in the Foundation
Chapter 69The next morning, sunlight streamed through the dorm window, falling across Jamal's desk, still cluttered with notebooks and empty coffee cups. His laptop sat closed, but the anonymous email lingered in his mind like a whisper he couldn’t ignore.By 8 a.m., he was already dressed and pacing the common room. Ethan stumbled out of his bedroom, rubbing his eyes and squinting at the early activity.“Man, why are you up so early?” Ethan mumbled, scratching his head.“Got some stuff on my mind,” Jamal replied, avoiding Ethan’s gaze. “Thought I’d get a head start on things.”“‘Stuff’ as in the business, or ‘stuff’ as in the weird email?”Jamal paused, caught off guard. “How do you—”Ethan held up his hands, yawning. “Relax, bro. Zoe mentioned it when I got back last night. She’s worried about you.”Jamal exhaled sharply. He hadn’t realized how much Zoe picked up on. “It’s nothing,” he said quickly. “Just some hater trying to mess with me.”“Maybe,” Ethan said, grabbing a bottle of
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Issues Brewing
Chapter 120 The office was quiet except for the soft tapping of keys. Jamal stared at the engagement report displayed on his laptop, his brows furrowed. The numbers weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. Skilbridge was growing, but not at the pace they had hoped. While universities were signing up, user retention was dropping. It was a frustrating plateau, one that could determine the platform’s future.Leah sat across from him, scrolling through her tablet. “We need something more compelling. The AI tutoring feature is promising, but it’s not enough. We need a hook—something that makes Skilbridge essential, not just convenient.”Zoe, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward. “What if we establish a student ambassador program? Get representatives in each school to market the platform directly to their peers. Word of mouth is still the strongest form of promotion.”Ethan, casually spinning a pen between his fingers, nodded. “That could work. Organic marketing has a bette
Cracks
Chapter 119 The weight of responsibility pressed down on everyone, stretching them thin in different ways. Jamal struggled to balance Skilbridge with university, Rachel found herself caught between ambition and love, and Alex—once the most dependable of them—had started slipping away into silence.The bonds that once felt unbreakable were now under strain.Rachel sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at her phone. Alex had been distant lately—more than usual. Their conversations, once filled with laughter and teasing, had turned into brief, one-word replies.She had assumed it was just basketball and school. But now, she wasn’t so sure.Rachel: Hey, are you okay?Minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty.Finally, a reply came.Alex: Yeah, just busy.Rachel frowned. That was it? No reassurance, no questions about how she was?Her roommate, Ava, glanced over from her desk. "You’re staring at your phone like you’re waiting for it to explode."Rachel exhaled. "It might as well. Alex has been
Diverging Parts
Chapter 118 The weeks following Malcolm Reid’s investment felt like a whirlwind. Contracts were signed, funds were transferred, and Skilbridge began expanding faster than Jamal had anticipated. With Leah and Ethan leading different departments, they had started hiring new developers, refining their marketing strategy, and pushing for university partnerships beyond Columbus.But the real test was just beginning.Jamal sat in the office space they had rented near campus—a modest but functional place filled with whiteboards covered in code, marketing strategies, and expansion plans. It was late, and most of the team had gone home, but he was still there, staring at his laptop screen."Still here?" Leah’s voice broke the silence.Jamal looked up to see her standing in the doorway, arms crossed, a small smirk on her face. She walked in, setting her laptop on the table beside him."You’re one to talk," he said with a chuckle. "What’s keeping you up?"Leah sighed, taking a seat. "The number
Crossroads and New Beginnings
Chapter 117 Jamal lay awake in his dorm room, staring at the ceiling. The offer from Malcolm Reid weighed heavily on his mind. Five million dollars. That was a life-changing sum, more money than he had ever imagined having access to at this stage of his life. With it came the potential to take Skilbridge from a promising startup to a nationwide brand.But was it worth giving up more control?His phone buzzed. Leah.Leah: Can’t sleep?Jamal: Nope. You?Leah: Same. We’re about to make the biggest decision of our lives.Jamal: And we can’t afford to mess it up.Leah: Let’s talk in the morning. Maybe things will be clearer.Jamal sighed and put his phone away. He hoped Leah was right.By noon, the team reconvened in the same conference room where they had first strategized against ByteEdge. The tension was palpable.Jamal exhaled, looking around the table at Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and the other key team members. "Alright. Let’s vote. Do we take Malcolm Reid’s offer?"Leah leaned forward, her
Playing the Long Game
Chapter 116 Jamal sat in the quiet corner of his dorm room, staring at his laptop screen. The email to Malcolm Reid had been sent hours ago, and yet, every passing minute felt like an eternity. He knew negotiations took time, but patience had never been his strongest suit when the stakes were this high.His phone buzzed. It was Leah.Leah: You free? We need to talk.Jamal sighed and replied.Jamal: Yeah, where?Leah: Library. Conference room. Five minutes.Jamal grabbed his laptop and headed out. The moment he stepped into the library’s conference room, he was met with intense gazes from Leah, Ethan, and Zoe.Leah wasted no time. "We’ve got a problem. ByteEdge just announced a partnership with the university."Jamal frowned. "What kind of partnership?"Ethan turned his laptop toward him, showing a university-wide email. "They’re launching a pilot program where certain courses will be integrated directly with ByteEdge’s platform. Professors using it will receive additional resources,
The Turning Tide
Chapter 115 Jamal Davenport barely had time to rest before the pressure of Skilbridge’s rapid growth came crashing down on him again. The investment offer from Malcolm Reid’s firm loomed over his head, and ByteEdge’s attempts to undermine them were escalating. It felt like a war on multiple fronts—one he couldn’t afford to lose.Early the next morning, he met with Leah, Zoe, and Ethan at their usual café off-campus. It had become their unofficial war room, where ideas were forged and battle plans were drawn.Leah stirred her coffee absentmindedly. "We need to talk about the Malcolm Reid offer. Five million dollars is life-changing, but 20% is a lot."Ethan, always the strategist, tapped his fingers on the table. "I ran some numbers last night. If we accept the investment, we can expand Skilbridge faster—more marketing, more servers, maybe even a dedicated development team. But giving away that much control so early could come back to haunt us."Jamal leaned back, rubbing his temples.
Breaking Barriers
Chapter 114 The morning after the town hall, Jamal Davenport barely had time to process everything before he was thrust into the next challenge. The meeting with Malcolm Reid was scheduled for 9 a.m. sharp, and he had no intention of being late.Zoe, Leah, and Ethan insisted on joining him, recognizing that this could be the turning point for Skilbridge. They arrived at a sleek corporate building downtown, where a receptionist escorted them to a glass-walled conference room.As they stepped inside, Malcolm Reid, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, greeted them with a firm handshake. His aura exuded confidence, the kind of presence that belonged to someone used to making high-stakes deals."Mr. Davenport, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you," Malcolm said, motioning for them to take their seats. "I’ve been following Skilbridge closely. You’ve built something remarkable."Jamal remained composed. "Thank you. We believe in what we’re doing."Malcolm smiled. "That’s exactly why we’re i
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
