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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
Beyond the Bottom The Battle Line Has been Drawn Milo
Chapter 99Jamal sat in his apartment, staring at his laptop screen. The live demo had been a massive success—Skilbridge was making waves, investors were paying attention, and most importantly, Milo had been forced into silence.But something about that last message bothered him.You think this is over?Milo was arrogant, yes, but he wasn’t stupid. If he wasn’t responding publicly, it meant he was planning something bigger.Jamal leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. Across the room, Leah sat cross-legged on the couch, scrolling through her phone. Ethan and Zoe were huddled over Evan’s tablet, reviewing the latest investor reports.Zoe looked up. “We’ve secured three major investors, and we’ve got two more interested.”Ethan smirked. “Not bad for a startup that some people thought wouldn’t last.”Leah glanced at Jamal. “You’re quiet. What’s wrong?”Jamal exhaled. “Milo’s too quiet. That worries me.”Leah frowned. “You think he’s planning something?”“I don’t think—I know.”A
Beyond the Bottom The Celebration and the Unfinished Business
Chapter 100The city lights shimmered through the apartment window as Jamal leaned against the balcony railing, his fingers wrapped around a cold glass of water. Below, the streets of Columbus bustled with life, the hum of the city never truly fading. The air was cool, crisp against his skin, but inside, his mind burned with thoughts he couldn’t shake.Behind him, laughter and conversation filled the apartment. It was meant to be a celebration—Skilbridge had won. The battle with Milo had taken everything out of them, but they had come out on top. Investors were staying, their reputation remained intact, and Milo? He had suffered a crushing defeat.But something about it felt… unfinished.Leah stepped out onto the balcony, handing him a drink. “Why do you look like you just lost a million dollars?”Jamal smirked, shaking his head. “I’m supposed to be celebrating, right?”Leah crossed her arms. “Yeah, but you’re not. What’s on your mind?”Jamal exhaled, leaning against the railing. “Mil
Beyond the Bottom Binding ties
Chapter 101The crisp morning air at Columbus University felt different—charged with an undercurrent of tension and hope. The once-familiar campus grounds now seemed like a battleground, not of fists and fury, but of ambition, rivalry, and relentless pursuit of dreams. For Jamal, it was another day to face the mounting pressures that weighed heavily on his shoulders—Skilbridge, university deadlines, and the complex web of personal relationships that had grown thicker with time.Jamal sat in the university library, his laptop open but untouched. The blinking cursor on his screen mirrored his scattered thoughts. The last investor meeting still echoed in his mind, the doubtful expressions of potential backers haunting him like shadows. Despite his confidence, Milo’s interference had shaken the very foundation of what he’d built.Leah slipped into the seat across from him, her notebook tucked under her arm, and a tired smile on her face. “You’ve been staring at that screen for twenty minu
Beyond the Bottom Tensions Unraveling
Chapter 102Jamal sat at his desk, staring blankly at his laptop screen. The glowing display reflected an overwhelming pile of assignments, project deadlines, and unread emails from his professors. His mind buzzed with numbers, business projections, and the ever-present tension surrounding Skilbridge. Balancing university and the company was getting harder with each passing day.The latest email was from Professor Simmons, reminding the class about the upcoming research presentation. Another was from the student finance office, notifying him about tuition deadlines. It was ironic—he was handling millions in investments for Skilbridge, yet he still had to worry about university payments like any other student.With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. His phone vibrated, snapping him out of his thoughts. Leah.Leah: Hey, you alive? We’re at the café. You need caffeine. And maybe an intervention.Jamal exhaled a chuckle, already knowing she wouldn’t take no for an a
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A Shift in Priorities
Chapter 126The tension in Jamal’s life was reaching its peak. Balancing Skilbridge, academics, and personal life was proving to be more than he had bargained for. Every day felt like a ticking clock, each second slipping away faster than the last.The workload at Skilbridge was growing, and with every new challenge came a new obstacle. University obligations were still looming over his head, and now, there was another layer to the chaos—Rachel and Alex’s relationship was crumbling, and though they were miles apart, Jamal could feel the shift in their dynamic.Rachel sat on her dorm room bed, staring at her phone. Alex hadn’t texted her in over a day. Normally, she would have been worried, but at this point, she was just exhausted. Every conversation between them had started feeling like a chore—strained, predictable, and lacking the spark they once had.Her roommate, Melanie, glanced at her over the rim of her laptop screen. “Still waiting for him to text?”Rachel sighed. “I don’t ev
The Threat Becomes Real
Chapter 125 Jamal sat at his desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden surface. His laptop screen glowed in the dim dorm room, the anonymous email staring back at him like a silent threat. He had read it a dozen times already, trying to decipher any hidden meanings, but its message was simple and direct:You think you’ve won? This is just the beginning.He clenched his jaw. Milo was getting bolder. And now, it seemed, he wasn’t acting alone. Jamal turned to Leah, Zoe, and Ethan, who were sitting on his bed, each of them wearing matching expressions of concern.“This isn’t just some petty campus rivalry anymore,” Jamal muttered. “Milo’s taking this outside Columbus University.”Leah folded her arms. “We need to track down who sent this. If he has outside help, we’re at a disadvantage.”Zoe sighed, running a hand through her hair. “But how do we stop someone we can’t see?”Ethan leaned forward, his eyes sharp with calculation. “Maybe we don’t have to find him. Maybe we make
On the Verge of Collapse
Chapter 123 – Breaking PointJamal sat in front of his laptop, the glow from the screen highlighting the exhaustion on his face. The Skilbridge scandal was spreading faster than he anticipated. Despite their efforts, the accusations kept circulating on campus forums. It didn’t matter that there was no concrete proof—people loved a juicy controversy.Leah’s voice came through the team’s group call. “The livestream is scheduled for tomorrow. We have three professors from the tech department agreeing to watch. If we prove our originality, we kill this rumor.”Ethan exhaled. “Still, we need to be ready for anything. Milo isn’t dumb—he’ll try to discredit us again.”Zoe, who had been eerily silent, suddenly spoke. “Then we do something he won’t expect.”Jamal rubbed his temples. “Like what?”“We go bigger,” Zoe said. “We turn this livestream into a full-fledged demo day. Invite students, industry experts, hell—even potential investors. We force the narrative into something positive.”Leah
Lines Drawn
Chapter 122 Jamal sat at the far end of the library, surrounded by stacks of textbooks and notes, yet his mind refused to focus. The weight of everything pressed against his skull—Skilbridge, his slipping grades, the rumors Milo was spreading. It was too much at once, and no matter how much he tried to block it all out, the anxiety simmered just beneath the surface.Leah tapped her fingers against the table, waiting for him to say something. She had just laid out the latest problem—the false rumors about Skilbridge’s tech. Someone was trying to undermine them, and they both knew exactly who.“We need a plan,” Leah said, her voice low but firm. “If this spreads, we could lose investor confidence.”Jamal exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “We need proof that Milo’s behind it.”Zoe, who had been scrolling through her phone, suddenly smirked. “Or we can play smarter. If he wants to spread lies, we counter with undeniable facts. Make our work so solid that no one even considers his nons
Tipping Points
Chapter 121 – Tipping PointsThe night air outside Columbus University was crisp, but inside Jamal’s dorm, the air felt thick with stress. His desk was a mess—open textbooks, half-written assignments, and a laptop screen blinking with notifications. He tapped his pen against his notebook, staring at the calculations he needed to finish for his next class.His phone vibrated. Ethan.“Meeting in 10. Lecture Hall.”Jamal exhaled, rubbing his eyes. These late-night strategy sessions were necessary, but they were also draining. Skilbridge was growing at a pace none of them had fully prepared for, and balancing school with running a startup was proving to be more of a nightmare than he had expected.Still, there was no backing out now.He grabbed his hoodie and headed out.A Late-Night Strategy SessionThe lecture hall was mostly empty at this hour, except for Leah, Zoe, and Ethan, who were already inside, gathered around one of the large desks. Leah’s tablet was open, showing analytics, wh
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
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
