Chapter 2: The Offer Worth More Than Her Pride
"Looking for me?"" I repeated.
Dr. Bennett nodded.
"Since March.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because your prototype solved a problem their research department has spent almost four years trying to fix.""
Xavier gave a short laugh.
"Come on. He's a mechanic.""
Dr. Bennett finally turned toward him.
"Yes. And apparently a better problem-solver than several engineers earning six-figure salaries.""
A few people nearby laughed.
Xavier's smile vanished.
Naomi stepped forward.
"Professor, could we discuss this privately?""
Dr. Bennett looked at her.
"Certainly. But this matter concerns Mr. Walls, not you.""
Her cheeks flushed.
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
"Professor," I said, "what exactly does the company want?""
He opened the folder and pointed to a paragraph.
"Northstar Mobility. They're interested in acquiring the commercial rights to your emergency braking technology. They've also proposed a separate development partnership.""
I recognized the company.
Northstar supplied advanced vehicle systems to several major automobile manufacturers. Their products were used in commercial trucks, buses, and emergency vehicles across North America.
I looked at the document again.
"How much?""
Dr. Bennett hesitated.
"The initial offer is three million dollars.""
My mouth went dry.
Three million.
I had never seen that much money outside a television screen.
But Dr. Bennett wasn't finished.
"That's the acquisition amount. The partnership includes royalties, provided the technology passes the final safety certification.""
Xavier shifted his weight.
"Three million for that little metal thing?""
Dr. Bennett closed the folder.
"That little metal thing could save thousands of lives if developed correctly.""
Naomi looked at me.
"Cedric, why didn't you ever tell me about this?""
I stared at her.
I almost laughed.
"You never asked.""
"I mean, you never said your design was this advanced.""
"You used to tell me it was a hobby.""
Her lips parted.
I remembered one particular evening.
It had been nearly two years earlier. I was sitting at our kitchen table, surrounded by drawings, measurements, and calculations.
Naomi had walked in carrying a stack of textbooks.
"What is all this?"" she'd asked.
"My brake system.""
She'd glanced at the drawings.
"Again?""
"It's getting close.""
She'd sighed and dropped her books onto the table.
"Cedric, I need the kitchen table. I have an important submission tomorrow.""
I had gathered my papers.
That night, I worked on the garage floor.
I never forgot that.
Now she was standing in front of me, asking why I hadn't shared my success.
"I tried," I said.
She looked down.
Dr. Bennett cleared his throat.
"Cedric, there's a meeting scheduled for Monday. Their representatives want to discuss the terms in person.""
I nodded.
"I'll be there.""
"Good. And please, don't discuss the offer with anyone until you've spoken to an attorney.""
Xavier laughed again.
"He's going to need more than an attorney. He's going to need a financial adviser.""
Dr. Bennett gave him a cold look.
"Then I suggest you allow him to choose those people himself.""
I tucked the folder under my arm.
"Thank you, Professor.""
He shook my hand.
"And Cedric?""
"Yes?""
"Your father would be proud.""
That nearly broke me.
My father had died when I was twenty-four, after a sudden heart attack at the repair shop.
He never got to see my first working prototype.
He never got to hear the engine start after I installed the final components.
I had spent years wishing I could show him.
Now someone else was telling me he would have been proud.
I nodded, unable to speak.
As Dr. Bennett walked away, Naomi approached.
"Cedric, can we talk?""
I looked at Xavier.
"Does he know?""
She frowned.
"Know what?""
"That you and I lived together for six years.""
Xavier's jaw tightened.
Naomi looked at him.
"Xavier, please.""
He removed his arm from her waist.
"Wait. You lived together?""
Naomi exhaled.
"It was complicated.""
"Complicated?"" I repeated.
"You called me your roommate when he asked about your living arrangements?""
Xavier turned toward her.
"You said you were staying with a friend.""
"I was going to explain.""
"When?""
She looked at me.
"Cedric, this isn't the time.""
I nodded.
"You're right. It isn't.""
I walked toward the parking lot.
She followed.
"Cedric!""
I kept walking.
"Please, just give me five minutes.""
I reached my old pickup truck.
The paint was faded, one headlight had a crack, and the passenger door needed to be lifted slightly before it would close.
Naomi used to complain about it.
She said she hated being seen in that truck.
I opened the driver's door.
She caught my arm.
"Don't leave like this.""
I looked at her hand.
She released me.
"Seven years, Naomi. You had seven years to talk to me.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know you're hurt.""
"Hurt?""
My voice cracked.
"You stood in front of hundreds of people and told me I was nothing. You let another man laugh at me. Then you announced you were moving into his apartment like I was some stranger who had accidentally shown up.""
"I didn't plan for it to happen this way.""
"How did you plan for it to happen?""
She hesitated.
That silence told me more than any answer could.
Finally, she whispered, "Xavier understands the world I'm entering now.""
I stared at her.
"What world?""
"The academic world. The professional world. The kind of life I want.""
"And I don't belong in it?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"Cedric, you work with your hands. There's nothing wrong with that, but we're at different stages of life.""
I nodded slowly.
"You're right.""
She seemed relieved.
Then I added, "You spent seven years benefiting from those hands.""
Her expression changed.
I opened the truck door.
"Goodbye, Naomi.""
She didn't move.
I climbed in and started the engine.
As I pulled away, I saw her standing beside Xavier's expensive car.
For a second, I wanted her to run after me.
I wanted her to apologize.
I wanted the woman I had loved for seven years to suddenly remember every ordinary thing we had shared.
But she didn't.
And I finally understood that sometimes the hardest part of leaving someone wasn't losing them.
It was accepting that they had stopped choosing you long before you walked away.
My apartment smelled like stale coffee and machine oil.
I had rented a small two-bedroom place near the industrial district because it was close to my workshop.
Naomi had moved in during her second year of graduate school.
At first, she insisted on splitting everything.
Then her funding disappeared.
Then she needed money for textbooks.
Then she needed help with rent.
Eventually, I stopped asking her to contribute.
I told myself we were building a future together.
Now I stood in the kitchen, looking at the two coffee mugs on the counter.
One was mine.
The other had her name printed on it.
I picked it up and placed it inside a cardboard box.
My phone buzzed.
*Naomi:* We need to discuss the apartment.
I stared at the message.
Another arrived.
*Naomi:* I left some things there. I'll come tomorrow.
Then:
*Naomi:* Please don't make this difficult.
I typed a response.
Deleted it.
Typed another.
Finally, I wrote:
*Cedric:* I'll have your belongings packed. Let me know when you want to collect them.
I placed the phone facedown.
A knock sounded at the door.
I opened it.
My younger sister, Danielle, stood outside holding two paper bags.
She looked at my face.
Then at the ring box on the kitchen counter.
"Oh, Cedric.""
I stepped aside.
"Hey, Dee.""
She walked in and placed the bags on the table.
"Tell me she said yes.""
I shook my head.
Danielle froze.
"What happened?""
I tried to smile.
"She said we're just friends.""
My sister stared at me.
Then her eyes filled with anger.
"After everything you did?""
I shrugged.
"Apparently.""
"Where is she?""
"With Xavier.""
Danielle slowly put down her purse.
"That man in the white suit?""
I nodded.
She let out a humorless laugh.
"Unbelievable.""
"Don't.""
"No, Cedric. I'm serious. You sold Dad's shop for her.""
"I know.""
"You worked yourself sick.""
"I know.""
"You gave up the engineering program you wanted because she needed tuition.""
I looked away.
Danielle's voice softened.
"You gave her your whole life.""
I sat down.
"Maybe I wanted to.""
She pulled out the chair opposite me.
"Wanting to help someone doesn't mean they get to destroy you.""
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she noticed the folder.
"What's that?""
I explained everything.
Danielle listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she opened the folder and read the first page.
Her eyes widened.
"Three million dollars?""
"That's the initial offer.""
She looked at me.
"Cedric, do you understand what this means?""
"Not yet.""
She tapped the paper.
"It means you might finally get your life back.""
I looked toward the small box containing Naomi's mug.
For the first time, that thought didn't hurt.
It felt possible.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Walls? My name is Richard Cole. I'm the managing director of Northstar Mobility.""
I sat upright.
"Yes, sir.""
"I understand Professor Bennett delivered our proposal.""
"He did.""
"Good. There's something I'd like to clarify before Monday's meeting.""
I glanced at Danielle.
"What is it?""
The man paused.
"Our company isn't offering three million dollars simply to purchase your patent.""
I frowned.
"Then what are you offering?""
"We want to build an entirely new division around your technology. And we'd like you to lead it.""
I gripped the phone.
"Lead it?""
"That's right, Mr. Walls. We're prepared to discuss an executive position, an equity package, and a research facility under your direction.""
Danielle's mouth fell open.
I couldn't speak.
Then Richard added something that changed everything.
"There's one more reason I wanted to speak with you personally.""
"What reason?""
"We recently discovered that another individual has been contacting our company, claiming to represent you.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
May you like
Richard lowered his voice.
"Someone named Xavier Grant.""
Related Stories
