The Crimson Hiers

to the dark back alleyways. Tonight, when she stood in the lobby of the dilapidated office building of Innovatech, L

ch is everything." "We are done if Bluepeak doe

derstand, Lena. To ensure the demo is flawless, I have been work

o the fluorescent light that flickered overhead

curb. Her fingers drummed uncomfortably on the steering wheel as she drove to Bluepeak Capital. It was this. Her final attempt to preserve her AI start-

foyer and smoothed her blazer. The marble flooring, the tall sculpture in the center, and the glo

s?" demanded

ointing to an elevator. "The partners are o

me white as she practiced her pitch one last time. A teenage assistant escorted her inside a large

an Rivers, a young analyst who seldom looked up fro

said with a flimsy sm

t lower medical errors and improve hospital operations, Lena's voice grew steadier. She emphasized case stu

ce started to falter

companies such as SynCor Global?" K

he by emphasizing real-time adaptation,"

y for finances?

h the appropriate investment-

aised hand. I am grateful, Ms.

l was sudden. Lena's heart sank as she collected her belongings. She was able to ma

The final ray of hope went out. Next month, she had no way

the screen, expecting Raj, but the number was s

," she murmured

. Sebastian Cross is my name, Ms. St. James. I

ut at this moment, I am not

Crimson Circle has been keeping tabs on your devel

anization of millionaires who are said to work in the background of in

she said, her voice

Penthouse. "Midnight," Sebastian s

d before she

ts glass exterior gleaming dimly against the night sky, the structure appeared

ious room that exuded richness as soon as the doors opened, with marble floo

erald eyes scrutinized her with a ferocity that left her

ating place and sa

lec Sterling, leaned idly against the bar. A financier with a reputation for brutal efficiency, Nico Valtieri,

" Lena remarked, sarcastical

only convenes to discuss important iss

nd said, "What

are willing to provide $50 million to Innovatech. We will a

r was more than she could have ever drea

," she declared. "I refuse to

tone, "You're not in a

vide protection in addition to money. Success in

aries," Len

k about the other option. SynCor is in the process of ac

rched on a precipice. Her lifeline was the offer from the Crimson Circ

d said, "I need

tian said. "Such oppo

t of the penthouse. A figure emerged from

in a quiet voice. "A word of ca

he man had a somber face and a dark out

apable of." "They don't spend money on people.

ore the man vanished into the night bef

s more weight