Say Less I Love You Episode 7

Chapter 69

Jacob

I lean over the table, my eyes scanning the sea of documents spread before us. We’ve been working all night. I look at the clock. It’s morning now apparently.

The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a harsh glow on the papers that hold the key to our future. Derek stands beside me, his brow furrowed in concentration. We have several people also seated in the war room, looking over documents and on their laptops, cross referencing in hushed whispers on the phone.

"Any luck?" I ask, my voice tight with tension.

Derek shakes his head. "Nothing concrete yet. But we're getting closer, I can feel it."

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside me.

Derek picks up a file, flipping through it. "Whoever owns this component... they're sitting on a goldmine."

I nod, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "And they could crush us if they wanted to."

"Or become instant billionaires," Derek adds, his tone grim.

I pause, a thought occurring to me. "What if... what if they don't know?"

Derek looks up, intrigued. "Don't know what?"

"That we've started clinical trials," I explain, my mind racing. "If they're unaware of our progress..."

"We might have a slim advantage," Derek finishes, catching on. "Keep Neuromax under wraps, let them think it's just unmonetized research."

I nod, a glimmer of hope sparking in my chest. "Exactly. It's our best shot at avoiding a costly battle."

Derek sets down the file, his eyes meeting mine. "It's risky. But it might be our only play."

I take a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. "Then that's what we'll do. We need to find this owner before they find us."

I stare at the documents, my eyes burning from hours of scrutiny. The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting harsh shadows across the conference room. Suddenly, a name catches my eye.

"Derek, look at this," I say, sliding a paper towards him, my heart pounding with anticipation. "Swan LLC. It keeps popping up on key dates. It's like a goddamn pattern we've been missing."

Derek leans in, his brow furrowing as he studies the document. "Swan... as in Marcus Swan?" His voice drops to a whisper, like he's afraid to even say the name out loud.

"Exactly." I tap the paper forcefully, my mind racing at a million miles an hour. "What if this subsidiary is the missing piece we've been searching for? It's too much of a coincidence to ignore."

Derek's eyes widen, and I can practically see the gears turning in his head. "Holy shit. You think Marcus could be behind this whole mess?"

"It's definitely worth investigating," I reply, my jaw clenching. "We'd be idiots not to follow this lead." I turn to the team, my voice sharp and commanding. "I want you to dig into Swan LLC like your lives depend on it. Get me everything you can find on their patents, their financials, hell, even what they had for breakfast this morning. Leave no stone unturned."

The room suddenly buzzes with renewed energy, like someone flipped a switch. People start furiously typing, making calls, shuffling through papers. Within minutes, a junior analyst calls out, her voice trembling with excitement, "Mr. Stone, I've got something! You're not gonna believe this!"

I hurry over, my heart pounding. On the screen, a patent filing stares back at me. The missing component of Neuromax.

"Son of a bitch," I mutter, anger rising in my chest. "He's been sabotaging us this whole time."

Derek appears at my side. "Jacob, if this is true..."

"It means Marcus has been playing us all along." I clench my fists, the pieces falling into place. "He let Neuromax fail so he could swoop in with his own version."

"What are you going to do?" Derek asks, his voice tense.

I straighten up, rage coursing through my veins like liquid fire. My jaw clenches so hard I can hear my teeth grinding. "I'm going to have a little chat with Marcus fucking Swan," I spit out, each word dripping with venom.

As I stride towards the door, my footsteps echoing my fury, Derek calls out behind me, "Jacob, wait! We need a plan-"

But I'm already gone, my mind set on one thing and one thing only: confrontation. The hallway blurs as I storm through it, my fists balled at my sides. Marcus Swan has some serious explaining to do, and I'll be damned if I let that smug bastard get away with this. He thinks he can play me? He's about to learn just how wrong he is.