CHAPTER SEVEN
SPREADSHEETS AND VILLAINS
Five years prior
Jace breathed a sigh of relief as he gathered his documents, happy with the way his presentation had gone. Just as he was about to step down from the podium, he noticed a man in the front row making his way towards him.
The man who approached Jace was a towering figure with broad shoulders and a no nonsense attitude. His presence exuded confidence and power, making heads turn in his direction as he walked towards the podium. Jace couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the man’s aura, wondering how someone could command such authority in a room full of industry experts.
As the man reached the podium, he extended a meaty hand towards Jace. “Frank Grant, nice to meet you,” he said in a voice that sounded like a chainsaw.
Jace hesitantly shook his hand, wondering what this man could want from him. “Jason hall , pleasure to meet you too,” he replied.
Frank leaned in close to Jace “You know, I really liked your presentation,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “I think we could do great things together.”
Jace couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at Frank’s words. “What did you have in mind?” he asked cautiously.
Frank’s smile widened, revealing a set of perfectly straight, white teeth. “Let’s just say I have some ideas for battery-powered vehicles that could revolutionize the industry,” he said cryptically.
Jace raised an eyebrow. “And why would you share those ideas with me?”
As Frank straightened up, he threw his shoulders back and let out a booming laugh. “My dear Jace, let’s just say that I have a knack for investing in promising ventures. And I have a feeling that you and your company are going places.”
Jace had heard of Frank Grant, or as he was known in the business world, “The Grant”. The man was a legend in the startup scene, with a reputation for having a Midas touch when it came to investing. He could make your business soar to new heights, or send it plummeting to the depths of despair faster than you could say “venture capital”.
It was said that Frank had a sixth sense when it came to spotting promising startups, and his network of contacts spanned the globe. He had a private jet, a yacht, and a summer home in the Hamptons that was bigger than most small countries. Some even whispered that he had connections to the Illuminati, and that he was secretly controlling the world from behind the scenes.
Frank Grant’s reputation was not just built on the size of his wallet, but also on the power he wielded in the industry. If Frank decided to drop your company, it was like being thrown out of a plane without a parachute – you were going to hit the ground hard and fast, with no other investors willing to catch you. It was like the business equivalent of being excommunicated by the Pope, except with less chanting and more spreadsheets.
Jace’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had heard rumors about Frank’s vast wealth and connections, but he hadn’t expected him to take an interest in their company. “Well, that’s very kind of you,” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. “But we’re not really looking for investors at the moment.”
Frank’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, I understand that. But I think you’ll find that my resources and expertise could be invaluable to you. Think about it, Jace. The possibilities are endless.”
Jace couldn’t deny that Frank’s offer was tempting, but he wasn’t sure he could trust a man who seemed to ooze confidence and wealth like some kind of Bond villain.

Latest Chapter
BABY STEPS
A loud ringing on the bars of his cell woke Jace up from a troubled sleep, the grey concrete greeted him as he opened his eyes, purposefully designed to be featureless and boring. "Hey, you," a portly officer said from the other side of the bars. With a body that had gone from muscled to pleasantly plump and sunken eyes, it was hard not to form a dislike for the man. Jace sighed and glanced at the warden, who was rhythmically tapping the bars in a peculiar pattern. "What's up, Mike?" he mumbled, frustration evident in his voice. Since Michael had promised to secure his release, time had been crawling at a snail's pace, with little to break the monotony. The only notable change had been when they moved someone into a cell further down the block.Jace couldn't help but squirm in his itchy jumpsuit. The plastic-covered foam mattress he'd been trying to sleep on was like a cruel practical joke from the prison interior decorator. "About time I got released," Jace grumbled, irritation bub
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CHAPTER TENPHOENIXJace sat alone in his prison cell, staring blankly at the gray concrete walls. He couldn’t believe how quickly his life had fallen apart. It all seemed like a nightmare that he couldn’t wake up from. He thought about his wife, and how he had let her down. He thought about his company, and how he had worked so hard to build it up, only to lose it all.He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of the cell door opening. A guard appeared, followed by Michael.Michael entered the cell, his face etched with concern. “Jace, I’m so sorry about all of this,” he said, placing a comforting hand on Jace’s shoulder.Jace looked up at his friend with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Do you think there’s any way we can turn this around?” he asked.Michael nodded. “Absolutely. We’ll hire the best lawyers, gather evidence to clear your name, and show the world that you’re innocent. We won’t let Frank get away with this.”Jace let out a sigh of relief. He had been feeling so h
WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW
CHAPTER NINEWRONG SIDE OF THE LAWAs they haggled over the terms of their deal, the wailing of sirens grew louder and louder, making Jace’s palms sweat. Frank’s face split into a wide grin, and Jace knew that something was about to go down.“What’s with all the noise outside?” Jace asked, trying to keep his voice steady.Frank chuckled. “Oh, just a little surprise I arranged for you. It’s the cops, Jace. And they’re here to arrest you for fraudulent practices.”Jace’s eyes widened in shock. “What? That’s ridiculous! I haven’t done anything illegal!”Frank leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. “Well, that’s not what our investigation shows,” he said smugly.Michael rushed to the window and peered outside. “Holy crap, there are at least ten cop cars out there,” he exclaimed.Jace could feel the panic rising in his chest. He couldn’t believe this was happening. “You set me up, Frank,” he spat out. “You planned this all along, didn’t you?”Frank just shrugged. “Hey,
COMING TO GRIPS
CHAPTER EIGHTCOMING TO GRIPS Jace sat in his study at home, staring blankly at his computer screen. The room was silent except for the gentle hum of the air conditioning. He had been trying to reach Frank for days, but all of his calls and emails had gone unanswered.He couldn’t believe what was happening to his company. The leak, the suspicion surrounding Frank, and now the investors pulling out. He felt like he was in free fall, with no idea how to regain control.Rain, his usually bubbly wife, had been acting testy for a few days now. He knew she was just as worried as he was, but he wished she would at least pretend to be optimistic.Suddenly, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was Michael, his old college buddy and business partner.“Hey man, I heard about the leak. I’m so sorry, is there anything I can do to help?” Michael said, his voice filled with concern.Jace sighed heavily, grateful for the offer of help. “Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it. Honestly, I don’t know
SPREADSHEETS AND VILLAINS
CHAPTER SEVENSPREADSHEETS AND VILLAINS Five years priorJace breathed a sigh of relief as he gathered his documents, happy with the way his presentation had gone. Just as he was about to step down from the podium, he noticed a man in the front row making his way towards him.The man who approached Jace was a towering figure with broad shoulders and a no nonsense attitude. His presence exuded confidence and power, making heads turn in his direction as he walked towards the podium. Jace couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the man’s aura, wondering how someone could command such authority in a room full of industry experts.As the man reached the podium, he extended a meaty hand towards Jace. “Frank Grant, nice to meet you,” he said in a voice that sounded like a chainsaw.Jace hesitantly shook his hand, wondering what this man could want from him. “Jason hall , pleasure to meet you too,” he replied.Frank leaned in close to Jace “You know, I really liked your presentation,” he said,
FIERCE COMPETITION
CHAPTER SIXFIERCE COMPETITION Jace leaned in closer to the computer screen, squinting his eyes to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, the plans for his company’s top-secret project still in development, now being unveiled by his biggest competitor.The conference room was packed with reporters, all clamoring to get a closer look at the schematics displayed on the screen. Jace watched from his office, his eyes glued to the livestream, a vein throbbing on his forehead.The host of the conference, a man in a suit that looked two sizes too small, grinned from ear to ear. “Well, we have a team of the most brilliant minds in the industry, working around the clock to create the next big thing. And let me tell you, this is no ordinary game-changer.”He could feel his blood pressure rising as he tried to figure out how this could have happened. He knew he had to act fast, but where to start?He looked around his o
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