Just Chris Winchester

Chapter 4

Victor Kane stood in the lobby of WR Quantum Corp, checking his watch for the third time. His meeting was supposed to start in five minutes, and he was never late. Beatrice had left already, heading to her law office, but not before wishing him luck with a kiss that promised more later.

This meeting was going to change everything for his company. Quantum Corp was interested in investing in his tech startup, which would bring not only money but credibility. With Quantum Corp backing him, he could attract more investors, expand his operations, and finally become the success he knew he deserved to be.

His phone buzzed. A call from an unknown number within the building.

"Mr. Kane?" a professional female voice asked.

"Yes, this is Victor Kane. I'm in the lobby for my ten o'clock meeting."

"Mr. Kane, I'm calling from the investment division. I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news. Your meeting has been cancelled."

Victor felt his stomach drop. "Cancelled? What do you mean cancelled? I confirmed this meeting yesterday."

"Yes, sir. However, the decision was made this morning at the executive level to discontinue all discussions with Kane Tech Solutions. Quantum Corp will not be pursuing a partnership with your company."

"That's impossible," Victor said, his voice rising. Several people in the lobby turned to look at him. "I've been in talks with your investment team for weeks. We were about to finalize terms. You can't just cancel."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kane, but the decision is final. It came from the highest level of authority in the company."

"Then let me speak to whoever made this decision," Victor demanded. "There must be some misunderstanding. Let me talk to someone in charge."

"That won't be possible, sir. The decision is not open for discussion. I've been instructed to inform you that Quantum Corp will not be doing business with Kane Tech Solutions now or in the future."

"In the future?" Victor's face was turning red. "What are you saying? Are you blacklisting my company?"

"I'm simply conveying the message I was given, Mr. Kane. I'm sorry for any inconvenience."

The line went dead.

Victor stood frozen in the middle of the lobby, his phone still pressed to his ear. This couldn't be happening. This deal was supposed to be guaranteed. He had already told his other investors about the Quantum Corp partnership. He had bragged to everyone he knew about this meeting.

A security guard approached him. "Mr. Kane? I'm going to have to ask you to leave the building."

"Leave? I'm here for a meeting."

"Your meeting has been cancelled, sir. You need to exit the premises."

"This is ridiculous," Victor snapped. "I demand to speak to someone in management. Do you know who I am?"

"Sir, I'm asking you nicely. Please leave, or I'll have to escort you out."

Other people in the lobby were staring now, whispering to each other. Victor's face burned with humiliation. He wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the security guard's hand was moving toward his radio.

"Fine," Victor spat. "I'm leaving. But this isn't over. Someone will answer for this."

He stormed out of the building and stood on the sidewalk, breathing hard. His hands shook as he pulled out his phone and started making calls. First to his business partner, then to his lawyer, then to anyone he could think of who might have connections at Quantum Corp.

No one had answers. No one knew why the deal had fallen through so suddenly.

Victor's mind raced through possibilities. Had a competitor sabotaged him? Had someone discovered something about his company that he didn't know about? Had he somehow offended someone important?

The image of Chris standing outside the building that morning flashed through his mind. Chris, in his cheap clothes, claiming he had an interview. Chris, looking at him with those cold eyes after Victor had mocked him.

No. That was impossible. Chris was nobody, a worthless warehouse worker with no connections and no power. There was no way Chris had anything to do with this.

But the timing was strange.

Victor shook his head, dismissing the thought. He was being paranoid. Chris Winchester couldn't hurt him. Chris couldn't hurt anyone. He was just a pathetic man married to a woman way out of his league, surviving on her family's charity.

This was just bad luck, Victor told himself. A miscommunication. He would figure out what happened and fix it.

He had to.

Meanwhile, eighty stories above the street, Chris Winchester stood at his office window and watched a tiny figure storm away from the building. He couldn't see Victor's face from this distance, but he could imagine the frustration, the confusion, the anger.

"Your report on Victor Kane, sir," Audrey said, placing a tablet on his desk.

Chris picked it up and began reading. Kane Tech Solutions was barely profitable, surviving mostly on investor money and the promise of future growth. Victor had three major investors, all of whom were getting nervous about the lack of return on their investment. The Quantum Corp deal would have saved his company.

Now it was gone, and Victor had no idea why.

"Audrey, I want you to reach out to Victor Kane's three major investors. Anonymously. Plant some doubts about his company's stability and leadership. Nothing illegal, just questions. Make them nervous."

"Yes, sir. Anything else?"

"Find out everything you can about Beatrice White. She's a lawyer working for my wife's firm. I want to know if she has any conflicts of interest, any ethical violations, anything we can use."

"I'll have that information for you by tomorrow morning."

Chris set down the tablet and returned to the window. This was only the first move, a small piece removed from the board. Victor would feel the pressure but wouldn't understand where it was coming from.

The game was just beginning, and Victor Kane had no idea he was already losing.