Chapter 4

Noah Reed stood at the edge of his rooftop, staring out at the sprawling metropolis below. It was a city that had transformed in ways he could scarcely have imagined when he was born, but one that still held the same challenges and struggles that he faced every day.

He looked down at the streets below, teeming with life, and wondered what it would be like to walk those streets with a sense of purpose and direction. For years, he had dreamed of working for a tech company that could change the world, and he had spent countless hours learning everything he could about coding, programming, and software engineering and now, Lucas had presented him with that opportunity and he didn't know what to make out of it. One thing was for sure, his ticket out of the slums was already with him and he wasn't going to hesitate in doing the needful.

He sighed, inhaling air in a long deep breath and releasing it with purpose. Tomorrow was going to be a great but hectic day for him. He was going to keep his fingers crossed and see how things goes but he was hoping for nothing but the best.

...

Noah surveyed his meager wardrobe, his eyes lingering on the pile of clothes on the bed. It wasn't much, just a few worn shirts and a couple of pairs of jeans, but he needed to look his best for his meeting with TechNova. He wanted to make a good impression, to show them that he was serious about his app, that he was worthy of their time and attention.

He settled for a button-down white shirt which managed to retain its white color (he would sometimes soak his white shirts and coloured clothes together in the same water and the water would end up taking the color of the coloured clothes, which will in turn ruin his white shirts). He was glad to see that at least there was one that survived the soaking chaos. He slid into a pair of black pants that were slightly too long, but the best he had. He tried to ignore the frayed hems and the small tear in the knee as he smoothed them out. He wasn't used to such dressing. He normally wears jeans and trackers for his outings. But this was an official movement and he had to make sure to at least look professional. He then ran his fingers through his unruly hair, trying to tame it into something presentable.

Noah surveyed himself in the cracked mirror on the wall. He looked like a poor man trying to look presentable, but at least he didn't look like a complete disaster. He took a deep breath, grabbed his backpack and headed out the door, determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Noah arrived at TechNova, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. He had never been to a place like this before, and the grandeur of the building left him feeling small and insignificant. The sleek, modern architecture was a stark contrast to the dilapidated buildings of his own neighborhood.

As he entered the lobby, he was greeted by a receptionist dressed in a sharp suit, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. She smiled at him, but he could sense an air of superiority in her demeanor. He suddenly felt self-conscious about his own appearance, dressed in the best clothes that he could find but still feeling out of place.

"May I help you?" she asked, her voice clipped and professional.

Noah took a deep breath and tried to steady his nerves. "Yes, I have an appointment with TechNova," he said, holding out the invitation letter.

The receptionist scanned the letter and then looked up at him, her expression softening slightly. "Ah, yes, Mr. Noah, we've been expecting you. You see that man standing over there," she said, pointing at a man dressed in a suit and standing by the side of a pillar with his hands crossed in the front and his chin lifted high with poise. "Show him this letter and he will take you to see the boss," she concluded, a warm smile on her face.

"Thank you very much," Noah appreciated her and she nodded, then he went straight to the person in question and handed his letter to him.

"Oh Mr Noah, We've been expecting you. Please come with me," he said to him as he gestured his hand towards a direction.

We've been expecting you. Was that a normal phrase in this place or something? It was like they rehearsed it and for some reason it was just funny to hear.

Noah couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he stepped into the elevator and watched the numbers light up as they ascended. He was about to meet some of the most brilliant minds in the tech industry, and he couldn't wait to see what they had in store for him.

He seemed to be the only person dressed oddly. There was just no one like him in this place. He recalled briefly his experience at the entrance just before he entered the lobby. The bouncers almost threw him out of the place and he didn't blame them at all -- after all,he wasn't dressed like the rest of the people that they see on a daily basis. He remembered how he explained himself and the reason he was there to them and they didn't believe him until he pulled out the invitation letter and gave it to them. 

He scoffed as he recalled the look on their faces when they saw that his name was indeed in the letter. They must have wondered how a tattered and mediocre looking person like him was able to be in possession of TechNova's letter. They didn't argue and just let him in. There is an obvious difference between the way the rich and the poor are treated, he thought. It wasn't like he was just finding out about it now but everyday of his life, he was always reminded of it.

The sound of the elevator beeped and the door automatically opened, ushering him into a fresh environment, the surrounding made of glass. 

"Please follow me," the man gestured again and Noah followed him until they got to a door and the man ushered him while he stayed behind and shut the door after him.

Noah stood in the center of the room, his eyes wandering around in wonder. The office was spacious, with large windows that allowed the sunlight to pour in, making the room bright and inviting. The walls were painted in a soft, neutral color, with a few framed pictures and certificates hanging on them. The furniture was sleek and modern, with a polished wooden desk in the center of the room, flanked by two leather chairs. A potted plant stood in the corner, adding a touch of greenery to the otherwise sterile environment.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered as he took in the beauty of the environment. All his life, he has never been in such a luxurious room and now that he was in it, he couldn't help but marvel.

The sound of another door in the room opening interrupted his thoughts, and he turned to see a woman walking in.

"Good morning, you must be Noah Reed. I was just informed of your arrival but sorry I had to take a pee."

Noah nodded, still a bit dazed by the grandeur of the place. He took a seat in one of the leather chairs, marveling at how comfortable it felt. As he waited, he couldn't help but wonder what TechNova wanted with him. He had never expected to receive an invitation from a company like this, and he was both nervous and excited about what was to come.