Chapter 5

Noah heard the sound of the bathroom door opening and turned to face the source of the noise. A woman emerged from the restroom, looking poised and confident. She was dressed in a tailored pantsuit that accentuates her tall, slender frame. Her hair was neatly styled and her makeup was immaculate, accentuating her sharp cheekbones and bright blue eyes. Noah guessed she was in her late 60s, but her appearance suggested someone much younger, someone who had taken good care of themselves.

"Good morning, Mr. Noah. My name is Celia," the woman said, extending her hand for a handshake. Noah noticed the way her eyes lingered on him a little too long, and the way she touched his arm as she greeted him.. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I hope you had a chance to admire the view from our office."

Noah couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by Celia's presence. She exuded an air of confidence and authority that was hard to ignore, and her impeccably tailored suit suggested a level of success that he could only dream of. Nevertheless, he forced himself to keep his composure and respond politely.

"Yes, I did have a chance to look around. Your office is absolutely stunning."

"Of course it is. There should be a better word for it, don't you think?" She chuckled as she went to her seat. "Coffee? Tea?"

"No ma'am, thank you."

"Hmm... You wanna go straight down to business, don't ya?"

Noah could only smile it off as he had no idea what he should be replying to her with.

"Anyways, Tell me about this app of yours. I heard that it is worth the investment. Tell me more... Tell me..." She flexed her hands as she leaned in closer to hear him speak.

Noah took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he prepared to pitch his app to Celia. He opened his backpack and brought out his not so good looking laptop and began to explain how his algorithm worked, highlighting its predictive capabilities and its ability to identify potential failures in industrial equipment before they occurred.

"The algorithm analyzes vast amounts of data, including temperature, pressure, and vibration readings, and uses machine learning to identify patterns and predict when equipment is likely to fail. The app can alert maintenance teams, allowing them to take preventive action before any damage occurs.

Celia listened intently, her eyes widening as Noah spoke. She could see the potential of the app, and she knew that it could be a game-changer for TechNova. She could already envision the money pouring in as he spoke about it. As Noah finished his pitch, she leaned forward and asked him to give her a demonstration of the app in action.

Noah quickly loaded up a simulation on his laptop, showing Celia how the algorithm could detect the early warning signs of a failing piece of equipment. Celia watched in amazement as the app alerted Noah that his laptop was heating up too fast and that the battery of his laptop was weak. It went ahead to give details about the battery's capacity, with a continuous beeping warning sound that buttressed its point.

Impressed by what she had seen, Celia leaned back in her chair and gave Noah a smile. "This is exactly the kind of innovation we need at TechNova," she said. "I'm excited for this, Noah."

Celia maintained eye contact with Noah and leaned in a little too close for comfort. Her body language suggested a hint of flirtation, which Noah tried to brush off politely. Despite his reservations, he was looking forward to the conclusion and the good news that he will be taking home with him.

"I am really so excited about this, Noah. The thing is, we already had an idea about this app of yours and now that I have seen things for myself, I have no doubts that it is going to bring in so much money for the company and our investors. The stockholders are going to go crazy for this and it's going to be massive," she lifted her slender hands in the air and Noah was happy that he was able to impress her with his pitch.

Celia brings down her hands and rests it on the desk. "I have an offer," she began. "A buyout. A buyout is what I can offer you for this app."

The smile on Noah's face faded slowly as he heard the word "buyout" from her. That wasn't what he was aiming for. He wanted a partnership. Isn't that what the letter was all about? He never saw anything like buyout in it and that is why he came in the first place.

"I don't understand, ma'am. What are you talking about? A buyout?" Noah asked.

"Yes. You see. We have so many projects at hand, so many partners that have been left unattended and etcetera. This is the best we can offer you, Noah. A buyout. Seven hundred thousand in USD. Just say yes and it will be wired straight into your account," she said to him confidently.

Rich people.

Noah could not believe his ears right now. He always knew how callous and greedy the rich are towards the poor and the middle class. He thought that he was going to encounter something different as soon as he stepped foot inside the company. The letter made him think positively. It gave him the impression that his life was going to change for good and yes it seemed like it -- $700,000 was such a huge amount of money, enough to take him out of poverty. It was enough to take him out of Grime Street and live his life to the fullest in the city but that offer wasn't what he wanted. He knew that for Celia to offer him that huge amount only meant that the app was way more than that and it was going to bring in huge returns in the nearest future. He knew them too well. Rich people.

Noah shifted in his seat, feeling a mix of nerves and determination. He had been working towards this moment for so long, and he wasn't about to let it slip through his fingers. "Thank you for the offer, Celia," he began, his voice steady. "But I'm not interested in selling my app. It's taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get it to where it is now, years even, and I believe it has the potential to do even greater things."

Celia leaned forward, her expression intrigued. "I understand your position, Noah," she said, "But what if I were to offer you a very generous sum of money for the app? Something higher and bigger than what I previously mentioned, hmm? I assure you, it will be worth your while."

Noah took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I appreciate your offer, Celia, but as I said, I'm not looking to sell. However, I would be interested in a partnership with TechNova. That was what I was expecting when I got the invitation letter. I believe that together, we could take this app to new heights and revolutionize the industry."

Celia's expression softened, and she regarded Noah with a thoughtful look. "I see," she said. "Well, that's certainly a bold proposal. But I'm willing to consider it under one condition," she smiled as she got up from her seat and walked up to him, her body language flirtatious and unnerving to Noah. "It is just one condition that will not be difficult to adhere to. But at the end of the day, the choice is yours," she glides her hands on his cheek, causing Noah's face to settle in a frown. "Become my satisfier, Mr Noah Reed. Inside this derelict outfit of yours, I see an attractive young man whose jaw line can cut paper, whose eyes can light up an entire city. I see an attractive and handsome young man that I can take out of poverty provided he accepts to do my bidding."

Noah scoffed and shook his head. He already knew where the conversation was heading to but he wanted to give himself the satisfaction of hearing from the horse's mouth.

"I still don't understand what you are talking about, ma'am," he said as he looked up to her for an answer.

She leans and whispers into his ear. "Be my sugar boy, Noah. That's what I'm talking about."