Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Take down the Chandler Group?
Rescue Apex Game Studios from the brink p>
Skyrocket straight to the top?
Win the Celestial Awards?
Victor looked at Caitlin, unable to hide a wry smile. “You’ve got quite the ambition for someone your age, young lady p>
How old was Caitlin, anyway p>
Seventeen? Maybe eighteen at most.
What could she possibly know?
At that age, she probably couldn’t make heads or tails of a basic financial statement.
But Caitlin just smiled coolly. “Mr. Winslow, your company is out of options. If you don’t find a way to bring in fresh talent and launch a new title, bankruptcy is inevitable. Are you really willing to let the Chandler Group crush the company you’ve built from the ground up p>
That last question cut deeper than Victor cared to admit.
Apex Game Studios was everything to him. He’d registered the company before he’d even graduated college, pouring his heart and soul into every step.
He’d always believed Apex would be a shining star in gaming history.
He’d never imagined it might die before it truly began.
The thought left Victor struggling to breathe.E
“I may
y be young. Caitlin went on, “but have you forgotten how old you were when you founded Apex, Mr. Winslow? You’d just tumed twenty.” As she spoke, she slid her ID card onto the table–Caitlin, age nineteen.8
Victor looked her over again, more carefully this time.
Despite her youth, she carried herself with remarkable poise, her confidence and eloquence miles beyond what he’d expect from teenager. She was clearly not an ordinary kid p>
He had to admit–Caitlin reminded him of himself, back in the day.
He’d been just as brash, just as certain that nothing was impossible
But Victor wasn’t about to let his guard down that easily. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “And why, exactly, should I trust you?
Caitlin tapped her fingers against the table, her gaze unwavering. “Mr. Winslow, what reason could I possibly have to trick you at this point? You can sit and wait for the Chandler Group to wipe you out, or you can fight back while you still have a chance. If you partner with me, there’s still hope. If you refuse, well–you know where that road leads. ”
With people like this, it paid to get straight to the point.
For a long moment, Victor said nothing. Then, finally, he met Caitlin’s eyes. “Do you even know anything about game development p>
Catlin didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said, “Pass me your laptop.
Victor didn’t hesitate. He slid his personal laptop across the table
Caitlin powered it up and began typing. Her fingers moved swiftly, the keys clicking in a staccato rhythm.
Victor, sitting across from her, had no idea what she was doing
Fifteen minutes later, Caitlin closed the laptop and handed it back. “Consider this my proof p>
a wide
Victor took the laptop, and what he saw made his eyes go
In fifteen minutes, Caitlin had built a playable game demo–something simple but instantly engaging. The only problem was that there weren’t many levels
This girl was good. Really good.
Then it hit Victor–he hadn’t given Caitlin his password. She’d cracked it, and his firewall, in less than fifteen minutes
And he wasn’t a rookie, his security was solid.
Caitlin had slipped past it all without breaking a sweat
Genius. There was no other word for it
The despair that had been weighing Victor down suddenly lifted; for the first time in weeks, he fell hope.
But he wasn’t about to let excitement cloud his judgment. “Why do you want to help me p>
“Two reasons,” Caitlin replied, straightforward as always. “First, I’ve got a score to settle with the Chandlers, so I need to bring down the Chandler Group. Second, I want to be filthy rich p>
Victor stood up, a grin spreading across his face as he reached out his hand. “Miss Kensington, welcome to Apex Game Studios p>
Caitlin shook his hand, “Looking forward to working together.“X
“Likewise,” Victor said warmly, then hesitated. “Miss Kensington, I’m thrilled to have you on board, but talent isn’t our only problem. There’s also-
-a giant hole in your finances?” Caitlin finished for him.
Victor looked sheepish. Some problems didn’t go away just because you ignored them.K
“That’s right p>
Caitlin just smiled. “That’s easy. I’ll solve your funding issue within ten days–but I have one condition”
“What is it?” Victor asked immediately.
“I want fifty percent of Apex Caitlin said, not bothering to sugarcoat her demand
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