Chapter 6

That very night, Chase's company's stock prices plummeted in after-hours trading. Panic quickly spread, and calls bombarded his phone. The questioning from the board, the investors' angry outbursts, and the media's scrutiny left him overwhelmed. It was only then that he realized he had lost more than the project—he had lost the company's future. He returned to his empty office and felt the biting cold and fear for the first time. He collapsed into his chair, his eyes vacant. Chase couldn't comprehend how things had come to this. Just a few days ago, he'd been smug about Ashley's "cost-saving" measures. He thought he had everything under control. Just then, his phone lit up again with a news alert. "StarPath Technology announced an exclusive partnership with Mr. Jenning. The new energy market landscape is potentially set to be rewritten." The accompanying photo showed me, Zayn, and Mr. Jenning smiling and shaking hands on stage. In the photo, I was confident, composed, and radia