Chapter 102: Introducing, NovaGen

A boyfriend? That... complicates things.

I know what you’re asking. What’s the matter, Nico? Why does Amelia having a boyfriend complicate things?

Well, you see, I have this pesky set of things. They’re called... values.

I have values that won’t let me sleep with a married woman or another man’s girlfriend. If you were expecting some kind of NTR, sorry but this is not the place for it.

The moment I’d confirmed that she had a boyfriend, I crossed her off my list of targets. Well, she was the only one on the list before but that hardly matters, does it?

Either way, I wasn’t fucking with her.

I know some of you will say I’m a beta male or one of those words idiot with no game say to feel better about themselves but I’m not compromising my values for your entertainment.

If I was ever going to stamp Amelia, it would be when she is single.

From what I remembered from last night, that wouldn’t be coming any time soon.

I’d seen the love in her eyes. It had been pretty hard to mask. I definitely would not be the person responsible for destroying that love.

That, in essence, goes against my values.

I’m ready to lie, cheat and steal but destroy the love of a couple for a few billion dollars? Most would. But not me. I do have lines that I do not cross.

I was jolted out of my thoughts as my phone buzzed on the coffee table, its vibration rattling against the glass surface.

I blinked away the light of the evening sun and reached over. I picked it up, glanced at the screen and answered.

"Elsa." I said simply. I had been expecting her call and it had to be either good news or bad news.

"Good news, Nico." She said, skipping any formalities.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair with a smile. That was a relief to hear.

I could hear the excitement in her voice as she continued speaking. "We’ve confirmed it. It’s a tech startup called NovaGen AI."

"NovaGen AI?" I frowned. Why does the name sound familiar? "Refresh my memory."

"It’s a fast rising startup, specializing in machine learning algorithms for healthcare analytics. They’ve been making waves in predictive modeling for patient care." She explained. "They’ve been dubbed by the media recently as innovative and the market potential is massive."

"Ah, healthcare tech." I said, nodding, recalling the company. "So it’s not just about chasing trends. It’s about long-term growth potential."

I chuckled. "I never expected this move."

"Exactly my thought." Elsa replied. "But there’s more."

I raised a brow even though she couldn’t see it.

"They’ve recently secured a patent that could revolutionize telemedicine diagnostics. That patent is what brought attention to them."

"I see." I nodded. "That’s pretty smart. Positioning as a leader in healthcare investments will definitely strengthen the standings."

I thought about it. "How strong is NovaGen’s foundation? Are they a startup worth buying or are they just a shiny toy that is being used to distract?"

"They’re solid." Elsa said. "But here’s the kicker. NovaGen is burning through cash. They’re on the hunt for funding and this makes them vulnerable. If you want, you can swoop in with an offer that’ll outshine any competitor and the company would be yours."

I smiled, leaning back into the couch. "Elsa, you’ve outdone yourself again."

"I try." She replied. I could almost imagine the faint smile on her face. "So, what’s the play?"

"I’ll think about it." I said. "But for now, keep digging. I want to know everything about NovaGen’s founders, their board and their current investors."

"Consider it done." Elsa said before hanging up.

I stared at my phone, a small smile on my face.

I had to admit that this move was pretty smart. A move that’ll appeal to both sides of the board. A move that can turn the tables if I wanted.

But should I? Or should I use it simply as a way to make Jenny look good? If I did, I could lose and win at the same time.

For the second time in the span of a few minutes, I was jolted out of my thoughts by a knock on my door.

I set my phone down on the glass table and stood, crossing the room to answer it.

I opened the door to see Jenny standing there with a white envelope in her hands. Dressed in a blazer and pencil skirt, she looked like she decided to stop by on her way home from work.

"Jenny." I said, stepping aside to let her in. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"@@novelbin@@

She walked in, glancing around my suite briefly before turning back to me. "I came to deliver this." She said, holding out the envelope. "It’s your official invitation to Apex’s shareholder gala."

I took the envelope, flipping it over in my hands. At the side of the envelope was the logo of Apex Investments, embossed in gold.

"Fancy." I commented, slipping the envelope open.

"That’s the thing, Nico." Jenny smirked faintly. "You’re not invited just as an honored guest or some bullshit like that."

She paused. "My mother wants to meet you."

Both my brows climbed on my head as I stared unblinkingly at her.

Clarisse Newton, matriarch of Apex Investments, the woman who had turned her daughters into competitors instead of allies, wanted to meet with me.

So, I popped the question. "Why?"

If there was one thing I know for sure, it’s that she isn’t meeting me just to have polite conversation. "What does she want with me?"

"Simple." Jenny smirked at me. "It’s much more weird to not see you in some business magazine than to see you and by now, news that you’re backing me should have spread among everyone involved in this battle."

"In simple terms?" She leaned forward. "She wants to size you up and know what kind of man you are."