Breaking Ground

The deal with Selena was sealed, but Ethan knew this was only the beginning. With her investment, they had the funds to scale fast, but it also meant they were now a target painted in neon. Meditech was watching, waiting for them to falter. And with Selena involved? The stakes were no longer just about survival—they were about dominance.

The first priority was expanding the team. More engineers, more developers, and more legal firepower to withstand the inevitable lawsuits and regulatory roadblocks Meditech would throw their way. Lisa and Ryan were already neck-deep in recruitment calls, while Priya lined up meetings with hospital executives to lock down new contracts before Meditech could undercut them.

Selena, though, had her own playbook. And, like always, it wasn't subtle.

"You're thinking too small," she said, perched casually on Ethan's desk like she owned it. She probably thought she did. "Meditech isn't just a competitor, Ethan. It's a message to every hospital, every investor, every regulator. They're saying: 'This is our turf. Don't even try.' If you want to take their place, you don't out-engineer them. You out-shock them."

Ethan leaned back, studying her. "And your brilliant plan?"

"A live demonstration. High-profile. High-stakes. We don't chase contracts—they chase us. You want to make Meditech sweat? Make them fear you."

Lisa looked up from her laptop, skepticism clear. "That's… bold. If it works, we dominate headlines. But if it fails—"

"Then we're done," Selena finished, smiling like the risk thrilled her. "But playing it safe isn't an option. You don't dethrone giants by following the rules they wrote."

Ethan drummed his fingers against the table. She wasn't wrong. Meditech could afford to move slow because the game was built for them. If they wanted to win, they couldn't play defense—they had to break the rules entirely.

"Fine," Ethan said at last. "We do it. But it's on my terms. No unnecessary theatrics. No stunts for the sake of attention. We let the tech speak for itself."

Selena's smile was razor-sharp. "Deal. But remember, Ethan—you're not just proving your product works. You're proving you deserve to exist."

The week leading up to the launch was controlled chaos. Every line of code was stress-tested to the edge. Every possible failure scenario rehearsed. Selena pulled strings to lock in a high-profile venue, bringing in media, influencers, and even a few hospital board members.

The whole city felt like it was holding its breath, waiting to see if the upstarts would sink or swim.

The night before the event, Ethan stood alone by the window, staring at the skyline. His reflection stared back—exhausted but burning with that familiar mix of fear and excitement.

"You always get this serious before the big moments," a voice said behind him.

He didn't need to turn. "Somebody has to," he replied, though his voice softened. "Why are you still here?"

Selena stepped beside him, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the city lights. "Because this is where the fun starts."

He glanced at her. "Fun, huh? Risking everything on a live demo with the whole industry watching?"

She smirked. "That's the only way to find out if you're worth betting on."

For a moment, there was no banter, no posturing. Just two people standing at the edge of something huge—Ethan chasing his revolution, Selena chasing the power to shape it.

"You still think I'm wasting my time trying to build something independent?" he asked quietly.

She tilted her head, considering. "No. I think you're wasting your time thinking you can do it alone."

He didn't have a comeback for that.

As she turned to leave, she paused at the door. "Try not to choke tomorrow, Ethan. I've got a reputation to protect."

"Same to you," he shot back. "I'd hate for you to finally back a winner and accidentally grow a conscience."

Her laugh lingered in the air even after the door closed.

Tomorrow, the world would know their name.

And somewhere deep down, Ethan knew—this was only the first move in a much bigger game.