Chapter 263
Isolde didn’t say a word. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a silver USB drive, and tossed it onto the center of the table. It landed with a sharp clatter.
“On that drive,” she said, her voice cutting through the despair in the room, “are the complete, modified civilian blueprints for the Phoenix-X7 propulsion system.”
The Director of Engineering gasped, nearly knocking over his coffee. “The Phoenix-X7? That is highly classified military architecture. How the hell did you get that?”
Isolde’s eyes were flat and calm. “I have full, legal authorization from the original creator. This architecture can be scaled down and utilized for the next generation of commercial heavy-lift drones.”
The engineering director grabbed the USB and jammed it into his laptop. He opened the CAD files. His eyes widened as he scrolled frantically through the schematics. “My God… the thermal dispersion matrix… this is genius. It’s flawless.”
“We are going to build a working prototype in thirty days,” Isolde announced, leaning forward. “And we are going to debut it at the CES convention in Las Vegas.”
𝘚h𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘺𝗈𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝗵𝗼𝘶𝗀h𝗍s оո 𝗀а𝘭𝗇𝗼𝘃еl𝘴.cо𝗺
The CFO shook his head. “Ms. Carson, this is a pipe dream. We don’t have a single dollar to buy the raw materials, let alone pay the engineering team for overtime.”
Isolde reached into her blazer and pulled out a solid black titanium credit card — the unrestricted operational account tied to her Valkyrie identity. She slapped it onto the table. “Funding is no longer an issue. The only issue is whether you men have the guts to gamble your careers on me.”
Before anyone could answer, the boardroom doors flew open. The young receptionist stood in the doorway, trembling. “Ms. Carson! I tried to stop him, but—”
Grayson Lancaster walked into the room.
He was flanked by two massive bodyguards. He wore a dark wool overcoat, but beneath it the blue collar of his hospital gown was clearly visible. His face was pale, and he moved stiffly, every step betraying the pain he was in.
Isolde stood up. “You are trespassing. Get out.”
Grayson ignored her. He walked straight to the table and addressed the executives directly. “Isolde, stop this childish game. You are wasting everyone’s time.”
He reached over and grabbed the silver USB drive out of the laptop, holding it up. “What is this? Another one of Arland Roth’s pet projects?”
Isolde walked around the table and snatched the USB from his hand. “That is Carson Dynamics property. Leave.”
Grayson sighed, regarding her with a mixture of pity and annoyance. “I am trying to protect you from yourself. Carson Dynamics is dead. If you try to build something now, you will only accumulate massive personal debt.”
He turned to the executives. “InnoTech is willing to absorb all senior technical staff. We will double your current salaries and provide full benefits. All you have to do is walk out that door right now.”
The room went dead silent. The executives looked at one another. Grayson Lancaster’s word was gold in the industry.
A cold chill ran down Isolde’s spine. He was trying to publicly humiliate her and strip her of her last remaining soldiers.
.
.
.