Leo was starting to get tired. This gala was filled with people of questionable backgrounds, bootlickers and well...notj one person got his eye.
But he had promised he'd help so help he will. He took a few steps and his eyes fell on something: the nervous face of a young man in a slightly big suit, standing near a small, not so impressive display in a corner far from the main attractions.
The display held a small, sleek device—a data storage unit, according to the simple placard. The company name was "Aether Tech," and the founder was a man named Alex Rook. As Leo watched, a small group of investors, including Adrian Wright, walked by the display. One of them chuckled, not even bothering to lower his voice.
"Data security? A kid like that thinks he can compete with the giants? He should stick to writing code in his garage."
Adrian smirked, swirling his whiskey. "Hope he didn't spend his life savings on that table. It's the most action it'll see all night."
This wasn't new to him. Leo had seen people throw away good opportunities because the presentation just wasn't looking fly. He made his way over to the display, ignoring Adrian's group.
"Mr. Rook?" Leo said, extending a hand. "Leo Vance."
Alex Rook looked up, startled that anyone knew his name. His handshake was firm but quick, nervous. "Mr. Vance. Yes, hello. Are you… interested in data infrastructure?"
"I'm interested in potential," Leo replied, picking up the small device. It was lighter than it looked. "Tell me what this does that the big companies can't."
Alex's eyes lit up with a passion that had been absent moments before. He launched into an explanation about quantum-level encryption and processing speeds that sounded like science fiction. Leo listened, not understanding every technical term, but understanding the most important thing: the man was a genius, and he believed utterly in his creation.
Just then, Chloe approached, a polite but concerned look on her face. She had been watching from a distance. "Leo, Mr. Rook," she greeted them. "I see you've found our most… ambitious exhibitor."
Elena, clinging to Adrian's arm, had followed, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Oh, Leo, don't tell me you're bothering this poor man. Let the dreamers have their moment."
Leo ignored her, his focus on Chloe. "His technology is revolutionary. B Corp should invest."
Chloe's politeness tightened. "Leo, we have a very rigorous vetting process. Aether Tech is… unproven. Their patents are still pending, and their capital is… minimal." She was trying to be gentle, but the dismissal was clear.
Adrian couldn't contain his laughter. "You can't be serious, Vance. Invest in what? A fancy paperweight? This is a charity event, not a playground for your prison fantasies of being a businessman."
Elena joined in, her voice a syrupy poison. "Darling, you have to understand how this looks. A man with your… background… throwing money at the first desperate person you meet. It reeks of desperation. It's embarrassing."
Leo turned his head slowly, his gaze finally landing on them. The room seemed to grow colder. "The only embarrassment here is your lack of vision. You see a kid in a cheap suit. I see the future."
"Vision?" Adrian scoffed. "You have no education in this, no experience! What could you possibly know about business? You were a nobody before you went to jail, and you're a nobody with a rich girlfriend now. Stick to what you know, which is nothing."
"You're right," Leo said, his voice dangerously quiet. "I don't know much about your world of old money and inherited status. But I know opportunity. And I know a predator from a pioneer."
He turned back to Alex Rook, who looked like he wanted to disappear. "How much do you need to get your prototype to a market-ready stage?"
Alex stammered a figure. It was a significant sum, but a mere fraction of the power on Leo's black gold card.
"Consider it done," Leo said, pulling out his phone. He made a quick, silent transfer. A moment later, Alex's phone buzzed. He looked at the screen, his face turning pale with shock.
"It's… it's there," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Thank you, Mr. Vance. You won't regret this!"
"Oh, I think he will," Adrian said loudly, drawing the attention of people nearby. "Everyone! Take a good look! Leo Vance, the ex-con, just invested a fortune in a garage project! Let's see how long it takes for that money to vanish!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Elena looked at Leo with pity. "Oh, Leo. When will you learn? You can't buy class. You can't buy respect. You just look like a fool trying."
Chloe placed a hand on Leo's arm, her expression pained. "Leo, perhaps we should discuss this…"
But Leo just gave her a small, unreadable smile. "The discussion is over. The investment is made."
Days later, Chloe sat in her office, the financial reports spread before her. The news was all over the tech world. Aether Tech's prototype, now fully funded and developed, had been demonstrated at a major conference. It wasn't just good; it was a quantum leap ahead of anything on the market. Competitors who had laughed were now in a panic, their own technology suddenly obsolete. The stock of companies that had dismissed Alex Rook was plummeting. The value of Leo's initial, "foolish" investment had already multiplied twenty times over.
Chloe looked up as Leo entered. Her usual cool composure was replaced by a look of frank admiration.
"How did you know?" she asked, gesturing to the news article on her screen. "No due diligence, no committee. You just… knew."
Leo leaned against the doorframe. "I have my ways."
It wasn't the answer she was looking for, but the respect in Chloe's eyes only grew. "Well, it doesn't matter how you knew. I'm just thankful I listened to you and...
She was interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone.
She answered, her brow furrowed. "Ms. Higgins? What is it? I'm in a meeting."
She listened, and the color drained from her face. Her professional mask cracked, revealing sheer panic underneath. "What? Slow down. What news?"
With a shakey hand, she picked up her tablet, her fingers fumbling as she opened a news app. The headline screamed at her in bold, black letters: B CORP CEO CHLOE BRIGGS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR EMBEZZLEMENT AND FRAUD.
Her breath hitched. "That's not… it's a lie…" she whispered.
The phone rang again, this time on her office line. She put her mobile on speaker. "Briggs," she answered, her voice shaky.
"Chloe, it's Mark from Sterling Investments. We're… we're pulling our funding. Immediately. I'm sorry, but with this scandal, we can't be associated…"
The line went dead. Before she could process it, another call came in, then a notification on her screen. Two more major investors, gone. Just like that.
She looked up at Leo, her world collapsing around her. The confident CEO was gone, replaced by a woman on the verge of ruin. "Leo…" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. "They're saying I stole from my own company. Everyone is pulling out."