Chapter 8 Team up With a Genius
1102 Words
Lizzy slid into the driver's seat and grabbed her well-worn work notebook.
There was a name on page ten—Mandler.
He was the head of a promising software studio.
Eric had once offered Mandler an insultingly low bid during a negotiation that was more of a humiliation than a business meeting, pushing him to sell out his product at a cheap price.
Unable to stand idly by, Lizzy had sneakily slid a steaming cup of hot chocolate to the bewildered young man during a break in the talks.
The deal eventually fell through, and Mandler walked out with his team, leaving Austen Group.
Lizzy's first move was to track down Mandler.
But when she drove over to his place and just exchanged a few words with his landlord, Lizzy received a torrent of abuse. "That scum will ruin the whole street. And you, get out of my apartment!"
In the hysterical abuse, Lizzy got kicked out. Standing in front of the apartment building and nibbling her nails, Lizzy thought, 'My first step seemed over before it even began. Where else could he be?'
Suddenly, Lizzy got tripped and nearly hit the ground.
Mandler woke up with a start and scrambled up from where he was lying, his papers scattering everywhere. "Sorry... I'm so sorry. Ms. Swan? What are you doing here?"
"Mandler, why are you sleeping on a bench in the park?"
Straightening his thick glasses, Mandler replied, "I wasn't sleeping. I was just thinking... then I fell asleep."
"Well." Lizzy didn't quite follow the genius' logic, but she respected it.
Suddenly, Mandler rose to his feet, his tone serious as ever. "Ms. Swan, thanks for coming to me, but I won't change my mind. And thanks to Austen Group for their recognition, but that's it. I won't let your boss take away my painstaking effort, even if he stuffs my mouth with money."
Lizzy understood something. 'So he thought I came for the sake of Austen Group.'
With a grin, Lizzy set him straight. "I got the boot from Eric the day before yesterday. But I'm doing a bit better than you. At least I've got my own bed to sleep in."
That threw Mandler for a loop. After a moment, he stuttered, "Ah... Sorry... I shouldn't have snapped at you. I got fired too, well, no, I turned down Austen Group's buyout. I can't let a bunch of gorillas take my baby—they wouldn't even know how to peel a banana. With their shortsightedness, they can't realize this tech isn't just playing games; it's about changing the future landscape of information."
When Mandler threw out his exaggerated claim, Lizzy couldn't help but exclaim.
As far as Lizzy knew, some big shots at Austen Group were pushing this seemingly minor acquisition hard. Nobody was blind to a real moneymaker.
Lizzy clapped Mandler on the shoulder, her hand landing with a thud. "Mandler, let's team up. I've got two million bucks. Before we burn through the cash, can you whip up software that'll rock the socks off this planet's youth?"
Mandler's face lit up, barely containing his excitement. "For real, Ms. Swan? You wanna be the major shareholder of my studio? I swear, I'll create something epic."
Lizzy said with a shrug, "Not really looking to be a shareholder; I wanna be your CEO. We've only got one shot at this. Don't you wanna give those shortsighted guys who looked down on you a good thrashing? But just a heads-up—I don't tolerate any screw-ups in work."
"Deal!" Mandler replied without hesitation.
"Pleasure doing business." Lizzy shook his hand and eyed him practically barefoot on the pavement. "So, Mandler... where are you crashing these days?"
Mandler looked down, looking embarrassed. "I ran into a bit of trouble; got kicked out by my landlord. Haven't found a new place yet."
Lizzy's mouth twitched. Last time, she heard from the secretaries, there was a guy in District 9 testing some equipment at home and blacking out the whole street. Seemed she'd found the culprit.
"First things first, let's find you a place to crash."
At least the new landlord wouldn't mind a tenant causing a little havoc now and then.
And Lizzy thought of someone suitable.
By dusk, Merriman returned to his apartment, only to be greeted by a surprise.
In the communal dining area, Mandler sat nervously at a table, batting his big eyes at Merriman.
"Lizzy, who said you could bring a stray man into the apartment?!" Merriman burst out as he walked in.
Lizzy darted out from the communal kitchen, a trace of nervousness hidden behind her smile. "Hey, Merriman, you're back."
"Who's this guy?" Merriman didn't appreciate uninvited strangers in his turf, especially male ones.
"Mandler, my new partner," Lizzy introduced him, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Hello, sir," Mandler whispered a greeting.
"Partner?!" Merriman's eyebrows furrowed, his tone turning menacing. "Did I ever say you could bring people over?"
Lizzy let out an awkward chuckle. "Merriman, I was just about to talk to you about that."
Merriman could guess the gist without her explanation. His tongue unconsciously licked his teeth, a sign of his upset.
He cut Lizzy off without any niceties, "Lizzy, I'm not letting any strangers into my turf."
Hearing that, Lizzy didn't show any displeasure but instead looked at him with admiration. She then said in her soft voice, "Merriman, I've never met a landlord more charismatic and exceptional than you. You're not just helpful, you're literally the kindest person I know. Right, Mandler?"
"Yes, definitely. Merriman seems like the captain of the football team in my high school, very popular."
Merriman raised his eyebrows and said, "Go on."
Lizzy flashed a sweet smile and continued, "Merriman, I'm truly sorry for bringing someone over without your permission. Mandler's plight is heartbreaking; his previous landlord kicked him out for no good reason, nearly leaving him on the streets..."
From the side, Mandler interjected, "Actually, I didn't..."
Lizzy shot him a stern look, and he instantly clammed up.
Turning back, Lizzy clasped her hands together, her voice filled with earnest pleading. "A gentleman as strong and just as you are rare in this world. So I believed, maybe you'd want to extend a helping hand to this unfortunate young man. That's why I brought him here. I figured someone as generous as you would surely forgive me."
Merriman leaned on the table with his arms, his piercing blue eyes not even glancing at Mandler but fixed on the beautiful smiling woman before him.
"No," Merriman replied curtly.
Hearing that, Lizzy clenched her teeth.
- Writer
