The conference room was large enough to accommodate fifty attendees, with functional, contemporary comfort. The interior was mostly natural wood, with colorful ergonomic Embody chairs around a rectangular oak table. There was also a huge window that overlooked the verdant woods that surrounded IMU headquarters.
Aiden Betler, Damien Shaw's cousin was standing at the front, ready for his presentation. Aiden was more of a business partner to Damien, he was family and they had both worked side by side for five years to get IMU to where it was today.
Aiden clicked a button on his remote, and the large screen behind him lit up with a sophisticated slide presentation.
"In 2025, IMU will introduce our plans and concepts for a new project called Edge-N. An AI online home butler that collects data based on human emotions. This project is for our clients to customize an online butler with artificial intelligence."
Damien watched from his seat at the head of the table, his expression completely neutral. The room was filled with IMU's top executives, and their eyes was fixed on Aiden as he spoke. Murmurs of approval and impressed nods rippled through the crowd. Aiden was charismatic, and he knew how to sell an idea, but Damien wasn't easily swayed yet.
When Aiden finished his presentation, the room erupted in applause. He beamed, clearly pleased with the reaction. But Damien wasn't convinced. He leaned forward, steepling his fingers as he prepared to question him.
"Aiden," Damien began, his voice cutting through the applause, "can you elaborate on how Edge-N will collect data based on human emotions?"
"Of course, CEO, Shaw." Aiden's smile faltered for a moment before he composed himself. "Users will login using physiological information such as their fingerprint. It'll allow all home AI appliances to be connected and establish local computing of data. At the same time, we will be able to collect specific data on each user. For example, daily routine, music preferences and even the slightest changes in their body."
The other executives seemed satisfied with his response, but Damien wasn't convinced. He leaned back in his chair, considering Aiden's words. "I believe this project needs more development. We can't afford any missteps with something this sensitive."
Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but Damien's phone beeped, interrupting him. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Dr. Smith. The NIPP results were ready. The results that was going to decide if he was going to let Harriet go or let her continue to stay in his life.
If she really was carrying his child, then it meant she was still useful to him. In a few seconds, Damien was going to find out if it was his or another man's. Harriet wouldn't dare do that to him, would she? She couldn't have possibly been cheating with another man under his nose.
His heart clenched as he rose to his feet.
"The meeting is adjourned. The plan for Edge-N is indefinitely postponed." Damien said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll reconvene once we've addressed these concerns."
The room fell silent as Damien walked out, his mind already on the text message. He made his way to a quiet corner of the hallway, and opened the file. But before he could read it, Aiden stormed up to him, his face flushed with anger.
"You're backsiding me, Damien!" he accused, his voice low and tense. "We built this company together, and now you're undermining my work."
Damien's face flushed a deep shade of red and he scrunched up his features. Aiden Betler was becoming too cocky lately and he seemed to have forgotten his place.
Built this company together? Harriet Prescott did all the work. Hooked them up with the best investors and set up meetings with profitable companies. Even bagged them a lot of VIP client. They had come this far and Damien wasn't going to let one mistake called Edge-N, ruin everything.
Damien met Aiden's gaze calmly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "Aiden, I just want what's best for the company. Harriet did the most part of building IMU. You know that as well as I do."
"Harriet may have been instrumental, but that doesn't mean you can dismiss my work. Now is the best time for Edge-N to conquer the market. It can increase the company's profit by fifty, even hundred times."
Damien's lips curled into a smile. So, that was it? The money. What about IMU? Did he know how large the customer base was? Their current security system wasn't strong enough to ensure the confidentiality of their information. If there was a data leak, it would be a violation of privacy and the end of IMU.
Damien shook his head, "I'm not dismissing your work, Aiden. But we need to be absolutely certain before we launch something this ambitious. Let the testing phase happen first. It's better to be thorough than to risk everything we've built."
Aiden's shoulders slumped slightly, and he sighed. "Fine. But don't keep pushing me aside, Damien. We're partners."
"I understand,"
Aiden shrugged, "By the way, my parents want to have dinner with you tomorrow night. She says to bring Harriet too."
"Auntie and Uncle know I wouldn't miss it for the world. And…" Before Damien could respond, Aiden walked away.
Aiden still didn't know about what was happening between Harriet and Damien, and the fact that Harriet was in the hospital. It was still a secret since Damien hadn't yet decided on what to do with Harriet.
Divorce was his first option. Harriet had already done her part in his life. Damien had thought he would continue being married to Harriet as a way of showing gratitude but after the miscarriage, she hadn't been able to get pregnant. That was concerning.
Then he met Melissa and they had a one night stand. He didn't know Melissa was pregnant or that she had his child, until a year ago. They started seeing each other and that was how Damien fell in love with her. Melissa was going to leave with Larry if Damien didn't legally take her as his wife so Damien had no other option but to give in.
Melissa was the woman he loved anyway, not Harriet.
Damien was determined to take on the responsibility. He didn't want Larry to grow up without a father, just like he did. He didn't want Larry to be raised by a single mother, just like he was. He didn't want Larry to suffer while growing up, just like he did. He didn't want to be irresponsible like his father who failed to acknowledge his own actions.
Damien's mother raised him all on her own and even though she had nothing, she saw him through college. She passed away in his final year of college. She couldn't see him graduate. After college, Damien realized the real world was tough and only rich and powerful could survive it.
He vowed to become rich in any way possible. It was then he met Harriet, the daughter of a rich conglomerate. He saw her as his means to a good life and he made the best use of her. Now that he had everything he wanted, he thought it was finally time to settle down with his son and the woman he truly loved, Melissa.
But Harriet was pregnant, with a child that had a fifty percent probability of being his. If it really was, the course of her life was probably going to change because there was no way he would let her go.
Damien pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. The words on the screen blurred for a moment before coming into focus. The NIPP test results were negative. The child, wasn't his.