My Pitch Was Interrupted by the CEO’s Daughter Saying, “We Don’t Need Your Ideas Anymore” – So I…

A Father’s Desperation

By the time I returned to my apartment, my phone was lighting up with messages. The lab was in complete disarray. Technicians couldn’t replicate results that had been consistent for months. Belle was blaming faulty equipment. Ellis was threatening everyone with termination if they didn’t fix it.

Zara texted:

“Ellis just fired Darren for suggesting the process might be flawed. What is happening? What is happening?”.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I opened my laptop and began preparing for my 3:00 p.m. meeting. Everything needed to be perfect.

At 2:30, my doorbell rang. I checked the security camera, surprised to see Ellis standing there alone. His car idled at the curb, no driver visible. He’d come himself.

I considered ignoring him but decided against it. This confrontation was inevitable.

When I opened the door, he looked older than he had that morning. The powerful CEO was showing cracks.

“May I come in?” His voice lacked its usual commanding tone.

I stepped aside, allowing him entry but saying nothing. He glanced around my modest apartment, taking in the stacks of scientific journals, the small desk cluttered with notes, the cat watching wearily from atop a bookshelf.

“The investors walked out,” he said finally.

“I’m sorry to hear that”.

“No, you’re not. There was no anger in his voice now, just exhaustion. “You planned this”.

“I planned nothing, Ellis. I simply quit after being publicly humiliated and having my work stolen”.

He winced at my directness.

“Belle was overzealous. She shouldn’t have presented without acknowledging your contributions”.

“Contributions?” I laughed, the sound harsh even to my own ears. “That’s an interesting way to describe creating the entire process”.

“We can fix this,” he said, moving to sit on my sofa without invitation. “Come back. Full credit, higher position. Name your terms”.

I studied him, this man who had once represented opportunity to me.

“Why would I trust you now?”.

“Because without you, we lose everything. The company, the funding, everything we’ve built”.

“You mean everything I built while you took the credit”.

He flinched but didn’t deny it.

“What do you want, Veta? I want you to leave. Be reasonable. We both lose if you—”.

“No, Ellis. Only you lose”.

I glanced at my watch.

“I have a meeting to prepare for”.

His face darkened. Anger replacing fatigue.

“With who?”.

“That’s not your concern anymore.” He stood. “You can’t take our research to competitors. Everything you developed belongs to the company”.

“I didn’t take anything that belongs to the company, Ellis. I promise you that”.

His eyes narrowed.

“Then why can’t we make it work?”.

I opened the door, indicating our conversation was over.

“Perhaps because science is complex and not everything can be stolen with a flashy presentation”.

As he stepped toward the door, his phone rang. He checked it, his expression shifting from anger to concern.

“We’re not finished,” he said, answering the call as he walked out.

I closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment. My hands trembled slightly. Confrontation had never been my strength, but I was beyond caring about comfort now.