Chapter 10
Ten
“Hello, is this William Overton?”
Chip sat in his office with his phone pressed to his ear, this new office his childhood bedroom while he’d taken over the main bedroom for actual sleeping.
This call now interrupted his latest attempt to debug the issues with Stonewall’s network protocol stack. The easygoing voice on the other end of the phone seemed bright with enthusiasm. Still, the use of his formal name, William—just like his dad tended to do—had Chip sinking deeper into his office chair and frowning at his computer screen. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“This is Jay Evans. I’m senior management at Encode Enterprises.”
Chip paused, before rolling his seat back and sitting taller, as though Jay could see him rather than just hear him. “Is this about my grant application?”
Though he did his best to sound unaffected, he’d been waiting weeks for this call, and his hasty delivery was hard to miss.
Jay gave a quick chuckle. “Certainly is. Firstly, hello, Mr. Overton. Secondly, I’m calling to say your application for our Graduate Fund has proceeded to the next round. A note from your screening interview states you’re not currently in Boston. Is that correct?”
“I can return if needed.” The speed of his offer brought a dull ache to his chest, springing to mind Ally Egan’s words.
I don’t want to fall for someone who won’t be around.
She’d disclosed her limits just that morning, and he’d already proved her right. Then again, even without the news his application had progressed, an invitation to apply for an Encode grant alone was a big deal. Meanwhile, Ally had all but turned him down, and he didn’t have the luxury of chasing dead ends.
“That’s great to hear.” Jay’s voice brought him back to the conversation. “I’ve had a look over your proposal, and frankly, Stonewall sounds like a powerful program.”
“Thanks.” A relieved sort of chuckle fell from Chip. “It’s nice to talk to someone who understands what I’m working on here.”
Jay returned the laughter. “Oh, yeah, I get it. Though you’ll find being misunderstood is less of a problem when you work at Encode.”
“You mean if I get to work at Encode.” And still, Chip’s breath halted at Jay’s mere implication that he might get to work at Encode.
“You’re a step closer now, and if you do get the grant, you won’t be just working at this company. Your idea will become one of our products with all the perks that come with being a product co-owner. Actually”—he dragged out a pause, one that suggested hesitation—“having looked at your project, I wanted to ask if you’ve considered what reverse engineering your technology might do?”
“To be honest, not really.” Chip paused now, too, mostly because he worried that he should have thought about reverse engineering. “I’ve been too busy just getting the code to function.”
“Well, your tech has unique capabilities. So, think about it now.” Jay’s business-like tone pitched a genuine request for Chip to do some on-the-spot brainwork.
“I mean, yeah.” He took a moment to think, whatever his reply now, he’d likely spend days flicking through the many layers to Jay’s question. “I guess a reverse-engineered Stonewall could potentially breakdown a number of security measures to allow access to otherwise protected data.”
“Mr. Overton, this is where I would advise you to be very careful with which company you trust your work to.” Jay held a low, grave tone, one that made the muscles over Chip’s stomach harden. “Provided you get this grant, Encode has the capabilities to manage such a precarious project, but not every company will. So, back to the task at hand, remaining candidates need to put together a final pitch to present in three weeks’ time.”
A thick knot formed in Chip’s throat, not just from Jay’s gloomy warning, but because the pitch would be tied with the pressure of keeping his project on track. “I can manage that.”
The statement hung as a lie around him, or maybe an attempt to convince himself as much as Jay.
“There are only two other candidates left, and you’re all invited to Encode’s Annual All Staff gala the night prior to your final pitch. The evening is an opportunity to build connections, regardless of whether you get the funding. Although—” As if mulling over his next words, Jay took a moment before speaking again. “I should also mention the grant’s budget is far more flexible than what’s stated in the application terms.”
Chip’s gaze clouded over, and he rubbed his fingertips over his forehead. “What exactly do you mean?”
“Nothing bad, Mr. Overton.” Jay chuckled as though he sensed Chip’s concern. “Only that our goal is to make great tech ideas happen, which means providing whatever capital needed to thrive.”
But the budget on offer was already generous and well within the tens of millions. Still, Chip saw no use in overthinking Jay’s bit of extra information. Not until Chip knew for a fact the grant was his.
One thing that made Encode’s grant so hugely coveted was that the winner would essentially become a stakeholder in Encode itself. As in, Encode would create a salable product from the winner’s project, the winner given a choice of sharing profits and continuing to manage the project into the future or outright selling the idea to Encode at a negotiated and life-changing price.
A sharp prickle formed over the base of Chip’s neck and travelled down the rest of his body, stealing his words as he stared at the long chain of code glowing from his computer screen. All those symbols and commands held the keys to a world of financial and creative freedom he couldn’t even begin to imagine being his. “I… ahh… thank you for the call, Jay. I guess I’ll be seeing you in three weeks?”
“Sure thing. The board is looking forward to hearing what you have to offer. Until then, I’ll have my assistant email the details. See you then.”
Jay hung up, and Chip lowered his phone ever-so-slowly to his desk, his hand resting atop the device for the longest time.
After five years at MIT. His internships. The late nights at his desk. The risk of an unsightly blank spot on his resume while he worked on his own project. The risk in defying his dad’s wishes—Stonewall being what his dad dubbed “a baseless dream.” Chip now had a one-in-three chance at being the developer behind his very own multi-million-dollar product. A chance to live his life so far from anyone’s criticisms and control.
His legs worked of their own volition and lifted him from his chair until he paced the room. He kept his fingers interlaced behind his head and blew out a flustered breath, needing to get back to work but too hyped to do so.
Now, his mind raced to Ally, to her admission that she didn’t want anyone who would leave her behind. That she also had no plans of living anywhere but Harlow, while he still had little idea where his life was headed beyond pinning his mind to launching his career. Did he need to call her? Tell her what had happened? Was their relationship at the point of making phone calls? Or even sharing random good news? Probably not.
After all, she had a point. Even if he did want her more than what was healthy, it wouldn’t be fair for him to drag her down a path of no return. There’d be two broken hearts. Rather than just the one he’d had that first time he’d left town. Besides, his connection with her was way too fresh and non-committal to ask her to consider following him anywhere.
No. For all his smarts, even he couldn’t change his numbered days in Harlow. He’d have to focus on the next weeks. Ensure his future with Encode. Enjoy his short time with Ally before life pulled them apart a second time.