Chapter 4

Avery May's POV:

The annual university Tech Innovation Expo was the highlight of the academic year. Students showcased their wildest ideas, hoping to catch the eye of a Silicon Valley giant.

In my past life, this was where Diego had truly shined.

Naturally, he viewed today as the crucial turning point for his comeback.

He had been highly charismatic, incredibly eloquent, and had pitched a flashy but slightly shallow social networking concept that perfectly captured the zeitgeist.

"That young man, Torres," my father remarked to the dean, a seemingly offhand comment that carried immense weight. "He's talented. What's his background?"

Eager to please, the dean quickly summarized Diego's story: scholarship student, humble origins, raw talent.

"We could offer him five hundred thousand in seed capital," my father suggested. "Additionally, we'd provide mentorship, networking resources, and fast-track follow-up funding if he delivers."

For a student project, this was an extraordinarily generous proposition, fully reflecting my father's confidence in his potential. The dean broke into a wide smile. It was a win-win for both the school and Diego.

Diego overheard the exchange and sauntered over, a sneer playing on his lips. He reached out to shake my father's hand, adopting an air of overly familiar confidence.

"Did you say five hundred thousand?" His tone made it sound as though such a sum couldn't possibly pique his interest. "That's... a start, I suppose. But for someone with my talent and vision, it's basically a drop in the bucket, don't you think?"

My father, usually a stickler for protocol, raised an eyebrow, a flash of surprise crossing his face. "Young man, for an unproven concept, that is no small amount of money."

Diego chuckled. He waved his hand dismissively. "Mr. May, your industry is stuck in the past. You're thinking in millions, but I'm thinking in billions. Your so-called 'seed capital' doesn't even begin to match the scope of my ambitions."

He paused, surveying the bustling hall with an air of absolute superiority. "I'll reluctantly accept. But understand this: I'm doing you a favor. In a few years, five hundred thousand will be nothing but a rounding error on my balance sheet."

My father's smile froze.

He was used to dealing with audacious founders, but this level of unbridled arrogance was exceptionally rare.

"Furthermore," Diego continued, "I require more. Much more. To truly disrupt the market and obliterate the competition, I need at least five million upfront. And a guaranteed twenty million follow-on within the first year. Additionally, I expect a personal stipend of twenty thousand a month so I can be free of mundane worries. My genius cannot be tethered by financial constraints."

He spoke as if these demands were perfectly reasonable, as if he were granting my father some profound privilege.

"I'm not like other students, Mr. May. I'm a prodigy. I am destined for greatness." He gestured grandly. "I will build an empire, an unprecedented tech behemoth that will make your current portfolio look like child's play."

He then looked at my father, a bizarre gleam shining in his eyes.

"Mr. May, this is your only window. Invest in me wholeheartedly, or be left in the dust when I reshape the world. I'll give you twenty-four hours to reconsider. If you can't meet my terms, I'll take my vision elsewhere." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, a smug smile plastered on his face.

He genuinely fantasized that my father would chase after him, begging him to stay. He assumed his "genius" was so blindingly obvious, so irrefutable, that anyone would readily bow to his every whim.

My father's usually calm and composed face flushed with anger.

The dean, utterly appalled, scrambled to salvage the situation. "Mr. May, please forgive him! I apologize for his behavior! He's just young and a bit... overzealous. He didn't mean any disrespect."

My father shook his head, his eyes cold and decisive. "But I don't invest in blinding arrogance. I invest in talent, humility, and a clear understanding of value. Mr. Torres possesses absolutely none of these traits."

"The offer is rescinded. Completely off the table. We will not be investing in Mr. Torres's venture."

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Diego stopped in his tracks. He turned around, his face etched with confusion.

"What? What did you say?" he demanded, marching back over. He had considered himself so incredibly valuable that no one would ever dare reject him.

My father ignored him, speaking directly to the dean. "We are looking for true innovators, those who respect the process and the support they are given."

Only then did he glance at Diego, his tone calm yet icy. "Mr. Torres, you believe you are destined for greatness? Fine. But greatness is never born from sheer arrogance." With that, my father turned and walked away, leaving Diego standing there entirely alone, paralyzed with shock.

Still struggling to process the reality of the situation, Diego blurted out, "No! You don't understand! I need a real investor! Someone who truly recognizes my worth! Someone whose wealth dwarfs even your family's! Someone who will bow to my genius and hand me a blank check!"

He looked around frantically, scanning the room for his next target, another potential patron.

"I will handpick my investors! Only the richest, the most powerful, the ones who grovel at my feet deserve my blessing! No one else is worthy!"