-10-

The sun had barely risen, and the city was slowly waking up, but Alexa was already wide awake, her heart pounding with anxiety. Today was the presentation day, the culmination of months of hard work, and the anticipation was almost too much to bear. She sat at her kitchen table, a cup of coffee growing cold in her hands, as she replayed Edward's threat over and over in her mind. 

Her phone buzzed with a message from James: "Big day today. We've got this."

She forced a smile and typed back a quick response, "Yes, we do! See you soon."

As she dressed for the day, her thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, guilt, and determination. She had to keep it together, for James, for the team, for herself.

The office was a hive of activity, everyone moving with a sense of purpose. The tension in the air was palpable, and Alexa could feel her heartbeat quicken with each passing minute. James stood at the front of the room, a calm and confident presence amid the chaos.

"Alright, team," he began, his voice steady and reassuring. "Today's the day. We've worked hard for this, and I know we're ready. Let's show them what we've got."

Mia was there too, her usual energetic self, offering words of encouragement to the team. Alexa admired how composed she seemed, even though she knew Mia must be feeling the pressure as well.

James caught Alexa's eye and gave her a reassuring nod. She tried to return the gesture, but her smile felt tight and forced. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

The conference room was filled with investors, their expressions ranging from curious to indifferent. James took a deep breath, glancing at Alexa and Mia before stepping up to the podium.

"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here today. We are excited to present to you our new digital platform, a project we believe will revolutionize the industry."

As James spoke, Alexa watched the investors closely. Some seemed genuinely interested, while others looked distracted, their attention wandering. James continued, showcasing the prototype with enthusiasm and confidence.

But as the presentation went on, Alexa could see the beads of sweat forming on James's forehead. The investors were not giving the reaction they had hoped for. They seemed disinterested, their attention slipping away.

When James finished, he opened the floor for questions and feedback. The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension thickening with each passing second.

"Any feedback or questions?" James asked again, his voice tinged with desperation.

After a few more moments of silence, one of the investors finally spoke up. "The platform looks good, and the idea is convincing. However, we have another project in consideration, also a digital platform, and we'll be seeing that presentation next."

James's face fell. "Another digital platform? Whose project is it?"

"It's from Edward Tech," the investor replied casually.

The words hit James like a punch to the gut. Alexa's heart sank. She felt the blood drain from her face as she realized the full extent of Edward's plan. He had been working on a similar project all along, and now he was going to present it right after James.

The investors started to murmur among themselves, clearly more excited about Edward's project than theirs. Alexa could see the devastation in James's eyes, his dream crumbling before him.

The investors filed out of the room, leaving James, Mia, and Alexa standing in stunned silence. The atmosphere was heavy with disappointment and disbelief.

James tried to speak, but his voice cracked. "I… I don't understand. We did everything right. How could this happen?"

Mia placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We gave it our best shot, James. Maybe there's still hope. Maybe the investors will reconsider."

But James shook his head, his eyes hollow. "They're going to go with Edward Tech. You heard them. They were already more interested in his project."

Alexa felt tears prick at her eyes. She wanted to comfort James, to tell him that it wasn't his fault, but the words wouldn't come. She was drowning in her own guilt and fear.

James gave a weak smile, trying to reassure his team. "Let's wrap it up for today. We'll regroup tomorrow and figure out our next steps."

As the team packed up, Alexa's phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Edward: "See, I told you I would destroy James."

Her hands trembled as she read the message, her guilt overwhelming. She wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything to release the pressure building inside her. But she couldn't. She had to stay strong, at least until she was alone.

The office emptied out, leaving James alone in his office. He shut the door, leaning against it as he finally allowed himself to break down. The tears came in a flood, each one a testament to his frustration, his sense of betrayal, and his fear for the future.

Alexa stood outside the door, her own tears streaming down her face. She could hear James's sobs, the sound breaking her heart. She felt like she had failed him, like she had let Edward win.

Finally, Alexa couldn't take it anymore. She gathered her things and left the office, the weight of the day pressing down on her shoulders. She walked home in a daze, the city around her a blur of lights and sounds.

When she reached her apartment, she collapsed onto the couch, the tears she had been holding back finally flowing freely. She felt so lost, so helpless. She had wanted to protect James, to help him achieve his dream, but instead, she had watched it all fall apart.

As the evening wore on, Alexa's mind raced with thoughts of what she could do. She couldn't let Edward win. She couldn't let him destroy everything James had worked for. But she didn't know how to fight back.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to think of something, some way to salvage the situation. She couldn't let Edward's threats paralyze her.

Suddenly, an idea began to form in her mind. It was risky, but it might just work. She had to find a way to expose Edward's manipulation, to show the investors that his project was not as it seemed.

Alexa spent the rest of the night formulating a plan. She would gather evidence of Edward's deceit, find a way to prove that his project was not original, that he had stolen ideas from James's team. It was a long shot, but it was the only chance they had.

She reached out to a few trusted contacts, asking for their help in digging up information on Edward's project. It was a delicate operation, one that required discretion and precision. She couldn't afford any mistakes.

As she worked, her phone buzzed with another message from Edward: "Tick tock, Alexa. Time's running out."

She ignored it, focusing instead on her plan. She wouldn't let Edward intimidate her. She wouldn't let him win.

By the time midnight rolled around, Alexa was exhausted but determined. She had a plan, and she would see it through. She had to. For James, for the team, for herself.

She collapsed into bed, her mind still racing with thoughts of the coming days. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to fight. She wouldn't let Edward destroy everything they had worked for.

As she drifted off to sleep, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. She would protect James's dream, no matter what it took. She had to believe that there was still hope, that they could overcome this challenge together.