NOVEL NEXT Chapter 136: Curve Ball
A week has passed and it was time for the official beta launch of NeuraNest!
The conference room at Horizon Strategies and Investments buzzed with a frenetic hum, like a hive on the verge of collapse.
Crystal chandeliers cast sharp light over the floors of marble, and the air carried the sharp tang of espresso and nervous sweat. Staff darted between sleek tables, adjusting banners emblazoned with 'NeuraNest: The Future of Business.'
A massive screen loomed at the front, ready to dazzle with Evan's demo, which was set to launch in hours.
Tamara Johnstone stood at the podium, her cream suit pristine, auburn hair pinned tight, her feminine poise a mask for the board's weight on her shoulders.
She continuously read through the script in her hand, one she had already memorized. She couldn't help it. She desperately needed this to be perfect.
This was her moment to lock the CEO title, to prove she deserved more than interim.
"Hey! Don't you see where you're goi—" A decorator, who was about to yell because someone had stepped on the ribbons silenced instantly when she realized it was Ryan Anders.
But the way he had strode in. Was there a problem? Why was he walking so urgently in a light hearted time?
"Tamara," Ryan barked, a dark expression on his face. "Turn on the television."
She blinked, her manicured hand pausing mid-gesture. "What?"
"Turn it on," he snapped, voice low and venomous. "Business Today. Now."
A staffer fumbled with a remote, and the screen flickered to life, drowning the room's buzz in a heartbeat.
There, on a packed stage at the press conference room of the Steele Complex, Darren Steele stood in a suit for an occasion.
Beside him, was a young girl that Tamara recognized as Lila Torres, Evan's former associate.
Ryan narrowed his eyes at the sight of Amelia, clutching a tablet, looking steady and formal. Then, Rachel, Darren's secretary, with a stack of contracts in hand.
Behind them, a display blazed: 'Unveiling Our First Major Project'. There was a small crowd— investors, reporters, and tech heads — all in seats, rapt.
Tamara's breath caught, and her eyes darted around the screen. "Wha— what the hell is happening here?"
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Darren gripped the mic, and began the speech with a smooth, resonant voice, cutting through the murmur like a blade.
"As we know, investing's a gamble," he said. "Small businesses know that best. They pour everything — heart, cash, sleepless nights — into surviving. But as we also know, the market is brutal. Margins shrink, trends shift, and half the time, they're guessing blind. Stock too much, you're broke. Stock too little, you're dead. That's not a game; it's a trap."
The crowd nodded, a ripple of agreement. He paced, slow, deliberate. "Big firms have tech — data, forecasts, armies of analysts. Small shops? They've got grit and not much else. Until now."
He stopped, producing a sharp and confident smirk.
Tamara widened her eyes in shock. "What is he going to say? NeuraNest is mine!"
...
"Steele Investments is proud to unveil Trendteller."
She gasped. "What?!"
Ryan Anders narrowed his eyes. 'Darren Steeleee.'
"Trendteller is a neural network that levels the field. It learns your business — inventory, sales, customers — and predicts what's next, down to the penny. Miss a trend? Not anymore."
A screen flared behind him, showing a deli's dashboard.
Trendteller predicted coffee sales up 18% for summer, flagged overstocked bagels, and saved $2,000 in a month for the deli.
"Woaahhhhh!"
Murmurs grew — execs scribbled, reporters typed. Darren's eyes swept the room, locking briefly on Brooklyn Baker, who gave him a big smile of approval as she wrote down the story.
"And don't worry. We have something for the big players as well," he continued, "Alongside Trendteller, we will launch the beta software for Trendteller+. It is the same brain, but on a bigger scale. Chains, franchises, even investment firms. It crunches millions of transactions, spots market shifts before they hit. Trendteller+ offers you efficiency, and efficiency isn't just savings; it's power."
He turned, gesturing to Lila, his voice softening, proud. "As much as I would like to take credit for this wonderful invention, Trendteller isn't my brainchild. It's hers. Meet Lila Torres, Trendteller's pioneer and creator."
Lila stepped forward, her hands steady, her voice clear, vibrant with passion. "Thank you, Mr Steele."
After smiling at him, she faced the crowd.
"Trendteller is just code, but it is also more than that," she began, clicking a remote. The screen shifted, showing predictions for a bookstore, then a gym, then a family restaurant, all 96% accurate.
"It's also a partner. I built it to think like a shop owner — watch every sale, every season, and learn. For that gym, it caught a 22% drop in protein shake demand after a local marathon. Saved them $1,500. A clothing store? It flagged a denim surplus before back-to-school and it cut the losses by 10%."
She paused, her eyes shining. "This is for the dreamers who can't afford to guess. And I will forever thank Mr. Darren Steele for seeing that vision and making it real."
Applause! Rounds and rounds of applause.
Tamara just stared, eyes twitching. 'What the— hell is happening?'
Amelia took the mic next. "We tested Trendteller at a deli here in Los Alverez," she said assuredly. "One month, 20% less waste, $3,000 saved. That's not a fluke — it's proof. Small businesses can thrive, not just survive."
Rachel joined in. "Trendteller launches at $150 per license — affordable for any shop," she said. "*Trendteller+* starts at $15,000 for chains, tiered by scale. If you're interested in stocks, please email our financial team or meet Miss Sandy Meyers."
Brooklyn Baker raised a hand, her voice sharp. "Lila, how fast can Trendteller scale nationally?"
Lila grinned, unfazed. "With servers, it can scale in six months. That should be around 5,000 stores. The code is modular; it grows as you do."
The crowd erupted — claps, flashes, a tidal wave of buzz. And Darren stood back, admiring all of it.