His jaw was tight, a small muscle twitching near his ear.

“He isn’t securing anything,” Helen said, her voice rising slightly.

“He is coming to the car.”

“I have scheduled an interview for him at nine o’clock tomorrow morning with the partners at Vanguard.”

“They are expecting him.”

“He is not going to waste his credentials on a failing startup that survives on state grants.”

The word *failing* seemed to hang in the air, vibrating against the metal casing of the Gen-4 unit.

I felt a familiar heat rising in my chest, but I forced my hands to remain loose at my sides.

“Solar Reach is not failing, Mother,” I said.

“We are currently powering three local community centers, and this test will prove our commercial readiness.”

Helen finally turned her gaze to me, her sunglasses sliding slightly down the bridge of her nose.

Her eyes were cold and sharp.

“Do not lecture me about business, Sarah,” she said.

“You have always lived in your own world of theories and academic papers.”

“Meanwhile, your brother has a real future to consider.”