“That’s standard consulting, Derek,” I said gently.

“It felt hollow,” he said. “I sat there looking at the white tablecloth and the expensive wine, and I just felt sick.”

He looked at the glowing computer screen behind the reception desk.

The red alert about the ownership transfer was still pulsing in the dark room.

“How bad is it?” Derek asked.

“She bought the primary debt,” I said. “She’s trying to trigger a default to take control of our patents.”

Derek’s face hardened.

“We can’t let her do that,” he said.

“We need to file an emergency injunction,” I said. “But we also need a solid operational plan to show we can survive without her funding.”

Derek stood up and walked over to the large whiteboard on the wall.

It was covered in my scribbled chemical formulas and solar cell diagrams.

“The shipping delays from our supplier in Taipei are our biggest bottleneck,” Derek said. “If we can resolve that, our projected revenue doubles next quarter.”

“I haven’t had the time to negotiate with them,” I said. “I’m a scientist, Derek. I don’t know how to navigate Taiwanese customs law.”