Chapter 47 Summary
Samir Patel waits nervously in the hotel lobby for Thomas Allen to arrive and take him to his new potential job at ByteForge Security. Running on little sleep and no breakfast, Samir feels apprehensive about the day ahead. When Allen arrives in his flashy red Porsche, they drive quickly to the office, where Samir learns they'll meet Jordan Gregory, the company president, for the formal contract signing.
At ByteForge, the security is tight but professional. After checking in and being offered refreshments by Jordan’s assistant, Nancy, they meet Jordan, a casually dressed, approachable man who leads them into a hidden, secured section of the office. He emphasizes the company’s practical, no-frills culture and commitment to low overhead and responsibility to public funding for government contracts.
During their contract review, Jordan is concerned about a clause that gives Allen’s company unilateral control over project timelines. Samir remains quiet, but Jordan’s challenge forces Allen to backtrack and agree to revise the clause to require mutual approval. Jordan also requests that Samir sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) so he can review the full project charter before proceeding.
Allen, pressed for time, asks to leave Samir and Jordan to finalize the review. Allen, frustrated by the setback and the reduction in potential profits due to the amended clause, speeds off angrily, berating himself for underestimating Jordan’s scrutiny.
