Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 67

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 67**
**Chapter 67 Not Selling That Patent**

The aroma of a well-prepared lunch wafted through the air, signaling that it was time to gather around the table.

One of the dishes had been crafted by Darcy, who had put her heart into it. Jethro took a tentative bite, and his eyes lit up with delight. “This is on par with Aunt Seren’s cooking,” he declared, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

Alistair, sitting across from them, nodded in agreement, adding, “It really is quite good.” His approval meant a lot to Darcy, who felt a swell of pride at their compliments.

Curious about her academic journey, Alistair shifted the conversation. “So, Darcy, how’s your progress with your studies coming along?”

Darcy took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding with sincerity. “I’ve managed to catch up with my major subjects. Math, however, is still a bit of a struggle for me, but Bram has been a tremendous help.”

“That’s great to hear,” Alistair replied, his tone encouraging. “If Bram gets too busy, you should definitely reach out to Jethro. His math skills are quite impressive.”

Darcy glanced across the table, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes.

Alistair continued with a mischievous glint, “You know, Jethro’s undergraduate degree was in Applied Mathematics. He veered off course for his master’s, diving into some rather pointless pure finance overseas. And then he topped it off with an MBA that, let’s be honest, was equally trivial.”

Jethro, caught off guard, could only stare in disbelief, rendered momentarily speechless.

Darcy couldn’t suppress a laugh at the playful banter. She nodded, her amusement evident. “Okay, I see where you’re coming from.”

Yet, beneath her polite exterior, she was acutely aware that asking her boss for math help felt utterly absurd. The very idea of approaching Jethro, not for work-related matters but for academic assistance, sent a wave of laughter bubbling up inside her.

Jethro, perhaps sensing her inner turmoil, broke into a smile, sharing in the light-hearted moment.

As they continued their meal, Alistair suddenly had a thought. He turned toward Darcy, a serious expression crossing his face. “A company reached out to me today, expressing interest in purchasing that patent you filed during your undergraduate years. The price is negotiable. Are you interested?”

Darcy’s brow furrowed as she put down her fork, her mind racing. “Which patent are you referring to?”

“The Automated Yield Curve Model,” Alistair replied, his gaze steady.

Darcy’s expression shifted to one of determination. “I’m not selling that patent to any company. I have plans to incorporate it into Stratagem Tech’s upcoming product line.”

Jethro’s curiosity piqued. “New product? What are you working on?”

“Yes,” Darcy said, her enthusiasm bubbling to the surface. “I recently revised the company’s product roadmap for next year. I’d love to go over it with you when we have some time. The core product will utilize the Automated Yield Curve Model, and I genuinely believe it will attract significant client interest once it hits the market.”

With a teasing grin, Jethro leaned in. “So, Ms. Gale, what would be the appropriate patent fee I should pay you?”

Darcy felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “No patent fee necessary. I’ll grant Stratagem Tech free usage rights.”

Jethro raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “That simply won’t do. Business is business, and the patent fee must be compensated in full.”

Darcy, aware that this was a discussion for another time, decided to sidestep the issue for now. “Let’s table this for next year. We can discuss it then.”

After lunch, Darcy lingered a bit longer with Alistair, enjoying their conversation before making her way back to the library.

Downstairs, Jethro offered her a ride, but she politely declined.

“It’s not far, and I prefer to walk. It helps clear my mind,” she explained with a smile.

Darcy chose her words carefully, neither fully agreeing nor outright refusing. She simply smiled and said, “If we happen to run into each other, sure.”

If they didn’t, then there was no need to force any plans.

Gwen picked up on the underlying message and felt a twinge of disappointment.

As Darcy stood to organize her books, a sudden, sharp pain gripped her abdomen, catching her off guard.

She set her things down and made her way to the restroom, realizing with a pang that her period had arrived.

Fortunately, the flow was light, and she felt confident she could manage until she got home.

Returning to the library, she spotted Gwen still there. However, as soon as Gwen noticed Darcy’s pale complexion and the way she pressed her hand against her lower abdomen, she quickly pieced together what was happening.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gwen rushed to the pantry, retrieved a cup of hot cocoa, and presented it to Darcy. “Here, drink this. It’ll help.”

“Thank you,” Darcy said gratefully, taking the cup and sipping slowly. The warmth of the cocoa provided some relief from the abdominal discomfort, though the pain lingered.

Gritting her teeth against the discomfort, she stepped out of the library alongside Gwen.

“Hugo! You’re here!” Gwen’s eyes sparkled as she waved excitedly at him.

Hugo approached, his tall frame clad in fitted suit pants and a stylish beige trench coat, exuding the charm of a romantic lead from a classic film.

His sharp gaze quickly registered something was amiss with Darcy’s expression, a silent concern flickering across his features.