Immediately.”
Elijah folded his arms.
Carter continued, “Vance has facilities this project clearly needs.
Durability cells, emissions labs, simulation resources, manufacturing engineers.
We could determine whether the concept is commercially viable.”
The phrasing was careful, but the implication was obvious.
What Elijah had built in poverty now mattered because a corporation had finally recognized it.
Elijah looked at Diana.
“And who owns the result of that evaluation?”
Carter answered too quickly.
“That would depend on the agreement.”
“Exactly.”
Diana raised a hand before Carter could continue.
“Nothing happens without counsel representing Mr.
Monroe.”
Carter stared at her.
“He doesn’t have counsel.”
“Then he gets one before he shows us anything proprietary.”
Elijah’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Diana continued, “At our expense, if necessary, but independently selected and representing him.
Not us.”
Carter clearly disliked that.
Diana did not care.
For the first time since the parking lot, Elijah’s expression toward her softened by a fraction.
“You really did learn something this morning,” he said.
“I’m having an expensive day.”
He almost smiled.
The Invitational announced its technical awards shortly before sunset.
Elijah did not receive a magical check large enough to solve every problem in his life.
Apex was a competition, not a fairy tale.
What he received was more useful.
His system earned the event’s engineering innovation award and, more importantly, independent validation from people whose reputations made it impossible for the industry to dismiss him as a man tinkering in a garage.
Within an hour, three manufacturers requested meetings.
Two investment groups left contact information.
A university research center offered controlled laboratory access.
Elijah accepted none of them that evening.
He put every card into Grace’s backpack beside her crayons.
Diana found him in the parking lot as the crowd thinned.
The nine-million-dollar coupe she had purchased that morning waited near the entrance beneath perfect lights.
Elijah was fastening Grace into the passenger seat of the Dodge.
“Mr.
Monroe.”
He looked over the roof.
“Diana.”
“I’d like Vance Automotive to be one of the companies you speak with.”
“I assumed you would.”
“We can offer resources you don’t have.”
“So can the others.”
“Yes.”
He shut Grace’s door.
Diana did not try to overpower the moment with money.
Instead she said, “Then I’ll give you one reason to include us.
You keep ownership of your existing design.
Any new work gets negotiated separately.
No transfer of your underlying intellectual property just for access to our labs.”
Elijah watched her carefully.
