ONE WEEK LATER The grand hall of the Golden State Hotel was packed with influential businessmen from the city who were all there to watch the hackathon. Charles had invited them all to witness the contest between him and Mark. He wanted this event to be a public spectacle, a stage which the humiliation of the Adam family would be on full display once he emerged victorious. Of course, many businessmen accepted the invitation. After all, it was Charles that invited them, one of the most influential man in the city. Many of them really wanted to witness his abilities physically like they read in several articles. The buzz of anticipation filled the air as the guests chatted amongst themselves. Some couldn't help but gossip about the audacity of the Adam family to challenge Charles, a popular figure in the business world. To them, the Adam’s family were only trying to humiliate themselves. "I can't believe the nerve of the Adams," one man commented, shaking his head in disbelief. "To think they could even compete with Charles, it's sheer madness. I don’t even know why Charles would interact with people like that. He is much bigger than them.” Another woman chimed in, her tone dripping with mockery. "Honestly, their company is practically wretched compared to Charles's. It's like a battle between a rat and a lion." “What will the Adams even get out of this? I heard they wagered their wrecked company for this contest. I bet they don’t have anything more important.” “I’m more concerned about why Charles would accept such a challenge.” As the conversations continued, one man, who knew a little about Charles' history with the Adam's, decided to share his gossip. "You know, there's an interesting twist to this story. Angela, the eldest daughter of the Adams family, is actually Charles's ex-wife." “What?” “Are you serious?” His friends looked at him in astonishment, clearly taken aback by this revelation. “Well, I’m close to someone in the media. She disclosed that they had a divorce some months ago. Apparently, she cheated on him with another man.” He added. “Such an ungrateful woman.” A man commented. “How can you cheat on a man like Charles?” “It’s her loss now.” The first man said. “Charles has become one of the wealthiest man in this city. And look at her, struggling with her family to sustain that dying thing they call a company.” Just as the men were laughing, the MC of the event walked up to the stage. Silence fell across the hall as everyone paid attention to him. “Ladies and gentlemen!.” His voice boomed across the room and he had a smile that captivated the entire audience. “I am Mr. Smith and I will be the M.C of this event. And I assure you, we're in for a day to remember!" The crowd erupted in a round of applause, fully acknowledging the MC's introduction. They were already having a great time, but his words promised even greater entertainment. They couldn’t wait to see the outcome of the contest. With the crowd's attention now fully on him, the MC continued, "Before we begin, let us welcome the judges for this contest. Please join me to welcome the Minister of Business and other judges.” Everyone rose from their seats as the three judges made their way to their respective positions. Reporters gathered around the hall, trying to take as many pictures as possible. The MC smiled and continued. “Now, let’s welcome our two competitors; Mr Mark Adams and Mr. Charles Lincoln.” When Mark came up to the stage first, no one clapped for him except Angela, and Mrs. Adam. Most people didn’t bother to respect him since he was challenging Charles. Charles, on the other hand, was the embodiment of charisma. When he took his first step onto the stage, the entire hall erupted with an applause that seemed to shake off the walls. Many people even rose from their seats, to get a closer glimpse of him. Charles's charm and stage presence were undeniable, and it seemed as though his mere presence was enough to electrify the atmosphere. “Aside from the judges decision, you all have the chance to vote for the best business invention or product that would be presented by either Mr. Mark or Mr. Charles.” The Mc continued. “You can vote simply using the online forum created.” Another round of applause erupted and the contest began. Mark was the first to step up to the stage to present his business invention, his heart pounding with fear. He couldn't help but feel nervous and scared because the fate of his family depended on him. His team wheeled a large, mysterious box onto the stage, and Mark took the microphone. “Good day, Ladies and gentlemen. Without wasting much time, I would like to unveil a rare type of robot prototype.” His voice quivered slightly and the room buzzed with curiosity, everyone leaning in to catch every word. Mark continued. “My robot is unique because it can be controlled through a smartphone.” He could see the audience's eyes widen in amazement. The prospect of commanding a robot with just a phone was rare and he knew he had captured their attention. “Now, I will reveal my robot and show you what it can do.” With a deep breath, he began to unbox the robot, revealing a tattered and somewhat worn-looking machine. The audience's expressions shifted from amazement to disappointment as they realized that Mark's limited resources had forced him to work with less than ideal materials. “That looks horrible. It’s just a combination of spare parts.” A man said amongst the crowd. “I really expected something big. I’m just disappointed that he’s proud of this huge hunk of metal.” Another man responded. Mark placed the robot on the stage and, with a touch of nervousness, initiated the activation process. Unfortunately, the robot began to misbehave and several people laughed at him. A few glitches and sparks later, the robot stirred to life. Mark was terrified, scared that he would disappoint his family. Scared that he would lose the company if he lost. With shaking hands, he typed a series of commands into his phone, instructing the robot to take its first steps. The robot wobbled and stumbled, but eventually, it found its balance and began to walk. “As you can see, I have instructed it to walk through my phone. It’s so easy to control it with just any smartphone.” He announced, hoping the judges were pleased. After his presentation, Mark waited anxiously for the judges' scores. The room was filled with a mixture of tension and excitement. When the final scores were revealed, Mark's heart sank. He had received a total of 170 points out of 300. “What? 170 points for everything I did?” He asked, feeling enraged. “This is unfair! You’ve been bribed by Charles.” He barked at the judges angrily. One of the judges, the minister of business, cleared his throat. “Your robot was barely able to stand properly. It almost collapsed when it tried to walk. Do you think that’s a great invention? If you misbehave, we will kick you out of this place and declare Mr. Charles the winner.” Mark swallowed his anger and shot Charles a dark look. Charles ignored him, getting ready to present his invention. Vera, with a few of Charles' bodyguards, wheeled in a mysterious box onto the brightly lit stage. The room was bubbling with excitement, as the audience eagerly awaited Charles's much-anticipated speech. Many of them were there for him and him only. Charles stepped confidently to the center of the stage. He had a small smug smile on his face mixed with a hint of mischief. The audience held its breath, their anticipation almost exploding. "I stand before you today to introduce an invention that is unparalleled, a special type of robot prototype that hasn’t been invented in any country," Charles declared, his voice resonating with confidence. "I present to you, my friends, a robot like no other. This is not just a machine, it's a companion." Murmurs filled the air as everyone wondered what type of robot he invented. He continued. “My robot has the ability to understand and respond to human instructions just like every human being. But that's not all. This robot is equipped with the remarkable power to detect and understand human emotions, and it strives to respond in the most empathetic and caring way possible." The crowd was captivated as Charles spoke of the robot's potential uses in homes, offices, healthcare, and so much more. With each word, the excitement in the room grew. People began to envision the possibilities, the impact this robot could have on their lives. Finally, when his speech ended, Charles unveiled the magnificent robot. The robot stood there, a shining marvel of engineering, sleek and grand. The audience gasped in awe at the sight of it. After a dramatic pause, Charles powered the robot on, and it came to life. He addressed the robot, "Hello there," and to everyone's amazement, the robot responded with a warm, "Hello, Charles." The room erupted in applause. It was as if the future had been brought to life on that very stage. With the crowd's enthusiasm still echoing in the air, Charles gave his robot one final command. "Shake hands with our distinguished judges," he said with a smile. The robot gracefully moved towards the judges, extending its robotic hand, and one by one, they shook hands with it. The whole hall was shaking, everybody clapping for Charles. As the judges convened to deliberate the results, Angela felt sick down to her stomach. She already knew that her brother had lost, that Charles was going to take their company from them. Moments later, the judges emerged, holding their scores. Charles was awarded 270 points out of 300 points, declaring him the winner. Even at the online voting forum, he was leading with over 1000 points. It was so obvious he was going to win. Mark’s robot was nothing compared to his. As the room was filled with applause and excitement, Mark fell to his knees, tears streaming down his eyes. He held Charles' ankle desperately. “Charles, please forgive me. Don’t take away our company.”