7:00 AM – Iron Brew Loft HQ
Jason sat on the floor, diagrams and plans covering the table. Circles, arrows, market zones, delivery chains. He hadn't slept. Again.
Vanessa stirred in the background, hair still damp from a rushed shower. She wore a crisp white blouse, no makeup, and still looked like a walking power move.
Jason handed her coffee. "I've been thinking."
She took a sip. "That's dangerous."
He ignored the flirt. "Ethan's holding the wholesalers by the throat. We need raw beans, milk, cups—hell, even ice. He's blocked our suppliers."
Vanessa tapped her nails. "We need a new supply chain. One he can't touch."
Jason grinned.
"I found it."
---
8:30 AM – Underground Café Co-Op
Hidden beneath an old warehouse, Jason met with a dozen independent brewers. Ex-baristas, failed café owners, regional roasters—the forgotten ones.
He stood before them like a preacher in a cathedral of stainless-steel grinders and hopes.
"You've been bullied out of the market by Trident Holdings," Jason said, voice sharp. "Flash Brew buys up your beans, blocks your licenses, crushes your brands."
They nodded, bitterly.
Jason dropped a file on the table. "I'm offering you something better. A chance to supply a brand that doesn't fold. We grow together—or we burn alone."
A long silence.
Then one woman—a gray-haired roaster named Talia—stood up.
"I'm in. I've been waiting for someone with teeth."
The others followed.
> [System Alert: Secret Supplier Chain Established – Indie Brew Co-op]
[Supply Immunity Perk Activated – Trident Block Ignored]
[New Passive Unlocked: Local Loyalty – +10% Regional Growth]
Jason's phone buzzed.
> Live Broadcast Alert: Ethan Quan – "The Coffee King's Ultimatum" @ 9AM
Jason's eyes narrowed.
"Time to see what lies he's cooked up."
---
9:00 AM – Mercury Plaza Livestream
A massive LED screen lit up over the plaza. Pedestrians slowed. Phones came out.
Ethan Quan appeared on screen in a designer office, eyes locked on the camera.
"To the people," he began smoothly, "I've always supported innovation. But Iron Brew… is a threat."
Jason, standing nearby, crossed his arms.
Ethan continued. "Jason Chen, the so-called founder of Iron Brew, is reckless, unstable, and dangerous to our industry. He stole clients. Breached contracts. And now operates with illegal supplier routes."
Gasps echoed from some in the crowd.
Vanessa's lips curled. "He's setting up a case. Public support, then lawsuits."
Ethan leaned in, voice colder now.
"So here's my offer. Jason, if you dissolve Iron Brew within the next 48 hours, I will personally buy out your debt, give you a million-dollar job offer, and ensure your staff are relocated to safe, paid positions."
The screen went black.
Jason looked around.
People whispered.
"He's serious," Vanessa muttered. "And he's weaponizing PR."
Jason's jaw tensed.
Then he turned to the crowd and stepped up onto the cart.
"Everyone filming?" he asked.
Phones went up.
He stared straight into every lens.
"I'm not going anywhere."
The plaza erupted in cheers. A few chanted his name.
> [System Trigger: Reputation Milestone – "Street Messiah"]
[Loyalty Surge: +21%]
[New Skill: Crisis Response – Activate once per week to flip negative PR]
---
10:00 AM – Vanessa's Office
Jason stared at a list of flagged accounts.
"They froze three of our backup business accounts," she said.
Jason's eyes widened. "What?! How?"
"Ethan's using dummy shell companies to trigger fraud reviews. Stalling tactics."
Jason looked down at the numbers.
They had enough to last five days.
Then Iron Brew would run dry.
He turned to Vanessa. "How fast can we get the app live?"
She blinked. "The Iron Brew App?"
He nodded. "Online ordering. Subscription services. Prepaid credits. I want full independence from third-party systems."
Vanessa hesitated. "The backend isn't ready."
"Then call in favors. Code overnight. I'll handle the launch."
She grabbed her phone.
"I hope you're ready to go to war."
Jason gave a cold smile. "I've been in war since day one. This time, I get to choose the battlefield."
---
2:00 PM – Iron Brew Secret Test Kitchen
Jason worked with his two new hires—Dez (flavor chemist) and June (marketing student turned meme wizard).
"Dez," Jason said, pouring sample shots, "how's the new roast line?"
"Cherry-honey drip," Dez said. "It kicks like whiskey and hits like silk."
Jason tasted it.
"Perfect."
"June," he continued, "what's our campaign tag?"
She grinned. "#BrewBackBetter. Rebellious. Catchy. Viral."
Jason tapped his phone.
> [New Product Activated: Revolution Roast]
[Hype Skill Engaged – Viral Probability 78%]
[Countdown to App Launch: 18 hours]
He looked at both of them.
"This is your chance. Flash Brew thinks we're dying. Let's show them how wrong they are."
They nodded, eyes blazing.
---
7:00 PM – Rooftop Strategy Meeting
Jason and Vanessa sat on folding chairs, watching the city lights flicker below.
"Do you ever stop?" she asked, sipping from a steel thermos.
He looked at her.
"When I win."
She leaned against him.
"You know… you don't have to carry it all alone."
Jason didn't answer for a moment.
Then said quietly, "People always leave."
Vanessa turned to him. "I won't."
He looked at her again. Really looked.
"I'm scared to trust that."
"Then don't trust the promise," she said. "Trust the fight."
Their hands touched, slowly interlocking.
No kiss this time.
Just something quieter.
Deeper.
> [Connection with Vanessa Liu increased – 47%]
[Optional Romance Event Available – Delay or Engage]
Jason chose Delay.
Now wasn't the time for distractions.
---
11:00 PM – Jason's Apartment
He stared at the dashboard.
> Iron Brew App – BETA MODE: Finalizing.
Users Pre-signed: 1,893
Subscription Orders Pre-loaded: $12,580
Server Stress Test: 4 hours left.
Then a text came in.
From a private number.
> "You had your chance. Tomorrow, I bury you. — EQ"
Jason's eyes narrowed.
He typed two words back.
Try me.
---
Midnight – Secret Call with a Legend
Jason got a sudden call on the burner phone Vanessa gave him.
A low voice came on.
"You're the one fighting Ethan?"
Jason paused. "Who's asking?"
"Someone who tried. And failed. I lost my business. My family. But I still have one thing left."
Jason listened carefully.
"What's that?"
"My data. Ethan's real investors. The illegal accounts. The tax holes."
Jason sat up.
"Why tell me?"
"Because you're the only one I've seen hit him this hard. You want to destroy Ethan? I'll give you the match. You just need to light it."
> [Side Mission Unlocked: Trident Exposure]
[Reward: Legal Immunity, Blackmail Material, PR Annihilation Protocol]
[Penalty for Failure: Lawsuit, Brand Collapse]
Jason closed his eyes, then whispered:
"Send everything."