All Chapters of Patent Pending: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I'm an orphan who managed to finish school and get into one of the best research labs in the country, all because my mentor, Melissa Rogers, took me under her wing.She cared for me like I was her kid.That was why I tried to be patient with the guy she wanted me to marry.If Tania Jones had sorted that mess out and given me a straight answer, I might have kept giving her chances."Simon? What's going on?"The other end of the phone was buzzing with chatter, like she was surrounded by guests.She dealt with the guests before casually bringing the phone to her ear, acting like she had not heard me before."Come get me, and we'll head into the event. Your assistant–"I did not get to finish because she let out an annoyed click of her tongue. "You think you're royalty? Your legs are not working?"I've got guests to attend to, no time to fetch you. Get here on your own."All I got afterward was the busy signal.Elias Holmes stifled a laugh, his gaze thick with sarcasm."Just do

It all became clear to me that Elias was less of a right-hand man and more of a conniving flatterer.He had a talent for saying just the right thing to worm his way into Tania's good graces.His whispers in Tania's ear certainly contributed to her view of me as a 'loser.'Tania loved being adored, and playing into that was the easiest way to get on her good side.I caught her eye and just felt drained."What do you want from me?" I asked.She gave an icy, mocking laugh. "I want you to call my mom and tell her you're the one who wanted to break off the engagement."I nodded without hesitation."Fine." I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts as she watched, a flicker of surprise crossing her face."Be sure about this. Once you make that call, you can kiss any chance of Jones Group's fortune goodbye."I ignored her and pressed Natalia's number."And that's not all. I want him to apologize to me publicly!" Elias piped up, his voice dripping with self-pity and pr

Cecilia's eyes snapped wide open.Her lips quivered, and her eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears. "I'd be deeply honored.""Simon! What on earth are you talking about?!"Your engagement to my daughter was something Prof. Rogers and I agreed upon. Don't you think backing out now is a bit inappropriate?"Prof. Rogers practically raised you, and you were her student. She's nearly a mother to you. Did you even consider how you'll break it to her?"Natalia's initial shock quickly gave way to a calm, persuasive demeanor, though I could feel the pressure she was exerting.She brought up my mentor, which irked me."You seem to have forgotten that I'm making this call to break off the engagement."I laid out my true purpose."My mentor knows that by calling off this engagement, I'm freeing myself from misery, and she'd be nothing but happy for me."She wants me to marry someone truly outstanding and of good character. That, unfortunately, doesn't include your daughter, Ms. Jones

Fair arms encircled my arm, cutting off Tania's apology.Cecilia pressed against me, her lips curled in a smile, but her eyes were frosty. "I'll throw Simon a wedding that's out of this world, with a ring to match."She shot a look at Natalia. "I'm considered quite the catch back in the capital. If Simon ever wanted to pick from a lineup of amazing women, they'd stretch all the way to the next continent–not settle for a flattering, unhinged nobody."Elias, who had been silent since learning that the patents of Jones Group were mine, was then seething with silent rage.He lowered his head, letting his hair hide his face, trying to become invisible."He's got no shortage of love, no shortage of people wanting to treasure him."Tania, you've looked down on him from the start for being an orphan with no family name. Then again, didn't you climb over me by clinging to the scraps from this orphan's table?"Mrs. Jones, we're leaving for now. As for today's events, we'll settle up with

My phone's ringtone cut through the silence. I glanced down and took the call. "Simon? Mrs. Jones tells me you're breaking off the engagement. What happened? Did someone hurt you?" The line crackled with background noise, fading as Melissa moved to a quieter spot. She was at a summit overseas, a last-minute assignment. She had been all sighs before her flight, regretting missing my engagement party and making me promise to snap lots of pictures.Then, after getting a message from Natalia, she did not waste a second to check in on me. Her voice was all concern, no judgment, and I smiled softly. "Prof. Rogers, here's the thing..." I started, but was cut off by a tirade of curses from the other end, peppered with local slang and as rapid-fire as a machine gun. She let out a weary sigh, her voice raspy from the outburst she had just unleashed on herself."Simon, I'm sorry, I should've known better. The Joneses are sly as foxes; they never raise anyone right."Just call off the e