"Mr. Carter." Norman's voice was smooth. Controlled. "Please sit."
Alex sat in one of the chairs facing the desk. Leather. Expensive. Designed to make visitors feel small while Norman loomed above them.
Norman sat as well. He steepled his fingers and studied Alex for a long moment. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Then Norman smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
"Your article was impressive. Quite impressive for someone your age. Tell me, how did you develop such insight into emerging technology trends?"
"Research and pattern recognition," Alex said. He kept his voice steady. "I read everything I can find about current technology development. Then I look for patterns. Where the research is heading. What problems need solving. Which solutions are becoming viable."
"And you believe touchscreens will dominate?"
"I believe they already are dominating. The technology exists. Consumer demand exists. The only barrier is cost, and costs always decrease with scale. Within five years, touchscreen smartphones will be ubiquitous."
Norman leaned back slightly. "Bold prediction. Many analysts believe physical keyboards are superior for productivity."
"Many analysts said the same thing about command-line interfaces versus graphical user interfaces. User experience always wins over technical superiority in consumer markets."
Norman's smile became slightly more genuine. "You've clearly thought about this. What other predictions do you have?"
This was the test. Alex could feel it. Norman wanted to see if the article was luck or if Alex actually understood what he was talking about.
"Social media will become the dominant form of internet interaction," Alex said. "Not forums or message boards. Platforms built around personal profiles and real-time updates. People sharing their lives constantly with their networks."
"That sounds narcissistic."
"It is. But narcissism is extremely profitable. Advertising revenue from targeted social media platforms will dwarf traditional media within a decade."
"What else?"
"Cloud computing will replace local storage. Streaming will replace physical media. Mobile internet will become more important than desktop internet. Apps will become more valuable than websites. And cryptocurrency will create an entirely new financial ecosystem."
Norman's eyes sharpened at the last one. "Cryptocurrency? That's quite a leap."
"Digital scarcity is possible now. Blockchain technology enables trustless verification. Once someone solves the implementation problems, digital currency becomes inevitable. Probably within the next two years."
That was Bitcoin's actual launch timeline. Alex was being very careful not to seem like he had insider information. Just someone who understood the technology and could extrapolate.
Norman was quiet for a moment. His fingers drummed once on the desk.
"You're either brilliant or completely delusional. I'm inclined to believe the former." He paused. "What do you know about Oscorp?"
"You're the leading biotechnology and materials science company in North America. Your military contracts focus on human performance enhancement and advanced materials. Your pharmaceutical division is researching regenerative medicine. Your stock is undervalued because investors don't understand the timeline for breakthrough discoveries."
"You've done your homework."
"You told me to."
Norman actually laughed. It was a short bark of genuine amusement.
"Fair enough. Here's my offer, Mr. Carter. I'm creating a position in our strategic research division. Junior analyst. Part-time, working around your school schedule. Your job would be to research emerging technologies and provide reports on their potential applications for Oscorp."
Alex's heart rate accelerated. This was exactly what he wanted. Access to Oscorp. Access to their research. A legitimate reason to be in this building.
But he forced himself to pause. To think. This was too easy. Norman Osborn didn't hand out opportunities without expecting something in return.
"What's the catch?" Alex asked.
Norman's expression showed approval.
"Smart question. The catch is that everything you learn here stays here. Confidentiality agreements. Non-compete clauses. If you see our research, you don't write articles about it. You don't share it with anyone. You become part of Oscorp, with all the benefits and restrictions that entails."
"What are the benefits?"
"Fifteen dollars per hour, twenty hours per week. Access to our research database within your clearance level. Mentorship from our senior scientists. And if you prove valuable, opportunities for advancement and increased access."
Alex did the math instantly. Fifteen dollars per hour, twenty hours per week. That was twelve hundred dollars per month before taxes. Combined with his article income, he would be making over four thousand monthly.
That was life-changing money for someone who had been broke and desperate a month ago.
But more importantly, it was access. Access to Oscorp's research. To their labs. To information about human enhancement that wasn't publicly available.
"I accept," Alex said. "
"When do I start?"
Read up till chapter 28 on Patreon marvelstark