PK listened without interrupting as Dustin explained the growing noise—legal whispers, anonymous pressure, polite threats wrapped in corporate language.
When Dustin finished, PK spoke calmly.
"You already told them we'll handle this legally, right?"
"Yes," Dustin replied. "That's exactly why I don't understand what you're about to say next."
PK leaned back, voice measured.
"They'll contact you again. When they do, tell them you want to meet their boss."
There was a pause.
"…Meet their boss?" Dustin frowned. "But you just said we won't negotiate. Why open that door?"
PK smiled faintly.
"We're not negotiating," he said. "We're listening."
Dustin stayed silent.
"Here's what you do," PK continued. "Ask questions. Let them talk. Ask what they want to make this 'go away.' Refuse any offer involving shares. They'll pivot—then they'll talk money. Let them name the price. Don't agree. Don't argue. Just listen."
"And then?" Dustin asked.
"And then you leave," PK said simply. "But before that, remind them—politely—that false ownership claims and coordinated pressure amount to extortion."
Dustin's brow creased.
"They won't like that."
"That's the point," PK replied.
Dustin still didn't fully understand, but he trusted PK enough not to ask again.
"I'll do it," he said.
The call ended.
Meanwhile, PingMe didn't slow down.
It accelerated.
Downloads climbed not by thousands—but by millions per day. Entire colleges shifted overnight. Small businesses printed PingMe QR codes. Families replaced calls with messages. Even skeptics stopped questioning who built it and started asking why they hadn't installed it sooner.
No premium plans.
No locked features.
Just speed, simplicity, and habit.
The louder the accusation became in quiet rooms, the louder PingMe became in the real world.
Two days later, the weekend arrived.
Just as PK had predicted, Dustin's phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
He answered.
"Mr. Dustin," a smooth voice said. "My clients appreciate your willingness to discuss matters… discreetly."
Dustin glanced at the glass walls of Titan Studios, then replied evenly.
"You wanted a conversation. I'm listening."
The voice softened.
"Excellent. Our Boss would like to meet. Neutral location. No lawyers. No noise."
Dustin's grip tightened slightly.
"When?"
"Tonight," the man said. "You'll find it… enlightening."
The call ended.
Dustin stood still for a long moment.
Then he sent a single message to PK:
They called. Boss-level. Tonight.
PK read it.
No surprise.
No urgency.
Just one reply:
Good. Let them talk.
Outside, the world kept downloading PingMe.
Inside, someone had just stepped into a room where they would say far more than they intended.