31 Windfall

Calvin frowned. "What do you mean? Wasn't I invited to assist with a business project? But this...?"

Bastian leaned back in his chair, a small smile forming on his lips. "This is your place to develop your startup."

Calvin's eyes widened. "What?"

"Separate from Stuard Corporation, you will be the founder of a startup that will later become a subsidiary of this company," Bastian continued calmly.

Calvin still couldn't fully grasp the situation. "But... why? This is too big for me. I'm just a student..."

"I will provide significant funding for your project. "I hope you take this seriously, Calvin," Bastian's voice was firm—almost like a command.

Calvin stared at him, a mix of shock and doubt in his expression. This offer was huge—too huge for him.

"But Bastian. I—!"

"What? Are you going to pass up this opportunity? Are you starting to doubt yourself? "Where's the enthusiasm you had yesterday, Calvin?" Bastian questioned.

Calvin fell silent for a moment, then looked at Bastian with a smile. "You're right! "I’ll take this project seriously!" he declared.

"Good! Let’s get to work!"

Bastian pulled something out from under the table—a bag containing a brand-new laptop and the latest smartphone.

"This is for you!" he said.

Calvin's eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected such expensive items to be handed to him.

"This must’ve cost a fortune!"

"It's just a laptop. Open it—I’ve already tweaked your proposal and summarized it for you," Bastian replied.

Calvin opened it, and sure enough, his business proposal was there. He was curious about which parts Bastian had tweaked, but everything still seemed the same as his original idea.

"I don't see any differences. "It’s still the same," Calvin said.

"In the financial proposal!" Bastian replied.

Calvin immediately flipped to the financial section and nearly jumped in shock when he saw the numbers written there.

$10,000,000

His eyes widened, and his fingers trembled slightly as he double-checked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. It was an extraordinary amount—a starting capital even higher than what most newly established startups received.

"$10 million?!" Calvin exclaimed in disbelief. "This… this is way too much for a startup, Bastian!"

Bastian remained relaxed, smiling. "Not really. If you want to build a startup that can survive in the market, you need solid capital. Besides, I want this to grow, not just be an experimental project."

Calvin still struggled to process this reality. He knew startups could receive large funding, but usually, that came from investors after going through various pitching rounds and business validations. Yet here he was, just starting out and already being handed a figure that was hard to even imagine.

"Is… is this all just for me? "Is Andreas getting the same treatment?" he asked hesitantly.

Bastian looked at him seriously. "Andreas is on the fifth floor. He has a different project. I chose this for you because you have potential, Calvin."

"But this is way bigger than the funding offered for the competition winners!" Calvin got more confused.

"So what? Stuard Corporation can do anything, Calvin! Now, what do you say? "Are you taking this opportunity?" Bastian asked.

Calvin bit his lip, feeling a mix of excitement and pressure. But deep down, he knew this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.

Taking a deep breath, he finally nodded. "Alright! I’ll work hard and prove that you didn’t choose the wrong person!"

Bastian smiled in satisfaction. "That’s what I wanted to hear." Now, sign the contract!"

Bastian pulled out a contract from his black folder and placed it on the table in front of Calvin. The stack of papers contained cooperation terms, profit-sharing agreements, and various other conditions. Calvin carefully picked it up, reading through every detail meticulously.

Everything seemed so easy. There were no suspicious clauses or anything that might put him at a disadvantage. It was as if everything had been arranged to benefit him from the start.

Calvin reread a few sections to make sure before finally picking up a pen and signing it.

“Done!” he declared firmly.

Bastian nodded in satisfaction, retrieving the contract and neatly storing it away.

“Good. Now, assemble your development team. Establish the organizational structure, and once everything is set, the funds will be ready as well,” he said with a confident smile.

Calvin nodded, though deep inside, he still felt a mix of excitement and tension. This was a huge step—far bigger than anything he had ever imagined before.

“I’ll be going now. Get used to working in this place,” Bastian added as he rose from his chair. Before leaving completely, he turned back one last time. “One more thing, there's a secretary and an office boy outside who can assist you. Don’t hesitate to ask for their help.”

Calvin stared at him in silence, realizing how quickly his life had changed in just a few hours.

Bastian gave a faint smile. “Good luck, Calvin. I look forward to seeing your work.”

Then, without waiting for a response, he walked away, leaving Calvin alone in his new office—the place that would now become the heart of a startup he had never even dared to dream of before.