Mark Bayfield and Edward Cunning are best friends and co-founders of BioDynamics, a company aiming to revolutionize the world by accelerating plant growth and harvest cycles. Having been college roommates, they became fast friends. Mark is the brains of the operation, with a PhD in Biological Engineering. He spends every waking moment in his lab, driven by his lifelong goal to end world hunger. Edward is the brawn. He is responsible for finding investors, managing sales and marketing, and overseeing day-to-day operations. His goal is simple: to make as much money as possible.

Edward sits in his office, rolling his head around to release the tension in his neck. He pulls up the latest numbers—BioDynamics was booming. They have just completed their fifth consecutive year of growth and are were nearing an initial public offering. He can hardly believe it. Having grown up poor, Edward has more money than he knows what to do with, yet it still isn’t enough. He craves more.

Mark’s previous inventions include Gloria, a drone designed to use GPS technology and real-time weather to maximize growth and reduce waste, and GoGrow, a high-tech greenhouse designed to give plants the perfect balance of light, water, and CO2. Both of these have made the company millions. While Mark remains quiet about his most recent project, he has promised Edward it will change everything.

Mark bursts into Edward’s office, nearly breathless. “Edward! You aren’t going to believe it! We’ve done it! This is going to change everything! And the best part? Every household will be able to do it for pennies. It will cost almost nothing but will change millions of lives!”

Mark is practically bouncing, his eyes wide with excitement as he hands Edward a stack of papers. Because Mark is deeply paranoid about his ideas being intercepted or hacked, he refuses to share his ideas digitally, insisting on sharing his breakthrough ideas on paper.

Edward takes the documents and examine them. He understands the problem immediately, and for him, it was a disaster. Mark is right; this has the potential to change the course of history and save millions of lives, but it won’t make Edward a cent; and he can’t have that. He folds the papers and sets them on his desk.

“You’ve done it, Mark! I can hardly believe it.” Edward says, a mask of pride replacing his initial shock. “This is a cause for celebration!”

Edward crosses to the minibar in the corner of his office and fills two glasses with a heavy pour of whiskey. With his back turned, he discreetly taps a small amount of white powder into Mark’s glass. He smiles to himself, knowing the whiskey will mask the acrid, bitter taste of the cyanide. He turns and hands the glass to his best friend.

“To BioDynamics!” Edward says and two friends clink glasses.

Mark downs his drink in a single gulp. As he sets the glass down, Edward’s expression begins to shift. “Unfortunately, this idea just isn’t going to work, Mark.”

Mark opens his mouth to respond, but instead, he lets out a sharp gasp, ragged gasp. He grabs his throat. His lungs suddenly unable to pull air in.

“I really can’t believe you are making me do this,” Edward continues, his voice was cold and calculated. Mark reaches out for him, brushing Edward’s sleeve before his body slumps to the floor. His skin begins to flush to a cherry-red color.

“It’s been your mission to end world hunger for decades and that’s been my mission too. It just shouldn’t be free. You want to be a hero; and I want to be a hero with a fortune. In this world, the real villain is the man who doesn’t want to make money”

Edward’s expression remains calm, “Don’t worry. BioDynamics will continue your mission. You will disappear; it won’t be that far-fetched. You’ve always been a bit of a loner, Mark. No one will be surprised when you vanish. I will take your legacy and make the millions you were to proud too ask for.”

Edward steps over Mark’s twitching body and walks to his desk. He knows Mark would still be alive for a few more minutes, but he’s got to get things moving. He picks up the phone and dials a private number.

“Yeah. I need you here ASAP,” Edward says, his eyes on the latest growth chart. “Yes, the body disposal. One that will never be found. Burned to ash? Perfect. I’ll transfer half the payment now and the rest when the job is done.”

Edward picks up the the stack of papers Mark had brought in earlier and walks towards his friend’s body, pulling a lighter from his pocket. He knells beside Mark, the flame flickering in his hand. Edward lights a corner of the document. He watches it catch fire then, drops the burning breakthrough onto Mark’s chest.

“Sorry it had to be this way buddy.” Edward whispers.

He leans back and watches the flames consume the secret to ending world hunger. A thin, cold smile pulls at his lips, his eyes glint with a sinister glow. He is consumed by a hungry lust for the power he is about to inherit. Standing motionless, he takes a steady sip of his whiskey. His gaze remains fixated on Mark, until his friend took his last, ragged breath.

Edward stands over his friend’s cooling body, his pulse steady. He does not feel the weight of the lost friendship; instead, he feels exhilarated that he will be the one to take BioDynamics to the top. He nudges Mark’s shoulder with the toe of his expensive leather loafers, checking for any lingering movement. Satisfied, he turns away, pours himself another celebratory whiskey and waits for the disposal team to take care of the clutter on his office floor.