Researching correct stock terms and possibilities for a novel I am writing.

Hi Reddit, please delete if this is not allowed.

I am a writer trying to outline the plot of my next novel. I find that reddit is the best place to find answers to complicated subjects I know nothing about. My knowledge of the stock market is confined to what I've seen on Billions and the Wolf of Wall Street etc. Forgive me my ignorance.

I'm looking for a reason that a CEO would intentionally sabotage and subsequently tank/bankrupt his own company.

Hypothetical: Company A is testing a brand new technology. Due to new fictitious law, the test of this technology must be successful, or the patent for said technology becomes open to other companies.

I want Company A's CEO to sabotage the test, intentionally shuttering company A, take the open patent and miniaturise the technology through company B and make billions on the commercial market.

He can't do it through company A because he would be sharing the profit three ways with the two inventors of the technology.

My question. Can the CEO, through multiple clandestine firms, short the stock of his own company, prior to sabotaging the test. Will this result in a major windfall to him? Is he also able to take insurance on his stock (hedging I believe) prior to the inevitable stock plummet post test failure.

I hope this is all making sense. If not, how could it? I'm looking for a better understanding and maybe some better lingo to use to get my point across. Remember, it doesn't have to be 100% accurate, it's fiction, it just needs to be accurate enough to be believable and entertaining.

Hope someone can help me out. Thanks guys.