Adrian’s POVMy phone buzzed immediately as I clicked the withdrawal button.In that moment, my eyes drifted to Eunice. Her reaction was instant; her eyes widened in disbelief, almost like she had seen a ghost. But she wasn’t the only one.CEO Anderson’s face mirrored the same look of panic. He didn’t even blink. The color drained from his cheeks as he stared blankly at the screen in front of him. Just like Eunice, he looked shocked. Frozen. But neither of them had said anything yet.I slid my hand into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and placed it deliberately on the table.“I just made a withdrawal from your company to one of my personal bank accounts,” I said, my voice steady. “Right now, we’re going to verify if this is real.”I pushed the phone toward CEO Anderson, not too aggressively, but with firm intent. Tossing it to Eunice first would’ve seemed disrespectful. Her status demanded a certain level of courtesy, and I wasn't about to risk undermining her in her own office.Ander
Eunice’s POVWe spent hours in the room, talking seriously about the reported compromise on our official websites. And truth be told—I believed him.Maybe it was because I had met him once before, right there in Portugal. Back then, my heart had reacted to him in a way I didn’t quite understand. Or maybe it was because I’d heard rumors about Neurolink Global Technologies—how they were fast, efficient, and unusually precise with their digital operations.But I’ve never been the type to take action based solely on rumors. I prefer to make informed decisions, to conduct my own investigations first.A year ago, I heard that the same company currently managing our website’s security had once handled another organization’s systems—a university, in fact. Students paid their school fees through the university’s online platform, and one day, the entire fund mysteriously vanished. The site had been breached.The incident had left the school reeling. They were unable to recover for three semeste
Adrian’s POVWe stepped out of CEO Anderson’s office, walking just behind him as he led us down the hallway. This time, instead of the elevator we used earlier, he took us to a different one—positioned on the opposite side of the floor.This elevator was larger, more spacious, and noticeably more refined. No surprise there. We were about to meet the President of Maison Vivre. I suppose it made sense that even the elevator leading to her floor would reflect her status.Anderson pressed a button labeled “70.” The elevator gave a soft ding before beginning its silent ascent.As we rose, the air in the elevator somehow felt heavier—like it knew we were going somewhere important. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the polished metal walls and straightened my jacket instinctively.When we arrived at the 70th floor, the difference was immediate and almost breathtaking. The atmosphere changed. The lighting was softer, more ambient.This was not the clinical, professional feel of Anderson’
Adrian’s POVIt was not my first time cold-walking into a company and requesting to see the president or CEO. I knew very well how audacious it sounded. And I also knew that sometimes, you have to bend your own rules a little, even compromise on confidentiality, to get what you truly want.Maison Vivre wasn’t a startup—it was a massive, well-established conglomerate. Accessing the president of such a place wasn’t something that happened just because you showed up with confidence. It didn’t matter if I had once met her in a dim tavern in Portugal. That brief encounter, real or not, wasn’t a golden ticket. Right now, I needed to offer a hint of value—just enough to make my presence worth the exception.I took a slow breath and leaned closer to the counter. My smile widened, not with arrogance, but with calm certainty. I softened my tone and began to speak again, this time with a more open approach.“I know the rule is the rule, and I fully respect that,” I said, looking the receptionist
Adrian’s POVWe arrived at the Maison building, a tall structure that exuded prestige and power. Without hesitation, we stepped right through the grand entrance, my head held high.Ordinarily, any business owner seeking a partnership would have informed the conglomerate beforehand. They would’ve sent proposals, waited patiently for a response, and maybe even scheduled a meeting weeks in advance. That’s how most people did business—by the book. But I wasn’t like most people. That was never my way.As I stood by the door, I found myself pausing—just for a second. A memory washed over me. The younger version of me. The one who had nothing but grit and hunger. The boy who once sold candy on street corners just to buy his next meal. The boy who dreamed of making something of himself.I had not been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Nothing was handed to me. Everything I have today, I fought for. I carved my way through rejection, failure, and doubt. I worked my ass off for it. And toda
Gabriel’s POVThe moment the papers were signed, everything changed. My inheritance was officially mine. I was now the president of my own branch of Maison Vivre. It should have been a moment of pure triumph. A moment of fulfillment.But strangely, it didn’t feel like I thought it would.Yes, I had finally earned my title. My name was printed in gold on the letterhead. My seat at the table was no longer questioned. And yet, as I stood there with the signed documents in hand, I already found myself thinking about what would come next.Of course, the name Maison Vivre would have to go. That name still felt tied to Eunice, to everything that wasn’t mine. I didn’t have the new name ready yet, but in my mind, I was already processing possibilities. Something bold. Something sharp. Something that would stand separate from the past.The branch I had inherited wasn’t located in Green City. It was based in another country entirely—Eerie Lake.A country I had never visited. In fact, I had never