Chapter 6: Business 101

“You’ve been gone for a long time, Master. What happened to you?” Red’s cheerful voice filled the room.

Aurora sighed. Red was an AI, but she thought and spoke like a human—a design choice Aurora made years ago to have someone she could talk to, even if that someone wasn’t real.

“I’m fine, Red,” she replied evenly.

“Why did you come back? And how’s Ethan?”

Aurora sighed again, this time with a touch of annoyance. The last time she used Red was before she left the mansion, crying and telling the AI she was choosing Ethan. Thinking about it now made her cringe.

“Let’s not talk about him,” she dismissed quickly. “Show me the current state of Lancaster Enterprises.”

“Right away, Master!” Red replied with a playful lilt, before her tone shifted to professional efficiency. “Displaying current figures now.”

The central monitor lit up, revealing a detailed array of graphs, spreadsheets, and data on the Lancaster empire. Aurora’s expression darkened as she scanned the information.

“Our revenue growth has slowed significantly,” Red reported. “Additionally, one of our key branches—the Westmoor division—was recently shut down due to internal misconduct.”

“What?” Aurora’s sharp voice cut through the room. “Does my father know about this?”

Red hesitated briefly, as if weighing her words. “Not yet. Your uncle, Mario, was implicated in an embezzlement scheme. The financial losses were substantial enough to warrant the immediate closure of the division.”

Aurora sank into her chair, stunned. “Uncle Mario?” she repeated softly, disbelief lacing her voice.

“Yes,” Red confirmed. “He was directly involved in siphoning funds. Legal action is underway, but the damage to the company’s reputation has been significant.”

Aurora stared at the monitor, her fingers tapping the desk anxiously. “How bad is it?”

Red expanded the report, highlighting plunging stock prices and negative headlines.

“If left unaddressed, projections indicate Lancaster Enterprises could face a significant downturn within the next quarter,” the AI added.

Aurora’s breath caught. The legacy her father had worked tirelessly to uphold was slipping through his fingers. If he learned about this now, his fury would be uncontainable.

She leaned forward, her voice commanding. “Red, outline strategies to stabilize the business.”

The screen shifted to display a list of potential actions, and Red’s voice resumed with calculated precision.

“Scenario one: Focus on damage control by publicly addressing the scandal and implementing a new transparency initiative. Scenario two: Diversify investments to offset the losses from the Westmoor division. Scenario three—”

“Enough,” Aurora interrupted, rubbing her temples. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her shoulders. “Print all the relevant data, including these scenarios and the evidence against Uncle Mario.”

“Right away, Ms. Lancaster,” Red responded smoothly.

Aurora leaned back in her chair, exhaling a long sigh. As her thoughts swirled, a name surfaced—Lucian Blackwood.

Her pulse quickened. She had only a vague idea of who Lucian was and why her father had chosen him as her husband. But the more she thought about it, the more questions arose.

“Red,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with curiosity, “pull up everything we have on Lucian Blackwood.”

Red paused, almost hesitantly. “Searching now,” she replied.

Moments later, the central monitor filled with information: financial reports, photos, and media articles chronicling Lucian’s meteoric rise in the corporate world.

Aurora’s gaze locked on his image. He exuded power and confidence, his dark suit impeccably tailored, his expression unreadable. Beneath one photo, a headline read: Lucian Blackwood: The Relentless Tycoon. Another article detailed his acquisition of a rival company, highlighting his strategic brilliance and ruthless reputation.

“What’s his current status?” Aurora asked, her voice calm but tinged with unease.

“Lucian Blackwood’s company, Blackwood Enterprises, is thriving,” Red began. “He recently expanded into renewable energy and tech solutions, solidifying his position as one of the most influential figures in the market. His net worth has increased by 23% over the past year.”

Aurora’s brows knit together. She knew Lucian was successful, but these numbers were staggering. “And his relationship with the Lancaster family?”

“Lucian has had limited direct interaction with Lancaster Enterprises in recent years,” Red replied. “However, he did approach the family with a partnership proposal five years ago. His offer was declined.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow. “Really? That’s... interesting.”

Her father had turned down Lucian’s proposal years ago, yet now he was marrying her off to him. Something didn’t quite add up.

“Do you want me to contact him?” Red asked, breaking the silence.

“No,” Aurora replied immediately, her tone firm. “Not yet.”

“Understood,” Red said as the monitors dimmed slightly, the system idling.

Aurora leaned back, her mind racing. Whatever her father’s motives, she needed to uncover the full story—and fast.