Novels by Dep Flair

The tension in the Crawford Enterprises boardroom felt like a physical weight pressing down on everyone present. Michael had been summoned from the MePhone launch aftermath with an urgent message—emergency board meeting, immediate attendance required, no exceptions.Now he understood why."As you can see," Eric said, his voice dripping with regret that didn't reach his eyes, "the financial discrepancies are substantial."He gestured to the documents displayed on the massive screen dominating the wall. Account statements, transfer records, authorization codes—all meticulously organized to tell a damning story."$4.7 million," he continued, pacing slowly before the stunned board members. "Missing from Project Horizon accounts over the past three months."Board Chairman Wilson leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows drawn together. "And these transfers were authorized by...?"Eric paused dramatically, his eyes finding Michael's across the polished mahogany table. "By

The MePhone launch event filled the massive conference center with an electric buzz. Giant screens flashed the sleek Buzzer Tech logo while blue lighting bathed the audience in an otherworldly glow. Journalists from every tech blog and magazine on the planet packed the front rows, their faces lit by laptop screens as they frantically typed notes.Michael watched from a hidden backstage area, his heart pounding against his ribs. He'd waited for this moment through two lifetimes."Holy shit," Michael whispered as he peeked through the curtain. "There's at least five hundred people out there."Megan nodded beside him, her face pale with nervous energy. "And another million watching the livestream. We've crashed three servers already.""Are you nervous?" Michael asked, noticing her fidgeting hands."Terrified," she admitted. "But also weirdly excited. Like I might throw up or start dancing. Maybe both at the same time."Michael laughed. "Just not on stage, please

"Perhaps we could discuss this somewhere less public," Michael suggested, noting several curious glances directed their way. A Crawford and a Thornton in friendly conversation was unusual enough to attract attention.Claire nodded. "There's a café across the street. Less corporate surveillance."Twenty minutes later, they sat across from each other in a quiet corner booth, coffee cups steaming between them. The café's ambient noise provided a comfortable privacy shield."You still haven't answered my question," Claire said, stirring her latte. "Why would you help me?"Michael considered his response carefully. "Wells' ambush journalism tactics are predatory. I've seen what his 'profiles' do to people. No one deserves that kind of public exposure."Claire studied him, clearly weighing his sincerity. "Most people in your position would consider my discomfort an advantage. The Thornton heiress humiliated on camera would certainly benefit Crawford Enterprises.""

The System message appeared just as Michael was reviewing the final prototype designs for the first generation of Buzzer phones:[New task assigned: Attend Millennium Business Forum. Save Claire Thornton from public humiliation. Reward: Enhanced Strategic Thinking.]Michael paused, the name immediately triggering recognition. Claire Thornton heiress to Thornton Enterprises, the chief rival to Wagner Industries in the luxury hospitality and commercial real estate sectors. In his previous timeline, the Thornton and Crawford families had maintained a carefully polite public rivalry while privately engaging in ruthless competition.What caught Michael's attention wasn't just the task itself but the timing. The Millennium Business Forum was the premier gathering of the city's corporate elite, scheduled annually at the Grand Millennium Hotel. Crawford Enterprises always maintained a significant presence—but why would the System direct him to help a Thornton?"Something int

Michael retreated silently from the observation deck, his mind racing. The System's task was clear, but the execution would require precision. Exposing Katherine and Eric's meeting to Richard Crawford without revealing his own identity as the Black Investor presented a delicate challenge.As he moved through the yacht's corridors, Michael noticed a security monitoring station tucked discreetly behind a service door left ajar by a careless crew member. His enhanced perception immediately identified the camera system covering most public and many private areas of the vessel—including, he suspected, the observation deck where his wife and brother continued their intimate conversation.Glancing around to ensure he was unobserved, Michael slipped inside the small room. A lone security officer had stepped away, leaving multiple monitors displaying various areas of the ship. Coffee steam rose from a mug beside the keyboard, indicating the guard would return soon.Michael worked

The Hamilton Luxury Cruise's main deck glittered with exclusivity as society's elite examined displays of next-generation luxury innovations. Michael, masked as the Black Investor, moved through the crowd with Sophia by his side, aware of the whispers and sideways glances that followed them."Your entrance certainly made an impression," Sophia remarked, accepting champagne from a passing server. "Hulio's face when I intervened was quite satisfying.""Strategic alliances have their benefits," Michael replied, echoing her earlier words.The showcase area featured a central platform where Hulio now stood proudly beside a sleek sports car prototype, its metallic surface gleaming under specialized lighting."The Hamilton Velocity," Hulio announced grandly, "represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering. Zero to sixty in 2.3 seconds, with revolutionary carbon-ceramic brake technology and a patented aerodynamic profile that reduces drag by seventeen percent compared to competing models."