Pearl, standing on Louis’s other side, countered.“And if he’s telling the truth about Vivienne? If we kill him now, we’ll never know what really happened.”“Do you hear yourself?” Juliet snapped, her eyes blazing.“He’s a master manipulator. Every word out of his mouth is designed to divide us.”“And yet he’s still standing here, holding all the cards,” Pearl shot back, her tone icy but controlled“We need to think beyond this moment.”“Thinking is what got us here,” Juliet retorted.“Action is what’s going to end this.”The weight of their words pressed down on Louis.He looked from Juliet’s fiery determination to Pearl’s calculating resolve, his mind spinning with doubt.They’re both right. But this decision isn’t just about them—it’s about me, and the legacy I want to leave.The Broker, sensing his hesitation, tilted his head.“It’s a fascinating dynamic, watching you struggle between these two. Your mother faced a similar dilemma, you know. She had to choose between her ideals an

Juliet glared at her.“Because it is damage control. If we wait too long, this will spiral even further.”Louis held up a hand, stopping the argument before it could escalate.“Both of you are right. We’ll respond—but not until we have something solid to back us up. We can’t afford any more mistakes.”As the group dispersed to focus on their tasks, Louis remained at the table, his mind racing.The Broker’s playing us like pieces on a chessboard. Every move we make, he’s already anticipated. How do you beat someone who’s always three steps ahead?He glanced at the photograph of his mother, still sitting on the table.What would you do, Mom? How did you fight someone like this?Hours later, Terminator X returned, his expression grim.“I found the source of the video. It was uploaded through a secure server tied to one of The Broker’s shell companies.”Louis nodded, his jaw tightening.“Then we have a lead.”“There’s more,” Terminator X said, hesitating.“The shell company isn’t just ti

The dim glow of Louis’s office was illuminated by the holographic display projected across the desk.Charts, financial records, and shareholder data from Orion Technologies filled the air, forming a complex web of information.Terminator X leaned back in his chair, gesturing to one of the files.“This is it,” he said.“The Broker’s been funneling money into Orion Technologies for years. On the surface, it’s a struggling company with mediocre profits, but under the radar, it’s a hub for laundering money and funding his operations.”Louis studied the data, his brow furrowed.“If we take control of Orion, we cut off one of his major funding sources.”Juliet, sitting across the desk, raised an eyebrow.“And you think he’s going to let that happen without a fight?”“He won’t,” Louis admitted.“But if we play this right, we can outmaneuver him.”Pearl walked in, holding a tablet loaded with the latest market data.“Orion’s stock is undervalued. A strategic buyout would cost us less than exp

The atmosphere in Orion Technologies’ boardroom was charged with tension.Louis, Juliet, and Pearl sat on one side of the long table, their expressions composed but their focus razor-sharp.Across from them, Adrian Falk, The Broker’s smirking proxy, leaned back in his chair with an air of arrogant confidence.The board members filed in slowly, their faces betraying a mix of curiosity, nervousness, and skepticism.At the head of the table sat Orion’s CEO, visibly shaken by the recent scandal but determined to maintain some semblance of control.Adrian’s voice broke the silence, smooth and mocking.“Well, Mr. Kindsor, I must say it’s bold of you to show up here after everything that’s come to light about Orion’s… predicament.”Louis’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Pearl interjected, her tone icy.“Let’s not pretend this predicament isn’t your handiwork, Mr. Falk. The timing of this so-called scandal is just a little too convenient.”Adrian raised an eyebrow, his smirk wide

Louis stood outside the boardroom in a small, dimly lit side office where Vivian had agreed to speak with him privately.She leaned casually against the desk, her perfectly tailored suit accentuating her air of control.Her smirk was infuriatingly self-assured, the look of someone who knew she held all the cards.“You’ve really outdone yourself, Louis,” Vivian said, her tone dripping with mockery.“Imagine this—you, coming to me for help. I never thought I’d see the day.”Louis took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.“This isn’t about me, Vivian. It’s about what’s right for Orion—and for this city.”Vivian raised an eyebrow.“Oh, spare me the noble speech. We both know you’re not here to talk about justice or morality. You’re here because you’re desperate.”Louis crossed his arms, his voice steady despite the tension in the room.“You want to talk about desperation? Fine. I’ll admit it—I need your vote. But you and I both know The Broker doesn’t care about Orion. He’s using